Bayern all the way in the Breeders’ Cup Classic
Bayern went right to the front and fended off a pair of challengers late to win the $5,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 6/1, Bayern was able to get right to the front underneath jockey Martin Garcia, but not after veering in severely out of the gate and causing distress for a few runners, including race favorite Shared Belief (BetPTC.com Top Selection). But once Bayern got in gear he was able to navigate pretty reasonable fractions, getting through an opening half mile 46.44 seconds as they got onto the backstretch. He carried his lead to the quarter pole when he was greeted by Toast Of New York (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) and California Chrome who came up to make a line of three into the lane. Bayern never let them go ahead though as he held off both challengers, beating Toast of New York by a nose. It was just another neck back to California Chrome who ran third. The Steward’s Inquiry sign came up and after a long deliberation by the Stewards, they ruled Bayern didn’t foul horses out of the gate and he was left up for the win.
Karakontie pulled off a 30/1 upset when he rallied from tenth early to get up and win a thrilling edition of the Breeders’ Cup Mile. In a race that saw Obviously (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) open up right away and come to mid-stretch with a four length lead, it was the deep closers who came rolling as Karakontie, Anadin and Trade Storm (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) ran 1-2-3. In the Breeders’ Cup Sprint it was Work All Week and Florent Geroux who were close up early and held off a late challenge to win. Work All Week seized the lead from Fast Anna as they came to the quarter pole and opened up a length lead in mid-stretch. But defending champ Secret Circle (BetPTC.com Top Selection) made a big run, but fell a half length short.
The Breeders’ Cup Turf saw Main Sequence (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) score his fourth straight Grade 1 win in the US. Sent off at odds of 6/1, Main Sequence stayed off the pace as Hardest Core set the pace for much of the early journey. He yielded his lead turning for home and Flintshire (BetPTC.com Top Selection) took over briefly. But Main Sequence and John Velazquez had all the momentum late getting up to win by half a length. Flinshire was second with Twilight Eclipse (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) getting up for third. Texas Red rallied from last early on to turn in a monster performance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, winning by almost seven lengths. Texas Red got a solid pace to run into, but his move on the quarter pole left the rest of the field in the dust, with Carpe Diem (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) getting up to finish 2nd ahead of Upstart in third.
Bobby’s Kitten was another deep closer to win, coming from absolute last to pass thirteen rivals in a quarter of a mile to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Bobby’s Kitten (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) stayed back as Reneesgotzip opened up early. Favored No Nay Never grabbed the lead late and looked like he was gone until Bobby’s Kitten erupted onto the scene to get up and win by half a length. Judy The Beauty was second last year in the Breeders’ Cup Filly Sprint, but this year she got the job done as she held off a late run from Better Lucky to get the win. Judy the Beauty was fifth early on as favored Stonetastic went to the front. Stonetastic turned for home in front but couldn’t make the seven furlongs as Judy the Beauty blew by with ease.
Dayathespa and Javier Castellano put on a front running clinic in the Filly and Mare Turf as they went all the way on the lead to win the $2,000,000 event. Dayatthespa broke beautifully and when the 48.37 time for the opening half mile went up on the board, you knew she’d be tough. She got to the top of the stretch and opened up, winning by a length and a quarter of a fast closing Stephanie’s Kitten who got second. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies saw the biggest upset of the weekend as 61/1 shot Take Charge Brandi went all the way to score the win. Take Charge Brandi went right to the lead and a wall of closers lined up to challenge her at the top of the lane, but none could reel her in as she won by a half length over Top Decile.
Untapable stamps herself as the top filly in the land winning the Distaff
Untapable and Rosie Napravnik have been the top three year old filly for much of the year. But after the Breeders’ Cup Distaff they left no doubt who was the best filly of any age as they won by a length and a quarter. Sent off as the 8/5 favorite, Untapable (BetPTC.com Top Selection) got a wide journey early on as they stayed out in the clear while Tiz Midnight and Iotapa went out and dueled on the lead. Iotapa went for home at the quarter pole but Untapable looped up three wide to grab the lead. Iotapa battled all the way but Untapable was just too much racehorse and got the win. Don’t Tell Sophia (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) got up for second over Iotapa who finished in third.
Lady Eli put in a furious rally down on the rail to take home the Juvenile Fillies Turf going away by almost three lengths. Lady Eli and Irad Ortiz stayed on the rail and waited for an opening and when it presented itself they exploded through. Sunset Glow (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) and Osaila (BetPTC.com Top Selection) finished second and third behind the runaway winner.
Goldencents turned in one of the most gutsy performances in Breeders’ Cup history as he went and set a brutally fast pace and held off a late close from Tapiture to win the Dirt Mile. Goldencents (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) battled early on with Vicar’s In Trouble as they went through a half mile in a sizzling 44.80 seconds. Goldencents made a break on the far turn after putting away Vicar’s In Trouble but had to hold off a late charging Tapiture (BetPTC.com Top Selection). Tapiture was flying and looked like he might blow on by, but Goldencents just kept finding more heart on the lead and held on to win by a length and a quarter over Tapiture. Hootenanny and Frankie Dettori won the first Breeders’ Cup race, rallying on the outside to score in the Juvenile Turf.