The 31st Breeders' Cup World Championships kicked off on Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. In contrast with the rest of the week, it was overcast all day with clouds obscuring the San Gabriel Mountains and temperatures in the low 70's. Only 37,205 fans came out for the first day of the two-day festivities, and there appeared to be plenty of empty seats especially at the Clocker's Corner end of the stands. The main track was fast while the turf was firm.
Full results with several photos per race are available at the link below the pay-off chart.
The highlight of Friday's card is the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) for older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Cotillion (G1) winner Untapable was sent off as the 8-5 favorite in the field of 11 over 3-1 Close Hatches and 6-1 Don't Tell Sophia. 11-1 Tiz Midnight and 7-1 Iotapa contested the pace of 22.93, 46.73, and 1:10.95. Untapable, 6th early, came out 4 wide to sweep to the front, and drew off to win by 1 1/4 lengths over late-running Don't Tell Sophia and pacesetter Iotapa.
Winning jockey Rosie Napravnik said, "My husband and I are starting a family and my retirement will start on Monday. I'm very excited. I wasn't worried about being wide on the first turn not considering the amount of horse I knew I had underneath me." Trainer Steve Asmussen added, "She's an amazing mare to put us on this stage and to perform like she did. Rosie and she are a great combination and they have had a tremendous season. Today definitely makes her a champion and that's enough said. She's had a great year and she's a great filly. I haven't had a chance to talk to the Winchells yet, but I have every indication that she'll stay in training."
The $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) featured 13 two-year-old fillies (after Lady Zuzu was scratched at the gate) going 1 mile on the turf. Ms. Grillo (G3) winner Lady Eli was sent off as the 5-2 favorite over 9-2 Sunset Glow and 5-1 Osaila. Sunset Glow set fractions of 22.66, 46.46, and 1:10.48 while stalked by 14-1 Isabella Sings. Top of the stretch Lady Eli came through on the rail to gain the lead through 7/8 in 1:21.98 and drew off to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Sunset Glow in 1:33.41. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Osaila third.
Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said, "I got a perfect trip and can't complain. My filly broke good and I got a nice spot down inside, and then I broke through the hole when (Sunset Glow) came out. My filly flew right through there. I was patient and waited like the trainer told me and it worked out good for us. It feels great; unbelievable." Trainer Chad Brown added, "I'm so proud of her to see her run like this today. We developed these babies form scratch and I remember the first time I saw her breeze on the turf. It took my breath away. I told these guys (owners) she was something special and she proved out to be."
The Juvenile Fillies Turf
Purse: $1,000,000 Distance: 1 mile turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
4 Lady Eli Ortiz Jr. 6.80 4.20 3.00
3 Sunset Glow Espinoza 5.20 3.40
2 Osaila Dettori 3.60
Winning Time: 1:33.41
$1 Exacta 4-3 17.50
$1 Trifecta 4-3-2 65.90
$1 Superfecta 4-3-2-13 2,736.80
The $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) is for older horses going 1 mile arouhnd 2 turns of the main track. Defending champion and Pat O'Brien (G1) winner Goldencents was sent off as the 7-10 favorite over 5-1 Tapiture and 7-1 Fed Biz. Goldencents set fractions of 22.06 and 44.80 while stalked by 20-1 Vicar's In Trouble. Entering the stretch, Goldencents opened up a 3 length lead through 3/4 in 1:09.27. Kept to task by Rafael Bejarano, Goldencents finished up 1 1/4 lengths in front of late-running Tapiture in 1:35.16. It was a long 5 lengths back to 9-1 Pants on Fire third.
Winning trainer Leandro Mora said, "This is very exciting. When I saw Tapiture coming, I started to sweat. But, Goldencents kept trying and I started to relax. I felt fine. He wasn't going to let anyone beat him today." Jockey Rafael Bejarano added, "I knew I was going fast and I had to find a way to give him a little break from the 3/8 to the 1/4. I was able to do that. When the other horse started to come to me, I held onto him just a little bit before I turned him loose. When I turned him loose, he fired big."
The Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
Purse: $1,000,000 Distance: 1 mile
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
1 Goldencents Bejarano 3.40 2.60 2.10
9 Tapiture Napravnik 3.80 3.00
4 Pants On Fire Lopez 4.00
Winning Time: 1:35.16
$1 Exacta 1-9 7.10
$1 Trifecta 1-9-4 35.50
$1 Superfecta 1-9-4-7 328.90
Kicking off the 31st Breeders' Cup, the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) featured a full field of 14 2-year-olds going 1 mile on the turf. Grand Criterium (G1) fifth place finisher War Envoy was sent off as the 7-2 favorie over 9-2 Imperia and 6-1 Hootenanny. 9-1 Luck of the Kitten was loose on the lead through fractions of 22.71, 46.91, and 1:11.36. He continued to lead to the 1/8 pole through 7f in 1:23.14 but Hootenanny, who stalked him in 3rd the whole way, closed late to win by 3/4 length in 1:34.79. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to 18-1 Daddy D T third.
Winning jockey Frankie Dettori said, "It was my first time on him but I had seen him run in England, so I knew his style. He wasn't pulling. I got him settled. When I turned him on, I knew I had the race." Owner Michael Tabor added, "This is what you dream about. To campaign a horse in Europe and America and then win the Breeders' Cup, it makes the game very international. That's what it's all about. (Trainer Wesley Ward) has been around for a while and we find him easy to relate to. He's not afraid to send horses to Europe. He obviously knows how to train. To do what this horse has done is a fantastic performance."
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf
Purse: $1,000,000 Distance: 1 mile turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
5 Hootenanny Dettori 14.00 7.80 5.60
3 Luck of the Kitten Smith 9.20 7.00
2 Daddy D T Nakatani 11.00
Winning Time: 1:34.79
$1 Exacta 5-3 50.00
$1 Trifecta 5-3-2 845.60
$1 Superfecta 5-3-2-6 7,442.50
Breeders' Cup Saturday Results - There were 9 races Saturday highlighted by the $5 million Classic where American Pharoah was an impressive winner in his final start before retiring to stud. Also on the card, Found won the Turf, Nyquist won the Juvenile, and Tepin won the Mile. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 9 races here. Get more photos and comments for each race here.
Breeders' Cup Friday Results - There were 4 races Friday highlighted by the Distaff where Stopchargingmaria won by a neck over Stellar Wind and the Dirt Mile won by Liam's Map. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 4 races here.
Thursday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 38 horses out on Thursday morning at Keeneland on both the main and training tracks, including American Pharoah. Beholder was also out, but was found to have bled when scoped and is scratched from the Classic.
Wednesday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 46 horses out on a very rainy Wednesday morning at Keeneland on both the main and training tracks, including Keen Ice, Frosted, and Golden Horn. No American Pharoah yet, hopefully he comes out tomorrow.
2015 Breeders' Cup Entries - Check out the entries, post postitions, and morning line odds for the 13 Breeders' Cup World Championship races to be held at Keeneland on October 30 and 31.
Tuesday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 31 horses out on a rainy Tuesday morning at Keeneland including Stephanie's Kitten, Grand Arch, and Private Zone.
Monday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 28 horses out Monday morning at Keeneland including Rachel's Valentina and a timed work by Beholder.
Sunday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 10 horses out Sunday morning at Keeneland including Liam's Map and Lea
Breeders' Cup Weather - Check out the latest weather forecasts for the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland
Review: Crushing the Cup 2015 - by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An invaluable tool for trying to unlock the mysteries of handicapping the Breeders' Cup races at Keeneland updated for 2015.
2014 Breeders' Cup Saturday Results - The feature race was the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic won by Bayern. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 9 races here.
2014 Breeders' Cup Friday Results - Friday was headlined by the $2 million Ladies Classic won by Untapable. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 4 races here.
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.
TV Schedule - for all the preps and other programming leading up to the big day
Breeders' Cup Postcards - Breeders' Cup theme virtual postcards to send your friends including many past winners
Breeders' Cup Supplemental Entries - The old official policy on supplemental entries plus all the supplemental entries and how they fared, mostly it was a losing proposition. There are no more supplements now, only late nominations making it impossible to track now.
