Race report
No, the news is now through. Mongolian Groom has been put down as his injuries meant that he could not be saved.
After what had been to that point an excellent and injury-free two days of racing, it is a truly miserable way to end the meeting and one that is likely to reverberate for days, weeks and potentially months to come. The only name that is likely to be widely remembered from this Breeders’ Cup is that of the horse that did not cross the line. Grim news.
This is Greg Wood at Santa Anita, signing off.
No further news on Mongolian Groom for almost an hour now. He remains under observation at Santa Anita’s equine hospital and it could be some time before there is anything more to report.
The Paulick Report website reports that X-rays show Mongolian Groom has fractures in the lower part of his cannon-bone and the upper part of his pastern, and quotes veterinary surgeon Dr Al Ruggles.
Ruggles: "It’s obviously a challenging injury. You have to have an honest discussion of what the options are and what the risks are. Hopefully it’s something that can be managed."
— Paulick Report (@paulickreport) November 3, 2019
In the interview room, one of the owners of Vino Rosso is pointing out that the horse spent the first couple of years of his life alongside Justify, last year’s Triple Crown winner, at the farm of breeder John Gunther. Some crop, that.
Latest news on Mongolian Groom from a Santa Anita spokesperson:
Mongolian Groom was pulled up at the top of the stretch ... with a serious injury to his left hind ankle. The injury is serious and at this point they [veterinary staff] are trying to work with connections on what treatment options they would like to pursue.
Fearing the worst for Mongolian Groom. It had been an injury-free meeting until the final furlong of the final race, what a desperate way to conclude if the news is as bad as it seems.
There are chants of “Vi-no, Vi-no” in the winner’s enclosure as Todd Pletcher’s 13th runner in the Classic proves to be the one that gives him a first success.
Mongolian Groom appeared to suffer a leg injury and has been taken straight to the track’s hospital for assessment.
McKinzie was sat in ideal position turning in but Vino Rosso came up with an irresistible charge down the stretch to put the race to bed half a furlong from the line.
Higher Power, Elate and Math Wizard filled the next three places.
A hugely exciting race but there is, possibly, the post-script no-one wanted. Mongolian Groom appeared to break down in the stretch and was taken away in the ambulance. More news as it arrives.
BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC RESULT:
1 VINO ROSSO, 2 McKinzie, 3 Higher Power
A stretch duel and then it goes the way of Vino Rosso! McKinzie second, Higher Power third.
Updated
McKinzie in front but here comes Vino Rosso
Three are clear at the moment, McKinzie included
Favourite going ominously well
McKinzie running free, half-checked by the leader but sits second
War Of Will leads early
McKinzie broke well, Code Of Honor held up
Off and running in the Breeders’ Cup Classic!
The runners are going behind. A big cheer as the track announcer says that it’s post time for the Breeders’ Cup Classic!
I’d take a picture to show you how beautiful the San Gabriel mountains look in the sunset, but no photo could do them justice. Three minutes to the off in the Classic.
Almost $4m in the win pool, and more than $1m for the place.
McKinzie is showing at 5-2 on the tote, with Code Of Honor 7-2. Vino Rosso is 9-2, Yoshida is 5-1, Elate and Higher Power are both 9-1. Six of the 11, in other words, at shorter than 10-1.
So, as the sun sinks lower in the Californian sky and the runners start to come out onto the track, it’s time to make your pick in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. My 1-2-3: Code Of Honor, Elate, McKinzie.
And don’t forget Higher Power in a remarkably open Classic. He was below his best last time out but would have every chance on his win in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar.
The mare Elate is another live runner. She has finished close behind Blue Prize and Midnight Bisou, the 1-2 in teh Distaff, on her last two starts and also won the Delaware Handicap at Del Mar earlier this year.
Spurned by Baffert, Mike Smith is now on Yoshida, a regular in the big Grade 1 events and fourth at Churchill 12 months ago. He was within two lengths of McKinzie at Saratoga but is without a top-flight win since last year’s Woodward.
Vino Rosso was first past the post in the Jockey Club Gold Cup but (rightly, I think) lost the race to Code Of Honor in the stewards’ room. But he’s a big runner too, and has Grade 1 winning form over track and trip earlier this year.
I reckon Code Of Honor will give McKinzie plenty to think about. The runner-up in the Kentucky Derby has won three times since, including the Travers at Saratoga and the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont.
Post time for the Classic is in 36 minutes so that’s plenty of time for some video form ahead of the biggest race of the day.
McKinzie is the favourite, and was due to be ridden by Big Money Mike Smith until Bob Baffert jocked him off in favour of Joel Rosario a month ago. He has done most of his racing at shorter trips than today’s 10 furlongs, and was only 12th of 14 when fancied for the Classic 12 months ago.
His form has been a bit in and out this year too, but at his best - in the Whitney at Saratoga, for instance - he definitely looks like the one to beat.
They have just shown Zenyatta’s Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2009 on the big screen. In a game of Desert Island Races, it’s the one I’d hold onto if the other seven were swept away. The moment when she loomed up in the straight after looking a lost cause going past the Clubhouse first time was astonishing, thrilling and magical all at once.
Just one race to go now at Breeders’ Cup 2019 and while the Europeans will be returning home with just the one winner, it’s been everything that the organisers could have hoped for so far in terms of the safety and welfare of the participants.
There’s a fair old gap until the big race - it’s scheduled for 64 minutes after the turf to give NBC a good, long run at it.
Old Persian was a big disappointment, he took a strong hold early on and was one of the first horses beaten.
That was a performance worthy of a Horse Of The Year award from Bricks And Mortar, not least after the series of reverses for favourites at the meeting so far. Ryan Moore had to check at a vital stage in the stretch but it’s very hard to argue that he might have beaten the favourite.
BREEDERS' CUP TURF RESULT:
1 BRICKS AND MORTAR, 2 United, 3 Anthony Van Dyck
Ryan Moore niggling on the Derby winner, then he’s blocked in his run as Bricks and Mortar charges, and he’s got there, Bricks And Mortar gets up to win!
The big three are all well positioned to challenge
Outsider Acclimate leads them out down the back,
Bricks and Mortar fourth, Old Persian is seventh coming down the straight for the first time, Anthony Van Dyck settled against the rail in fifth
Off and running in the Breeders’ Cup Turf!
Arklow getting worked up in the stalls
Irad Ortiz and Bricks And Mortar will be coming out of stall nine, alongside Old Persian and William Buick in 10. Anthony Van Dyck and Ryan More are in five, and they’re going in.
This is what the Europeans have to contend with: Bricks And Mortar taking the Manhattan at Belmont Park in New York.
Anthony Van Dyck, Aidan O’Brien’s last chance of a winner to match Joseph’s, is a 6-1 chance. Old Persian is 7-2 to extend Charlie Appleby’s remarkable record at the Breeders’ Cup.
The runners are out on the track for the Turf. Bricks And Mortar, on a six-race winning streak to here, is the hot favourite.
Midnight Bisou was on a six-race winning streak. So was Sistercharlie. Some punters are starting to sense a pattern here ...
We’re now heading towards the climax of the meeting: the Turf in 10 minutes’ time and then the Classic.
Here’s the replay of the Distaff:
REPLAY: BLUE PRIZE wins the $2M @LonginesEq #BreedersCup Distaff! @IgnacioCorreas @MerriebelleS pic.twitter.com/ZxthkU69Ed
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 2, 2019
As expected, Smith is taking plenty of flak on social media. In his defence, Midnight Bisou did not break all that well and had to face plenty of kickback against the rail. But even so, it did not look good.
Blue Prize has run her last race and now retires to the paddocks. Midnight Bisou, however, will be kept in training at five, presumably with the Distaff at Keeneland next year as the long-term target.
For the second time today, Big Money Mike Smith has become Lose Money Mike Smith for the backers, again finishing fast but too late on one of the shortest-priced favourites at the meeting.
Midnight Bisou had three lengths to make up just to reach the fourth-placed horse turning for home. She did her best, but faced an impossible task to run down the winner. Smith is the winning-most jockey in Breeders’ Cup history, but that will not count for much with favourite-backers right now.
BREEDERS' CUP DISTAFF RESULT:
1 BLUE PRIZE, 2 Midnight Bisou, 3 Serengeti Empress
Chasing but not catching, Blue Prize wins with Midnight Bisou only second. Another big favourite beaten.
Blue Prize in front, Midnight Bisou chasing
Here she comes but too late?
Midnight Bisou has work to do
Paradise Woods also close up
Midnight Bisou against the rail in seventh, Serengeti Empress still leads, halfway down the back
Serengeti Empress quickly away, Mo See Cal chasing, Midnight BIsou mid division
Off and running in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff!
Midnight Bisou was third behind Monomoy Girl in last year’s Distaff but she has taken her form to a new level at four. Dunbar Road, a Grade 1 winner at Saratoga in the summer, and Blue Prize, who beat her in the Spinster last time, are the only other horses at single figure odds. This is all about Midnight Bisou, who will be a huge contender for Horse Of The Year if she can get the win here.
It has been a tricky meeting for the punters overall but Mitole was a popular winner of the Sprint earlier, for this backer in particular.
Think he wanted the 4?? 🤔
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 2, 2019
MITOLE wins the #BreedersCup Sprint, making this #BreedersCup fan VERY happy! pic.twitter.com/VmBBkrirOG
Here’s Uni’s win in the Mile via Twitter:
REPLAY: Watch UNI win the $2M @TVG #BreedersCup Mile! pic.twitter.com/WCfb0R6qGi
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 2, 2019
Two heavy favourites have been beaten already today in Sistercharlie and Omaha Beach. Now here comes another: Midnight Bisou, market leader for the Distaff. She’s showing at 4-5 to complete an unbeaten eight-race season having started her campaign on 27 January at Sam Houston Park.
This is her most recent win, in the Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park.
Rosario lost a lot of ground making his challenge as he did, but there was never going to be anything getting in his way in the stretch. He was tracking Circus Maximus until the turn out of the back but left him standing on his charge for glory.
Circus Maximus was only a nose behind Without Parole in fourth but that’s another sweep of the places for the Americans. Uni made a huge move around the outside on the turn for home and ended up five wide entering the the stretch as a result, but it turned out to be a winning decision by Joel Rosario. He was in front with about half a furlong to run and was going away again at the line.
BREEDERS' CUP MILE RESULT:
1 UNI, 2 Got Stormy, 3 Without Parole
Big outside move by Uni, Frankie getting swamped, Uni goes on to win, with Got Stormy next
Circus Maximus about sixth on theoutside
El Tormenta next, Frankie setting a good clip
Frankie gets across to lead from 13 on Hey Gaman
Approaching the stalls ... starting to load ...
Off and running in the Breeders’ Cup Mile!
If one of the other runners here sound familiar, by the way, it should. Without Parole won last year’s St James’s Palace Stakes for John Gosden and started the season in Newmarket before a switch to Chad Brown’s US stable.
Four minutes to post in the Mile. Joseph O’Brien has a slice of history already, now his dad Aidan will try to add another. I’ve not had time to check, but I think the chances of there having been a father and son saddling winners on the same day at the Breeders’ Cup before are somewhat remote.
They are in the paddock for the Mile. In the meantime, here’s Joseph O’Brien winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf on St Nicholas Abbey as an 18-year-old. What’s really scary is that he’s only 26 now.
Yesterday was tough for the Europeans but Iridessa’s has instilled a bit more confidence and there are several runners with a chance in the Mile, up next in 20 minutes. Circus Maximus, a Royal Ascot winner, is the obvious team leader but Space Traveller and Danny Tudhope are worth a second look - I tipped them, as it happens - while the popular grey Lord Glitters and James’s Tate’s Hey Gaman, with Frankie aboard, are not just here to make up the numbers.
Leading the home side is Get Stormy from the Mark Casse stable. He’s the narrow 5-2 favourite on the tote at the moment with Circus Maximus next at 7-2. Space Traveller is currently 25-1 by the way if you have access to the US pools.
Just as he did in the Amsterdam, Shancelot absolutely blitzed through the opening quarter and he still looked good for the win turning in. But Ricardo Santana had got it just right on Mitole and as the leader started to tire, he ran him down to win with something to spare. He just couldn’t dominate the whole of a Grade 1 field as he did at Grade 2 level.
BREEDERS' CUP SPRINT RESULT:
1 MITOLE, 2 Shancelot, 3 Whitmore
Can he keep it up? they’re turning in, Shancelot still here comes Mitole, getting to him
a sub 22 second quarter
Shancelot is burning along
Catalina Cruiser slowly away, Shancelot quickly in front
Off and running in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint!
Joseph O’Brien is presumably heading straight on to Melbourne tonight, but you wouldn’t put it past him to call in at Cork on the way ...
Joseph set up for world domination. Trains Iridessa to win at the @BreedersCup just over 18 hours after sending out Downdraft to win on Derby Day @FlemingtonVRC
— Ronan Groome (@ronangroome20) November 2, 2019
Four in the Melbourne Cup back at the latter on Tuesday and four at Cork tomorrow as well!
Impressive stuff, but then you see Shancelot’s win in the Grade Two Amsterdam Stakes and all you can say is wow. They were strung out like washing after two furlongs as Shancelot set outstanding fractions, but at no stage did he ever look like stopping in front. He’s not backed it up since but has been beaten only narrowly, including by Omaha Beach here at Santa Anita. A return to that form would make him very hard to beat and he’s favourite at 9-5.
Give the Amsterdam a watch:
The runners for the Sprint have come into the paddock amid all the excitement. It’s a shame that Imperial Hint is out but this is still a really interesting renewal of this race, with three big contenders in Catalina Cruiser, Shancelot and Mitole.
Mitole has been beaten only once in nine starts, when second to Imperial Hint in a race at Saratoga that was run in record time. This is his excellent win in the Forego Stakes:
Joseph O’Brien is in the interview room, talking about Iridessa:
We thought she was a legitimate contender. We had a good draw and Wayne gave her a fantastic ride, it’s a special day
And here, while I’ve got a moment, is the vid of Spun To Run’s defeat of Omaha Beach earlier on.
REPLAY: SPUN TO RUN wins the $1M @bigassfans #BreedersCup Dirt Mile in thrilling fashion! pic.twitter.com/9FIdYkjJ1z
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 2, 2019
O’Brien and Lordan will be in the interview room soon. In the meantime, here’s the replay of her victory via the Breeders’ Cup Twitter feed:
REPLAY: IRIDESSA wins the $2M @MakersMark #BreedersCup Filly & Mare Turf! Congrats to her connections! @JosephOBrien2 @waynemlordan pic.twitter.com/DzkAdrijUO
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) November 2, 2019
Some day for Joseph O’Brien, who has now had winners at Flemington in Australia, Down Royal in Ireland and Santa Anita in California.
That was a fantastic ride by Wayne Lordan. He knew, of course, that Mirth would come back to the field but he would not have been human if a few doubts hadn’t started to creep in as they left the back stretch.
He then timed his run to perfection in the stretch, having made sure he was right on Vasilika’s tail turning in. He then had just enough left to edge past Flavien Prat for the win at 13-1.
BREEDERS' CUP FILLY & MARE TURF RESULT:
1 IRIDESSA 2 Vasilika 3 Sistercharlie
Iridess wins for Joseph O’Brien and Wayne Lordan, O’Brien is the second person - after Freddy Head - to both ride and train a Breeders’ Cup winner.
Iridessa is in front, closing stages ... she goes past locked with Vasilika
Castle Lady goes after her, the lead is shrinking
Mirth eight lengths clear going down the back, Vasilika still in pursuit
Mirth is a clear leader from Vasilika
Iridessa third going past the stands, Sistercharlie fifth
Off and running in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf!
Sistercharlie is even money. Vasillika is second choice at 5-1, Billesdon Brook - a 1,000 Guineas winner, no less - is 18-1 and Iridessa is 14-1. Frankie has got some backers though, despite a wide draw, and Fanny Logan is showing at around 7-1. Two minutes to post time!
Another interesting runner, meanwhile, is Dan Ward’s Vasilika, in more ways than one. Until recently, she was trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, who was banned from Santa Anita in June after a fourth horse in his care suffered a fatal injury while racing since the start of the year. Janet Hollendorfer, his wife, is one of Vasilika’s co-owners and there could be some fireworks in the interview room if she prevails.
Iridessa’s Group One wins include the Matron Stakes:
Sistercharlie is showing at 4-5 on the tote and she will be a very tough nut to crack. Here she is winning the Beverly D Stakes earlier this year:
Frankie Dettori has been discussing his ride on Fanny Logan with Nick Luck, 25 years after his first Breeders’ Cup win in the same colours on Barathea.
Back in 1994, @FrankieDettori scored at the @BreedersCup with Barathea in the Sheikh Mohammed silks – he’s back again in these colours for Fanny Logan, up next in the @MakersMark Filly and Mare Turf… @NickLuck #BC19 pic.twitter.com/FlzLD9B8Sw
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 2, 2019
That really wasn’t Mike Smith’s finest hour, though praise is also due to Irad Ortiz jnr who rode a perfect race from the front, taking charge from an early stage and getting his opponents to dance to his tune.
Another hot favourite goes down, and another coming up. Sistercharlie defends her crown in the Filly & Mare Turf in 17 minutes’ time, vs European challengers Iridessa, Billesdon Brook, Just Wonderful and Fanny Logan.
As expected, Mike Smith’s effort there did not find favour with many of Omaha Beach’s punters. Most tweets are unsuitable for a family audience, this is one of the few without at least half a dozen very rude words.
The beast Omaha Beach looked great heading out for the Dirt Mile... it’s a shame Mike Smith decided to put him in the race an hour too late #breederscup2019 @SunRacing pic.twitter.com/uuDqhfDDJp
— Jack Keene (@jkeene124) November 2, 2019
Talking of Twitter, here’s a take on Covfefe’s win earlier:
I'm glad that #Covfefe's win can promote Homes for Our Troops, a meaningful charity that works to house homeless veterans. Her name, originally a Trump typo, is also a thumb in the eye to a tyrant of a President. #BC19
— Carly Silver (@CarlyASilver) November 2, 2019
Twitter, I sense, is not going to be kind to “Big Money” Mike Smith after that ride on Omaha Beach.
The pace is holding up very well at Santa Anita this afternoon. Spun To Run is another all-the-way winner, sent straight into a lead he never looked likely to surrender by Irad Ortiz jnr. It was soft lead too - they covered the half-mile in 46.51sec - and Mike Smith gave him too much rope on Omaha Beach. He closed from the home turn but he was always going to run out of track.
BREEDERS' CUP DIRT MILE RESULT:
1 SPUN TO RUN, 2 Omaha Beach, 3 Blue Chipper
He’s going to come up short, Spun To Run hangs on, Omaha Beach second
Spun To Run still in front, here comes the favourite
Omaha Beach still plenty to do but starting to make progress
Blue Chipper is second
Omaha Beach mid division, five lengths off the lead
Spun To Run leads into the first turn
Off and running in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile!
This race starts right in front of the stand, can’t beat the sound of the gates crashing open. One minute to post time.
The punters are not convinced by that form, however, and are very much siding with Omaha Beach. He could well be the first, perhaps only, odds-on shot on the card and is currently showing at 4-5.
The main challengers to Omaha Beach are expected to be Improbable and Mr Money, who both ran in the Pennsylvania Derby earlier in the year, finishing fourth and second respectively.
Omaha Beach had been off the track for six months, however, when he returned to action with a victory in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. That gives him the unusual record coming into today’s race of having won his last two starts, both Grade 1 events, at nine furlongs and then six furlongs.
There is a British-trained runner in the race in Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Ambassadorial with Jamie Spencer in the plate. He’s the only European runner on the dirt at the meeting, and a big outsider at 60-1.
The favourite is Omaha Beach, who was also favourite for the Kentucky Derby earlier in the year until he was scratched three days before the race due to a breathing problem. He was the favourite for the Derby after winning the Arkansas Derby:
More on the Turf Sprint as it arrives, but now it’s getting towards time for what is without doubt the most entertaining/intriguing/bizarre* name for a race on the card all night: the Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile.
(*delete according to taste).
The new sponsors of the Dirt Mile make fans. Very big fans, in fact. And their logo is an Ass. Hence, Big Ass Fans.
Another winner on the tight turf track here that made most or all of the running. Belvoir Bay was a 15-1 shot but never seemed likely to be reeled in after somehow managing to get to the lead from his wide draw in stall 12.
Eddie Haskell beat only one home, Totally Boss was away well enough from his inside draw but last and beaten with two furlongs to run. Stormy Liberal was in fourth turning in but soon faded.
BREEDERS' CUP TURF SPRINT RESULT:
1 BELVOIR BAY, 2 Om, 3 Shekky Shebaz
But they’re not going to get there, Belvoir Bay makes all
Belvoir Bay leads at the turn, here comes Shekky Shebaz and Om
Totally Boss is last
Belvoir Bay prominent, Shekky Shebaz close up
Off and running in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint!
They are out on the track for the Turf Sprint, six minutes to post time. Shekky Shebaz is popular with the local players, he was 12-1 on the morning line but is currently 5-1 here. He took the Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga.
Totally Boss is also fancied, along with Imprimis, the first of Frankie Dettori’s rides today. Here’s Totally Boss winning at Kentucky Downs, in a race that also includes the super-busy Stormy Liberal and Imprimis, who can be seen getting little luck in running on the way to finishing fourth.
Next up here is the Turf Sprint, in which the admirably durable Stormy Liberal will attempt to complete a hat-trick of wins having taken the same event at both Del Mar and Churchill Downs over the last two years.
He’s not the favourite, though (current 13-1, in fact). Eddie Haskell was the morning-line favourite at 9-2 and can be seen here finishing second in the Eddie D Stakes, with Stormy Liberal in third.
Covfefe was sent off at 3-2 and won by three-quarters of a length. Spiced Perfection was fourth, and Come Dancing was sixth.
A very smooth success for Joel Rosario on Brad Cox’s three-year-old, pretty much Plan A all the way. He was settled in third down the back, took over on the home turn and stayed on well as only Bellafina of the market leaders managed to raise a challenge.
BREEDERS' CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT RESULT:
1 COVFEFE, 2 Bellafina, 3 Dawn The Destroyer
Covfefe leads, Bellafina chasing in the stretch
Covfefe best placed of the market leaders turning in
Off and running in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint!
Covfefe was the favourite on the morning line but it looks like Come Dancing will go off as favourite, though only narrowly. One minute to post time for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
It would be stretching things to say that my tips for yesterday’s Breeders’ Cup races covered themselves in glory. Unabashed, however, I present my picks for today’s nine races, which will no doubt include one or more reasons for deep embarrassment in six hours’ time.
18.55 Covfefe
19.33 Totally Boss
20.10 Omaha Beach
20.54 Iridessa (nb)
21.36 Shancelot
22.20 Space Traveller
23.00 Midnight Bisou
23.40 Old Persian (nap)
0.44 Code Of Honour
Come Dancing is the early favourite for the Filly & Mare Sprint (this isn’t really Donald Trump territory, after all). She’s 7-5 on the tote, with Covfefe on 5-2 and Spiced Perfection on 7-1. Bellafina, trained by British-born Simon Callaghan, also finding backers. She’s 5-1, and can be seen here winning the Santa Anita Oaks.
A truly immense American flag is currently being carried out onto the track, ready for the rendition of the Star Spangled Banner without which no sporting occasion here is complete.
And finally, Spiced Perfection landing the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, a Grade 2.
And here’s Come Dancing, winning - somewhat appropriately - the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes.
The final race before the Breeders’ Cup events is due off in 10 minutes. It’s the Twilight Derby, which I’m fairly certain used to be at the end of the card as the name suggests, but now it’s run at 11am local time. Go figure, as they say.
After that, it’s on to the nine Breeders’ Cup races, kicking off with the Filly & Mare Sprint. The races will come up thick and fast once we get going, so here’s some video form to peruse as the minutes count down to post time.
The market leaders for this race - which, somewhat confusingly for Europeans, is run over seven furlongs - are Covfefe - named after one of Donald Trump’s bizarre Twitter bloopers - Come Dancing and Spiced Perfection. First up, Covfefe, getting the better of a fantastic stretch duel with Serengeti Empress at Saratoga.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Santa Anita in Arcadia, Los Angeles, for day two of the 2019 Breeders’ Cup (or welcome back, if you were here on Friday as Europe’s challenge for the juvenile events was comprehensively dismissed by the American-trained two-year-olds).
That was a disappointing way for the travelling contingent to start the weekend, but Saturday’s card is where the real riches and glory lie and there are European runners with big chances in three of the four turf events. Anthony Van Dyck, the Derby winner, attempts to win his first race since in the Turf where Old Persian is also strongly fancied, and Circus Maximus, the St James’s Palace Stakes winner, is the probable favourite for the Mile. And there are also five ultra-competitive races on the main track which will have fans of dirt racing queuing up at the betting windows in the hope of retrieving just a little of what they left behind on Friday.
There were some unexpected results here yesterday to say the least, above all in the feature event, the Juvenile, where all three of the eight horses that were showing at single-figure odds at the off finished out of the frame.
The “all-sources handle” for yesterday’s 10-race card, including five Breeders’ Cup events, was a new record for the first day of the meeting at $56.5m [£46m], so somebody definitely went home happy. Form-followers, though, will hope that the racing redistributes wealth a little more even-handedly this afternoon.
The first three Breeders’ Cup races are all-American affairs after Aidan O’Brien’s two entries in the Turf Sprint (19.33) failed to make it onto the plane. The action starts at 18.55GMT with the Filly & Mare Sprint - and rolls all the way to one of the most open renewals of the Classic that I can remember at 00.44GMT. McKinzie, Vino Rosso, Code Of Honor, Yoshida and Elate are all priced up at between 4-1 and 7-1 by Britain’s bookmakers and the fans here at Santa Anita may face an equally tricky task in separating them when the time comes around seven hours from now.
The best news after yesterday’s opening card was that all the runners returned safe and well after their races.
This Breeders’ Cup is being staged under unprecedented scrutiny after the much-publicised deaths of 36 horses at this track while either racing or training since the start of the year.
The track has initiated a number of reforms in an attempt to address the issue and, so far, the rate of fatal injuries has dropped sharply since racing resumed here after the summer break at the end of September. Management and fans will still approach today’s action with some apprehension, however, as there is a low level of inherent risk in horse racing and no amount of effort will ever get the injury rate down to zero. Around 997 of every 1,000 starters here do not suffer a fatal injury, but an incident-free Breeders’ Cup would certainly help to underline the point. And even then, there are still deep structural issues in American racing which need to be addressed, as this excellent analysis by Mark Irby of Animal Wellness Action points out.
Santa Anita’s new regime on veterinary inspections of all runners has had a significant impact on the European challenge today, as both Fleeting (Filly & Mare Turf) and Suedois (Mile) have been ruled out after being found to be slightly lame when inspected this morning.
Other non-runners from the original declarations are Thais, the probable pace-maker in the Filly & Mare Turf, who was ruled out by vets a couple of days ago, and Imperial Hint, who was scratched from the Sprint after his morning inspection.
The main card at the Breeders’ Cup is one of the best racing days of the year, the action gets underway in just over an hour and there will be video form and more for all the races in this space as the day goes on. Let’s do this!
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