The $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) featured a field of 12 older horses going 6 furlongs on the Churchill Downs main track. Girolamo, winner of the Vosburgh (G1) after finishing 5th in the Forego (G1), was sent off as the lukewarm 4-1 favorite over 5-1 second choice Big Drama, second in both the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) and the Forego (G1), and 11-2 third choice Smiling Tiger, winner of the Ancient Title (G1) and Bing Crosby (G1) in California.
Big Drama catches pacesetter Smiling Tiger in the stretch
Jockey Eibar Coa sent Big Drama to the front exiting the chute, and he set quick fractions of 21.34 and 44.55 with 20-1 Cash Refund and 6-1 Atta Boy Roy stalking him 1 1/2 lengths behind. At the top of the lane, Big Drama began to pull away from the field, opening up a 2 1/2 length advantage over late-running 24-1 Hamazing Destiny through 5/8 in 56.42. Hamazing Destiny gradually closed the gap but had too much to make up, as Big Drama cruised under the line 1 1/2 lengths in front in 1:09.05. It was just a neck back to Smiling Tiger third, while favorite Girolamo tired badly and finished 11th.
Big Drama wins the Sprint
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
1 Big Drama Coa 12.40 7.00 5.00
4 Hamazing Destiny Rosario 19.80 12.20
5 Smiling Tiger Baze 5.00
Winning Time: 1:09.05
$2 Exacta 1-4 254.80
$2 Trifecta 1-4-5 2,396.60
$1 Superfecta 1-4-5-9 13,939.00
Left: Big Drama heads to the winner's circle. Trainer David Fawkes said, "I'll be honest with you. I think the foundation comes from Calder. It's safe but a tiring track. It gets horses ultra fit. You see a lot of horses come out of there and go on to win all kinds of races. Blind Luck, for example. There's a lot of horses that come out of there. Vineyard Haven. Those are just recent horses. That's a great track to get a foundation on a horse."
Right: Big Drama in the post parade. Jockey Eibar Coa said, "Our plan A was just to try to break as sharp as we can and just be off the rail if we can. So when he broke that sharp today, that I was extra happy for that. That helped out a lot. And I didn't see the speed that I thought was just going to come in the beginning next to me. So that was a big help. And I know that was a big release too.
So I was able to place myself in the position that I wanted to, be off the rail in the part that we planned to be off, and everything worked out the way we wanted today."
Left: Second place finisher Hamazing Destiny in the post parade. Jockey Joel Rosario said, "He broke a little slow on me; when you're going six furlongs that doesn't help. I had a good position all the way and I thought he'd kick in well for me in the stretch. He did, but the horse up front (Big Drama) kicked in too and was best today."
Right: Third place finisher Smiling Tiger in the post parade. Jockey Russell Baze said, "He wasn't really handling the track. When I really set him down, he was slipping a little bit. He slipped a little bit at the start, and as long as I was just sitting comfortable with him, he was fine, but when I started asking him to do something, the track started getting away from him. He was game right until the end. He's not a quitter, that's for sure."
Breeders' Cup Saturday Results - There were 9 races Saturday highlighted by the $5 million Classic where Fort Larned won by a half length over Mucho Macho Man. Also on the card, favorites Wise Dan won the Mile and Shanghai Bobby won the Juvenile. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 9 races here.
Breeders' Cup Friday Results - There were 6 races Friday highlighted by the Ladies' Classic where favorite Royal Delta held off My Miss Aurelia to win for the second year in a row and the Filly and Mare Turf where Zagora was an upset winner. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 6 races here.
2012 Breeders' Cup Entries - Lots of info about the Breeders' Cup, each race, links to profiles for all the horses entered, and info about each race. Free Past Performances - for all the races
Thursday Breeders' Cup Workout Photos - Photos and comments for 49 of the Breeders' Cup horses out on Thursday morning at Santa Anita. The Europeans were out of quarantine and the east coasters delayed by Hurricane Sandy finally arrived, so it was a very busy morning.
Wednesday Breeders' Cup Workout Photos - Photos and comments for 34 of the Breeders' Cup horses out in the fog on Wednesday morning at Santa Anita. The sun didn't make it out until 8:30am and visibility was quite poor at times.
Tuesday Breeders' Cup Workout Photos - Photos and comments for 69 of the Breeders' Cup horses out on the track Tuesday morning at Santa Anita, including Classic favorite Game On Dude and 7 more of the Classic horses.
Breeders' Cup Weather - What will the weather be like at Santa Anita Park on November 2 and 3? Here are lots of places to find out!
2011 Breeders' Cup Saturday Results - The feature race was the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic where Drosselmeyer was an upset winner. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 9 races here.
2011 Breeders' Cup Friday Results - Friday was headlined by the $2 million Ladies Classic (formerly the Distaff) won by Royal Delta. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 6 races here.
Review: Crushing the Cup 2012 - by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An invaluable tool for trying to unlock the mysteries of handicapping the Breeders' Cup races at Santa Anita updated for 2012.
Breeders' Cup History - Historical info, past results, and photos from previous runnings
The Breeders' Cup Championship Day - The official page for the Breeders' Cup championship races. Just about anything you need to know about it: results, video clips, and race calls for past years, and eventually nominations, entries, and results.
Free Prep Replays - for major prep races in the Breeders' Cup Challenge. The ones with camera logos have video available.
Blazing Silks, Breeders' Cup Edition- an interactive social network game that allows horse racing fans and social gamers to train and care for Thoroughbred horses.
Left: Big Drama heads to the winner's circle. Trainer David Fawkes said, "I'll be honest with you. I think the foundation comes from Calder. It's safe but a tiring track. It gets horses ultra fit. You see a lot of horses come out of there and go on to win all kinds of races. Blind Luck, for example. There's a lot of horses that come out of there. Vineyard Haven. Those are just recent horses. That's a great track to get a foundation on a horse."
Left: Second place finisher Hamazing Destiny in the post parade. Jockey Joel Rosario said, "He broke a little slow on me; when you're going six furlongs that doesn't help. I had a good position all the way and I thought he'd kick in well for me in the stretch. He did, but the horse up front (Big Drama) kicked in too and was best today."
