Main Sequence comes flying on the outside in the stretch
A field of 12 older horses went 1 1/2 miles starting on Santa Anita's downhill turf chute in the $3 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). After defending champion Magician scratched, Hardwicke (G2) winner Telescope was sent off as the 8-5 favorite off his 3rd in the Juddmonte International (G1). In to challenge him included 7-2 second choice Flintshire, 2nd in the Arc de Triomphe (G1), and 6-1 third choice Main Sequence, winner of the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1).
78-1 Starspangled Heat and 9-1 Hardest Core dueled for the lead through early fractions of 25.00, 47.76, 1:11.15, and 1:36.10 over the good course, while stalked by 17-1 Imagining. At the top of the lane, Hardest Core gained the lead through 10f in 2:00.61 but he tired in the final furlong. Flintshire, 6th early, poked his head in front at the 1/8 pole, but Main Sequence rallied from 7th to win by 1/2 a length in 2:24.91. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to 19-1 Twilight Eclipse third, and 1/2 a length more to favorite Telescope fourth.
Left: Main Sequence in the winner's circle. Owner Maria Niarchos said, "This win means a lot because, as you know, we bred the stallion, Aldebaran, and we also bred the mare. So this is a kind of pure family homebred horse. And the good teamwork between David and Graham makes it unique to see how teamwork works."
Right: Main Sequence returns to the barn after the race. Jockey John Velazquez, who replaced the injured Rajiv Maragh said, "Rajiv told me all about the horse and how to ride him. He told me everything good about the horse and (Main Sequence) did exactly what he said. It was the perfect trip."
The trophy presentation with trainer Graham Motion on the far right. Motion said, "I couldn't believe how well everything worked out. He broke a little better today than he has done. Johnny had him in great position coming down the hill, which I thought was important, and I didn't want him to lose too much ground. Everything just set up beautifully. You know, he didn't have to move too soon. He didn't have to lose too much ground on either turn. When he started making that last move around the turn, I felt pretty confident, to be honest, that he was going to get there."
Left: Second place finisher Flintshire heads back to the barn after the race. Jockey Maxime Guyon said, "Had a perfect trip. In the clear all the way early. I asked him to start running at the 3/8 pole, and he did. I had to stay to the outside. When the winner ran by us, he tried to kick on again but it was just too late."
Right: Third place finisher Twilight Eclipse returns after the race. Trainer Tom Albertrani said, "It was another good race. He ran well but got back a little far. He finished well and those two horses that beat him are very good horses. The ground didn't have anything to do with it today. He put in another very good effort and we will regroup and move forward."
Fourth place finisher and beaten favorite Telescope heads over to the turf course. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute said, "He's run a good race, but the race wasn't really run to suit him. He needs to be able to do it one long progression. He's a long striding horse for a track like this."
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.
Left: Main Sequence in the winner's circle. Owner Maria Niarchos said, "This win means a lot because, as you know, we bred the stallion, Aldebaran, and we also bred the mare. So this is a kind of pure family homebred horse. And the good teamwork between David and Graham makes it unique to see how teamwork works."
Left: Second place finisher Flintshire heads back to the barn after the race. Jockey Maxime Guyon said, "Had a perfect trip. In the clear all the way early. I asked him to start running at the 3/8 pole, and he did. I had to stay to the outside. When the winner ran by us, he tried to kick on again but it was just too late."
