The first Championship race on Saturday was the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), a 1 mile test around 2 turns of the 7 furlong infield oval at Santa Anita, and was run under the new Breeders' Cup rules prohibiting race-day medications in the 2-year-old divisions. Noble Tune was sent off as the 7-2 favorite in the full field of 14 off his Pilgrim (G3) win at Belmont Park. In to challenge him included 9-2 second choice Dundonnell, second in the Champagne (G2) after winning the Acomb (G3), and 6-1 third choice Artigiano, second in both the Vintage (G2) and Royal Lodge (G2).
George Vancouver takes the lead in the stretch
Jockey Corey Nakatani sent 56-1 longest shot Summit County to the front and he set fractions of 22.48 and 46.47 while pressed by 43-1 I'm Boundtoscore. On the turn, the pacesetters tired as 18-1 Brown Almighty gained the lead at the top of the lane through 3/4 in 1:10.26 before tiring as well. 9-1 George Vancouver, 7th early, came through between horses to win by 1 1/4 lengths over Noble Tune in 1:33.78. It was just a neck back to 10-1 Balance the Books third.
George Vancouver wins the Juvenile Turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
3 George Vancouver Moore 20.60 11.00 7.20
9 Noble Tune Dominguez 6.00 3.80
8 Balance the Books Leparoux 6.00
Winning Time: 1:33.78
$1 Exacta 3-9 62.80
$1 Trifecta 3-9-8 553.10
$1 Superfecta 3-9-8-6 2,352.60
Right: Co-owner Derrick Smith leads George Vancouver to the winner's circle. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "Yes, we always thought he was a very good horse. His first two runs were on bad ground and we took him to the fast ground and he went there and won very easy. We were always thinking it would be fine for him, the ground was always what we were hoping would make the difference and obviously Ryan had rode him with great confidence from Deauville and he thought that this track and this ground and race would suit him."
Left: George Vancouver heads out for the post parade. Jockey Ryan Moore said, "He traveled very easy and he had a small gap. But that much horse he had plenty to go through there and I was in front a little bit too soon on him. It was a little longer than people give the short straight credit for and when he got there he gave a look and hung out to the right, so I think there is a bit more in the locker room. I had a smooth race and that's what you need in these sort of races. You need a bit of luck and things to work out for you and we had that today."
Second place finisher and beaten favorite Noble Tune (right) and third place finisher Balance the Books return after the race. Trainer Chad Brown, who trains them both, said, "They ran great. They ran into a really good horse today. One beat the other for second (by a neck). They trained close. Everyone has watched them breeze in New York, and they all know they are noses apart and they ran that way. They beat the rest of the horses in the field, which was a deep field. They clearly have identified themselves as the two top 2-year-old turf colts in the country coming into their 3-year-old year."
Noble Tune's jockey Ramon Dominguez said, "I was very happy with the way the horse performed. We had a good trip. Of course you hate to see the winner getting through while your horse is running on the outside. But that's what happens in a 14-horse field."
Balance the Books' jockey Julien Leparoux said, "He's a good horse. He'll move up with a little more distance. I had a very smooth trip, not really any trouble except for the usual bumping. We started to move leaving the far turn and there was no traffic at all, but then at the head of the lane I had to wait a little bit, and that was it."
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.
Right: Co-owner Derrick Smith leads George Vancouver to the winner's circle. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "Yes, we always thought he was a very good horse. His first two runs were on bad ground and we took him to the fast ground and he went there and won very easy. We were always thinking it would be fine for him, the ground was always what we were hoping would make the difference and obviously Ryan had rode him with great confidence from Deauville and he thought that this track and this ground and race would suit him."
Second place finisher and beaten favorite Noble Tune (right) and third place finisher Balance the Books return after the race. Trainer Chad Brown, who trains them both, said, "They ran great. They ran into a really good horse today. One beat the other for second (by a neck). They trained close. Everyone has watched them breeze in New York, and they all know they are noses apart and they ran that way. They beat the rest of the horses in the field, which was a deep field. They clearly have identified themselves as the two top 2-year-old turf colts in the country coming into their 3-year-old year."
