Mucho Macho Man all heart in winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic
Mucho Macho Man took command turning for home and held off a pair of strong challengers to win the richest race in the country, the $5,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Saturday. Sent off at odds of 6/1, Mucho Macho Man (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) sat in mid-pack early on as Moreno, Game on Dude, and Fort Larned all traded punches early on. Gary Stevens implored Mucho Macho Man to go on to the lead on the far turn and he made a break turning for home. But Will Take Charge and Declaration of War both had a lot of momentum, and those three battled all the way to the wire, with Mucho Macho Man prevailing by a nose over Will Take Charge for the win. Declaration of War was just a head back in third.
Wise Dan might have secured his second straight Horse of the Year honor as he had to dig down deep late to win his second consecutive Breeders’ Cup Mile. Wise Dan (BetPtC.com Top Selection) was pretty far back as Obviously (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) went out and set an obscenely fast pace. Za Approval came calling after the lead at the top of the stretch but Wise Dan and substitute rider Jose Lezcano got up late to win by three quarters of a length. Za Approval was second while Silention (BetPTC.com Long Shot) got up for third at 31/1. Secret Circle made his sprint opponents look weak as he pulled clear in late stretch and held off a fast closing Laugh Track (BetPTC.com Long Shot) who ran second.
Magician pulled an upset in the Breeders’ Cup Turf as he rallied late to get up and catch The Fugue (BetPTC.com Top Selection) in the final yards. Magician was eleventh early on as Teaks North and Little Mike went out to the front. Little Mike took the lead to the top of the stretch but he was under siege as The Fugue took over and made a break for home. Magician came roaring down the center of the course, catching The Fugue late and winning by a half length. New Years Day wasn’t the most touted of Bob Baffert’s runners in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but he was the best at the wire as he and Martin Garcia rallied up to get the win late. Havana (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) took command at the top of the lane and looked like he might be gone for a second, but New Years Day had all the late momentum and got up to win by just over a length. Havana was second, three quarters of a length ahead of Strong Mandate.
Mizdirection won her second consecutive Turf Sprint as she rallied from just off the pace to get the win. Sent off as the 5/2 favorite, Mizdirection stayed just behind Reneesgotzip (BetPTC.com Top Selection) and Touchdown Tightend (BetPTC.com Longshot) who went out to the front and set decent fractions early on. Mizdirection came wide down the center of the course, just as she did last year and got up to win by half a length. Reneesgotzip and Tightend Touchdown dead-heated for second. Groupie Doll (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) also repeated in her event, the Filly and Mare Sprint. Just like last year, she rallied up on the far outside, grabbed the lead at the head of the lane, but she had to earn it this year as she held off late rallies from Judy The Beauty and Dance Card (BetPTC.com Longshot) who finished second and third and were only a half length back on the wire.
Dank (BetPTC.com Top Selection) sat a perfect stalking trip behind Emollient and took the lead in mid-stretch, holding off a fast late rally from Romantica who got up to finish second. Alterite (BetPTC.com Longshot) ran into the trifecta at 16/1 to help inflate that payout of $103. She’s a Tiger finished first in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, but she was disqualified late for interference against Ria Antonia who was put up to the winning spot.
Beholder dominates the Distaff
Beholder (BetPTC.com Top Selection) didn’t leave much doubt about who the top filly or mare around is right now, as she crushed a talented field in the $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Sent off at odds of 5/2, Beholder sat just off the pace as Authenticity went out to the early lead over Royal Delta (BetPTC.com Top Selection). The track on Friday was ridiculously speed favoring, and Beholder made her move going to the far turn and quickly opened up as Royal Delta came under a ride. Beholder drew off and never looked back, winning by four and a quarter lengths. Close Hatches (BetPTC.com Longshot) closed up to grab second ahead of Authenticity who finished third.
Chriselliam (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) came flying from off the pace in the Juvenile Fillies Turf to get up and score by an impressive two and one half lengths. Chriselliam stayed back off the pace as long shot Nesso went out to set the early pace. My Conquestadory came rallying up to grab the lead at the top of the lane, but she wasn’t able to keep her momentum going as Chriselliam rolled on by to win. Testa Rossi flew late to get up for second over Colonel Joan who ran third. Goldencents (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) took advantage of the big Friday speed bias as Rafael Bejarano gunned him to the lead and they just kept going, winning by two and three quarter lengths over Golden Ticket (BetPTC.com Top Selection).
Outstrip (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was far back early on, but he flew late to get up and win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, catching a tough Giovanni Boldini (BetPTC.com Top Selection). Bobby’s Kitten set an absurdly fast pace and when they came to the top of the stretch, the closers came flying as Giovanni Boldini came up to take the lead. Bobby’s Kitten kept battling, but Giovanni Boldini had a new horse to hold off, as Outstrip and Mike Smith came flying to get the win. Smith also won the Breeders’ Cup Marathon as London Bridge scored an upset, rallying from off the pace to get up and win by a length. Blueskiesnrainbows looked like he might sneak away at the top of the lane, but London Bridge was just getting warmed up as they hit the 14th and final furlong and he rolled by late.