Kicking off the Championship races on Saturday was the $2 million 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), featuring the best 2-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Chandelier (G1) winner Moonshine Memories was the 5-2 favorite in the field of 13 over 7-2 Heavenly Love, winner of the Alcibiades (G1), and 5-1 Separationofpowers, winner of the Frizette (G1).
Caledonia Road leads down the stretch
Moonshine Memories led through fractions of 22.79 and 46.72 while pressed by 8-1 Alluring Star and stalked by Separationofpowers. On the far turn Alluring Star took over through 3/4 in 1:11.38 and soon opened up a 2 legth lead through 1 mile in 1:38.80. However 17-1 Caledonia Road, 8th early under Mike Smith, circled the field into the lane and rallied to win going away by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:45.05. It was a neck back to 30-1 Blonde Bomber third, while Moonshine Memories faded to 7th beaten 6 3/4 lengths.
Caledonia Road wins the Juvenile Fillies
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
12 Caledonia Road Smith 36.60 15.40 9.80
9 Alluring Star Talamo 10.40 7.20
5 Blonde Bomber Lezcano 15.20
Winning Time: 1:45.05
$1 Exacta 12-9 196.80
$1 Trifecta 12-9-5 4,579.90
$1 Superfecta 12-9-5-13 29,371.00
Left: Caledonia Road in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Mike Smith said, "She was dynamite. She was much more forwardly placed than I expected her to be, to be honest. She was up there intent on getting into the game and running good. She was in a good rhythm, breathing well. I gave her a breather from the half-mile pole to the three-and-a half because she kind of wanted one. When I stepped on the accelerator again, man, she jumped back on it and I knew I was going to be live from that point on."
Right: The trophy presentation for the Juvenile Fillies. Winning trainer Ralph Nicks said, "This filly has come into her own this fall and her timing was impeccable. This run down the stretch is kind of her style. This is my first win and it's on my third try. It's just amazing."
Left: Caledonia Road in the post parade. Nicks added, "Oddly enough this is the first horse that Mike has ridden for me. But when I was 16 and an apprentice jockey we rode together and have been good friends since then. So we have a lot of stories and back history as kids growing up."
Right: Caledonia Road heads back to the barn after the race. Co-owner Nick Sallusto said, "Total complete exhilaration. Everything that goes intgo this behind the scenes, and of course all the hopes and wants of my good clients, this means the world to us."
Left: Second place finisher Alluring Star in the post parade. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "She ran her heart out and I'm proud of her, but these second-place finishes are piling up and are tough. We try to win these things. But, all you can hope for is that your horse shows up and she ran well."
Right: Third place finisher Blonde Bomber returns after the race. Jocelyne Kenny, assistant to trainer Stanley Gold said, "She ran amazing and I am so, so pleased with her. It was such a hot pace up front and we really didn't want her that far back, but honestly, I have no complaints. She definitely got far back and had a lot of work to do and a lot of ground to make up but they went :22 and :46 on the front end and that's fast. It was her first time going two turns, and her first time with this kind of company. She's never run in graded stakes company. I haven't to talked to Stan yet back in Florida, but I am sure that he's thrilled."
Left: Seventh place finisher and beaten favorite Moonshine Memories heads out to the track before the race. Trainer Simon Callaghan said, "She got pressure all the way around, Alluring Star wouldn't leave her alone, It's tough to have that kind of pressure. I'm disappointed, but I'm happy with her."
Right: The horses break from the gate for the Juvenile Fillies. Jockey Joe Talamo aboard Alluring Star (9) said, "We had a really good trip. I didn't think Flavien (Prat on Moonshine Memories) was going to go out there so fast, but my filly was comfortable tracking off her. Turning for home I really thought we were going to get there. This filly has a big future. It was only her third start and she tried hard."
2017 Breeders' Cup Wrap Up - Records set, statistics, first-time winning jockeys and trainers, how previous winners finished, and more for the 34th running of the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar.
2017 Breeders' Cup Saturday - There were nine Breeders' Cup races on Saturday at Del Mar headlined by the Classic (G1) where Gun Runner won over Collected. Also on the card, Talismanic won the Turf (G1), World Approval won the Mile (G1), and Good Magic won the Juvenile (G1). Get the results, charts, and photos for all 12 stakes on the card. More photos: Classic - Turf - Juvenile - Mile - Sprint - F&M Turf - F&M Sprint - Turf Sprint - Juvenile Fillies
2017 Breeders' Cup Friday - There were four Breeders' Cup races on Friday at Del Mar headlined by the Distaff (G1) where Forever Unbridled held off Abel Tasman to win by a half length. Also on the card, Rushing Fall won the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), Battle of Midway won the Dirt Mile (G1), and Mendelssohn won the Juvenile Turf (G1). Get the results, charts, and photos for all 8 stakes on the card. More photos: Juvenile Turf -
Juvenile Fillies Turf - Dirt Mile - Distaff
2017 Breeders' Cup Entries - Entries closed Monday and post positions were drawn for the 13 Breeders' Cup Championship races on November 3 and 4 at Del Mar. The Classic will have a field of 11 with Gun Runner in post 5 the 9-5 favorite over Arrogate in post 1 at 2-1.
Breeders' Cup Weather - Check out the latest weather forecasts for the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar
Review: Crushing the Cup 2017 - by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An invaluable tool for trying to unlock the mysteries of handicapping the Breeders' Cup races at Del Mar. Updated for 2017, this is their 26th anniversary edition and first for Del Mar.
2016 Breeders' Cup Saturday Results - The feature race was the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic won by Arrogate. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 9 races here.
2016 Breeders' Cup Friday Results - Friday was headlined by the $2 million Ladies Classic won by Beholder. 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.
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 since the change.
Left: Caledonia Road in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Mike Smith said, "She was dynamite. She was much more forwardly placed than I expected her to be, to be honest. She was up there intent on getting into the game and running good. She was in a good rhythm, breathing well. I gave her a breather from the half-mile pole to the three-and-a half because she kind of wanted one. When I stepped on the accelerator again, man, she jumped back on it and I knew I was going to be live from that point on."
Left: Caledonia Road in the post parade. Nicks added, "Oddly enough this is the first horse that Mike has ridden for me. But when I was 16 and an apprentice jockey we rode together and have been good friends since then. So we have a lot of stories and back history as kids growing up."
Left: Second place finisher Alluring Star in the post parade. Trainer Bob Baffert said, "She ran her heart out and I'm proud of her, but these second-place finishes are piling up and are tough. We try to win these things. But, all you can hope for is that your horse shows up and she ran well."
Left: Seventh place finisher and beaten favorite Moonshine Memories heads out to the track before the race. Trainer Simon Callaghan said, "She got pressure all the way around, Alluring Star wouldn't leave her alone, It's tough to have that kind of pressure. I'm disappointed, but I'm happy with her."
