Desert Code...where had I heard of him before?
I opened a page with his information, and it finally hit me. This was the chestnut rocket that had blown past his rivals in late stretch to win the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint of 2008! It was, at the time, one of the most exhilarating performances I've ever seen in this sport. Now that it's fresh in my mind, my opinion has not changed.
The 2008 Breeders' Cup was the first ever Breeders' Cup held on a synthetic surface. I had no strong opinions about the inaugural running of the Turf Sprint, as I was not very familiar with the horses running in it. I sought answers in the post parade, as I do when I'm totally stumped on a race.
As the horses made their way up Santa Anita's downhill turf course to the starting gate, a stocky chestnut colt in lime green silks caught my eye. His name was Desert Code, and he was 36-1. I knew absolutely nothing about him except that veteran jockey Richard Migliore was aboard him. However, "The Mig," who had been riding since the 80s, had never won a Breeders' Cup race. Desert Code was a serious longshot in a field of very accomplished horses, and yet I was drawn to him.
Well, why not? I had nothing to lose.
The horses broke from the gate quickly, the downward slope carrying their momentum faster and faster. The gray California Flag, a downhill specialist who would win the Turf Sprint in 2009, ran with Mr. Nightlinger and set a blazing first quarter of 20 and change. My eyes were constantly searching for the copper-colored form of Desert Code, and found him running near the rear of the field, green blinkered head bobbing as he ran.
After ripping through an astonishing half mile in 41 and change, the horses careened around the turn and entered the stretch. Desert Code was trapped behind a wall of horses at the top of the lane. As California Flag began to tire, the classy sprinter Diabolical looked as if he had the best shot to win. A multiple stakes winner, the 5 year-old had been purchased by the formidable racing operation Godolphin and was the favorite in this race. Flying past other horses, the bay stretched out and took the lead under Frankie Dettori.
No one saw Desert Code coming. The Mig hooked him to the outside and, as if launched from a slingshot, the chestnut colt began to fly past his rivals, edging out Storm Treasure and bearing down on Diabolical like an express train. All Dettori must have seen was a copper and lime green blur as Desert Code took the lead, crossing the wire to win by a neck. Even the announcer, Trevor Denman, was stunned, not even mentioning the winner's name until an instant before the finish line.
How had it happened? At the top of the stretch, Desert Code looked as if he had no shot to win. When a path opened up, however, the veteran Migliore took his chance and sent his colt, and his horse did the work for him. Desert Code galloped out, open lengths ahead of his rivals as his rider beamed and shouted with exultation. After nearly 30 years of riding, Richard Migliore had finally won his first Breeders' Cup race aboard this 36-1 longshot. The fleet-footed colt held his blinkered head high as the Mig pulled him up from his championship run. He would pay $75 to win - the fourth highest payout in Breeders' Cup history.
That by far would be the greatest win of Desert Code's career. He would go on to win a couple more races, but fail as a returning champion in the 2009 version of the Turf Sprint, finishing a distant eleventh. He retired to stud in 2010; interestingly enough, that was around the same time that his veteran rider decided to call it quits as well. The two had made their first - and last - Breeders' Cup win an exhilarating one.
I had almost forgotten about Desert Code until Moving Desert won yesterday. Her easy victory brought this memory back to my mind's eye. I can still remember watching the TV that day, my jaw dropped with astonishment as Desert Code made one of the greatest winning runs I've ever seen in this sport. Now I can be assured that his legacy will live on through his offspring, for as I watch Moving Desert's race again, I can see her sire's smooth, lengthy stride in the way she won. That's the great thing about horse racing - champions retire, but their memories remain through bloodlines.
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