A crowd of 54,289 braved frigid Belmont Park in Elmont, New York in the 22nd edition of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.  Nobody hit the $3 million guaranteed Pick 6, as three of the most highly regarded favorites, Lost in the Fog, Ashado, and Leroidesanimaux, lost their respective races, which should make for very interesting voting for the Eclipse Awards.  Richard Dutrow Jr. and Edgar Prado both broke their jinxes in the Championships in a big way, winning two races each, while Gary Stevens, one win away from 5,000 in his career, was shut out.  


In the $1 million Alberto VO5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, 2.35-1 favorite Folklore took the lead soon after the start, settled behind the pace along the backstretch, took command at the top of the stretch, and held off Wild Fit under a right-handed whip to win by 1 1/4 lengths.  The time was 1:43.85 for 1 1/16 miles on a fast track.  Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said, "I think she's going to be a great two-turn filly. I'm already thinking (Kentucky) Oaks. She's so genuine and she gives you so much. She's a very aggressive filly."


In the $1.5 million Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile, 4.50-1 second choice Stevie Wonderboy raced far back of the early pace of Dawn of War for the first half mile, rapidly moved into contention circling four-wide around the turn, and edged clear in the final 1/16 mile to win by 1 1/4 length over 9.30-1 shot Henny Hughes, while 1.30-1 favorite First Samurai was third. The 1 1/16 miles went in 1:41.64.  Winning jockey Garrett Gomez said, "I had a decent trip early on but a horse down on the inside swung out at the 5/8 pole and I clipped heels with him. I took back a little and dropped to the inside.  When I pushed the button, (Henny Hughes and First Samurai) gave me more of a fight than I expected. When he found his best stride he wore them down."


In the $1 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, 15.10-1 longshot Intercontinental took the lead soon after the gate opened, and never looked back, leading every step of the way to record a 1 1/4 length win over the late-running 2.30-1 favorite Ouija Board in a time of 2:02.34 for 1 1/4 miles over the "good" inner turf course. It was just a neck back to 9.10-1 shot Film Maker in third.  Winning trainer Bobby Frankel said, "I told (jockey) Rafael (Bejarano) to be as quiet as he can making the lead and don't move. He couldn't have ridden a better race. She appeared to be rank in many of her races. (This time) it looked to the naked eye she was never rank at any point." Intercontinental is a full sister to Banks Hill, who won this same race at 2001, also at Belmont Park.


In the $1 million TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint, 0.70-1 odds-on favorite and undefeated Lost in the Fog was proven to be beatable, as, after a bumpy start he was used up early and finished seventh.  11.90-1 longshot Silver Train settled in good position along the inside, angled out to launch his bid on the turn, and surged to the front inside the 1/8 pole, all out to hold off 12.50-1 shot Taste of Paradise in the final strides. The 6 furlong dash was completed in 1:08.86.  Richard Dutrow Jr, training his first Breeders' Cup winner, said, "I knew if he was going to fire he was in excellent position to do it. He saved ground, lot of speed fighting it out up front, it was tailor made for him today. We got a perfect trip. Maybe one or two horses didn't fire, that's OK with us, we did."


In the $1.5 million NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile, 5.60-1 second choice Artie Schiller steadied along the inside in fifth early, launched his rally in traffic on the turn, split horses at the top of the stretch, and through the final furlong, battled head to head with 1.35 favorite Leroidesanimaux, finally shaking him off inside 70 yards to prevail by 3/4 length in a time of 1:36.10 for the mile over the Widener turf course.  It was just a nose back to 13.70-1 shot Gorella in third, and a head to 17.50-1 shot Whipper in fourth.  Winning trainer James Jerkens said, "This horse always runs his eyeballs out. The race happened the way you dream about it.  (Jockey Garrett Gomez) saved ground and he got out at just the right time and everything worked out."


In the $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff, 30.75-1 longshot Pleasant Home scored for the home team, as the locally based filly saved ground on the turn after trailing down the backstretch, angled out nearing the 1/4 pole, split horses at the top of the straight, then quickly charged to the front inside the 3/16 pole and drew away from 11.80-1 shot Society Selection to win by 9 1/4 lengths, in a time of 1:48.34 for the 1 1/8 miles.  Defending champ and 2.25-1 favorite Ashado disappointed in third.   Winning rider Cornelio Velasquez said, "(In her last start, the Spinster) because of a soft pace we couldn't get there in time. This time it was better because of a fast pace. We broke good, and when I entered he turn I knew I had so much horse, and I knew I was going to win."


In the $2 million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf, 8.80-1 shot Shirocco was well placed behind the early pacesetter, cut into the leader's margin rounding the far turn, took command with two furlongs remaining, and dug in through the lane to prevail by 1 3/4 lengths over the onrushing 16.40-1 shot Ace, in a final time of 2:29.30 for 1 1/2 miles over the "good" Widener turf course. It was just a neck back to 3.65-1 favorite Azamour in third, and 3/4 more to 4.50-1 Bago, completing a top-four sweep for the Europeans.  Winning trainer Andre Fabre said, "He acts on any ground and he has a lot of stamina. So he needs to be ridden close to the pace. He took advantage of his good draw to make the running (behind the pacesetter). I was very confident when I saw him at the front.  He stays in training next year."


In the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge, 2.40-1 favorite Saint Liam settled just off the early pace of 30.50-1 longshot Sun King, was well placed four wide down the backstretch, took up chase after the leaders rounding the turn, then drew alongside 10.00-1 shot Flower Alley at the top of the stretch, surging to the front inside the 1/8 pole, then pulling away to win by just a length in a time of 2:01.49 for the 1 1/4 mile trip on the main track.  Winning jockey Jerry Bailey said, "Knowing there was 1 1/4 miles, I don't think you can expect those same kind of explosions the horses give you. It's more of a long grueling type of racing. Flower Alley is a good horse and you can't dismiss him. I felt really confident the moment I turned up the backside. At least I knew I had the horses in front of me. I was confident all around."

[2nd Classic photo]

Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr, winning his second Breeders' Cup race on the afternoon and in his career, said, "I was lucky enough to have the right kind of horses at the right kind of time.  They come around. One's a sprinter (Silver Train), one wants to go long (Saint Liam).  They both love this track.  Yeah, we have the best horse around. Anybody left standing, they were here today and we beat them and throughout the year, Saint Liam has won everywhere.  He's faced the toughest they've got. We didn't duck any kind of horse in any race. We went after them. That's because I've always felt he was the best. When he runs his race I don't think anybody can beat him."