Sunset at Santa Anita - Breeders' Cup Friday

The sun has finally set on the first day of two Breeders' Cup cards at Santa Anita.  Five champions were crowned; three on dirt, two on turf.  And though there was controversy - the track playing unfairly fast or Ramsey vs. Castellano on Bobby's Kitten's front-running trip - the day ended sweetly.  Hall of Fame jockeys ruled the roost, winning three out of five, and three year-olds proved their mettle against their older rivals. 

After several conveyor-belt style races in which leaders prevailed and closers toiled, the racing public was skeptical about the dirt races coming up, especially the two later on the card.  Breeders' Cup 2013 started with the Marathon, a race made almost painful to watch, as most horses today simply aren't bred for such stamina.  The English-trained London Bridge pulled the upset after favorite Ever Rider pulled up on the backstretch, exhausted.  London Bridge, who became the first New York-bred to win a Breeders' Cup race, hadn't been training all that well on the dirt track, despite a pedigree that suggested a liking for dirt.  Jockey Mike Smith was pleasantly surprised at how well his mount handled the new surface, and thus, the three year-old London Bridge entered the history books as another winner of the Breeders' Cup Marathon.

Distaste on social media followed the plodding distance event, with some even hoping the race would never be run again.  Excitement filled the air again, though, as the two year-olds entered the paddock for the Juvenile Turf.  The Europeans looked strong here, but not nearly as strong as Bobby's Kitten, who had stormed home to a six length victory in his last start.  Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey - keepers of the Kittens, if you will - he was sent off the favorite in the mile turf race.  Not far behind him in the wagering was the latest installment of the Godolphin-Coolmore rivalry - a well-bred gray colt called Outstrip and a West-Virginia-bred with a blazed face, Giovanni Boldini.  They would end up running 1-2 in the race after Bobby's Kitten set suicidal fractions on the front end, causing Ken Ramsey to publicly lambast jockey Castellano on his poor choice of ride.  As Ramsey stated, later repeated by NBC anchors, "Castellano will never ride Bobby's Kitten again."  Outstrip gave Mike Smith another Cup victory for the day and set a stakes record in the process.

Talk of the speed-favoring track intensified again as the horses went to post for the Dirt Mile.  Brilliant three year-old Verrazano held favoritism over the field, despite throwing in a clunker in his Travers try last time out.  "Big V," as many call him, would not come out on top today, finishing a dull fourth after trouble on the turn.  Instead, it was his contemporary Goldencents who entered the winner's circle for the Dirt Mile.  Jockey Bejarano urged his mount straight out of the gate; the bay colt took the lead and cut across the track from his outside post to save ground, never looking back and still winning despite suicidal fractions.  The speed bias undoubtedly aided Goldencents in victory, as closers were struggling to get near him even after those fast opening times, but there is no doubt that this son of Into Mischief is a special horse.  It was the last race for some in the field, including Verrazano and faithful old Hymn Book, who finished just behind Verrazano in fifth.

Our return to the turf led us to a star-studded field of two year-old fillies lined up for the Juvenile Fillies Turf.  The favorite was French filly Vorda, who was coming out of a second place finish behind top European colt No Nay Never in the Prix Morny (G1).  A popular favorite to win was the second betting choice, My Conquestadory, who had shown brilliance in her previous two starts but drew the unlucky outside post.  There were several American hopes to win - and Castellano got a leg up on another Kitten; was it tense in the walking ring? - but Europe would win another turf race on the day, and it wouldn't be with Vorda.  Instead, Chriselliam, who won her last at long odds, swept past them all and flew home to win by open lengths, much the best.  She provided redemption for both jockey Richard Hughes, winless at the Breeders' Cup, and co-owner Willie Carson, a former jockey whose mount Dayjur jumped shadows at the wire and lost the 1990 Breeders' Cup Sprint.  Chriselliam's win was popular and brought even more energy to the pre-race buzz surrounding the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Although only six horses went to post, the Distaff was far and away the marquee race of the day.  Any of the fillies and mares entered had a shot to win, but most eyes were on Royal Delta, the stately dark bay racemare looking to win herself an unprecedented third Breeders' Cup Distaff.  Standing in her way were brilliant sophomore fillies Princess of Sylmar and Beholder, both of whom could make very nice cases for the three year-old filly championship.  Those three held steady favoritism in the race, and many saw them finishing 1-2-3.  However, Royal Delta would fight for the lead with Authenticity but fade out to finish fourth, a little less sparkling than she had been in her past two Breeders' Cup performances.  Princess of Sylmar struggled on the speedy track, trailing behind the field and making no headway in her move on the turn.  She finished behind even the longshot Street Girl, last in the field of six.  Beholder would take the race, sitting off the pace under veteran jockey Gary Stevens and pulling away to win by open lengths.  While Mott's champion mare finished off the board, his nice three year-old filly Close Hatches finished a valiant second. 

Beholder was the high point of a day wrought with frustration over a track bias, giving her veteran jockey his first Breeders' Cup race in many years.  Stevens, coming back after a lengthy retirement, was blessed with a shrewd mind that routinely outfoxes his rival riders.  By taking Beholder back off the leaders, he allowed the filly to save energy for a move on the turn and a beautiful turn of foot in the stretch.  Beholder became the first juvenile Breeders' Cup winner to come back and win at the Breeders' Cup again later.  Youth ruled the day - all the winners in non-age restricted championship races were three year-olds.  If the horses were youthful, though, it was the old boys club that guided them home; Mike Smith, 48, had two wins on the day, and Gary Stevens, 50 years young, was able to pull through with Beholder, who may pick up the award for champion three year-old Filly after Princess of Sylmar's last place performance. 

Another Breeders' Cup Friday is in the books, and now horsemen and turf writers alike prepare for an even longer day of racing tomorrow.  Champions will be crowned and storylines redeemed, but for now, we can rest in the memories of today's five great races.