America got to celebrate the Breeders Cup races today, as well as the announcement of the winner of the 2020 Presidential Election, about 20 minutes before the first post time at 12:02 pm EST. Joseph R. Biden Jr. was given the nod by the political observers as the President-elect of the United States, with at least 279 Electoral votes. I could relax a bit, mentally and physically, for the annual thoroughbred racing treat.
Today's races were attended by very few, due to the pandemic - owners, trainers, breeders, grooms, and backside and track workers only were there to see 9 races worth $31 million in prize money. Due to the pandemic, 71-year-old trainer Dermot Weld stayed at home and sent his son Mark as his representative for his lone runner. And French jockey Christophe Soumillon was the only rider out of 55 attending the Breeders Cup to have two positive Covid-19 tests. He was to ride three horses today - French Jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot was able to pick up two mounts for him, and Irish jockey Colin Keane stepped up to be the reinsman for Dermot Weld's filly in the Turf.
For several horses racing today, it was the last race before retirement, as either a broodmare or stallion; and for a few horses, it was the last race for their current owners, as the horses are set to be auctioned soon - either to race again, or for retirement for breeding purposes. The juvenile racers yesterday provided a few surprises, but that happens frequently with youngsters. There were a few surprises in today's races as well.
As with yesterday's blog report, I will supply the name of the race, the complete order of finish (including the winning margins for the first four contestants across the finish line), and the betting payouts for a $2 bet in each category. (At Keeneland, you can make Trifecta bets in increments of 50 cents, and Superfecta bets in increments of 10 cents - my payout numbers are for a $2 bet in each case.)
The first Breeders Cup race today was the Fillies & Mares Sprint, with a purse of $1 million, and with 8 entries, as Inthemidstofbiz was scratched. The lady to first cross the line today was Gamine, who finished the 7 furlongs in a Track Record time of 1:20.20 and was 6 1/4 lengths ahead of Serengeti Empress, in second. Bell's the One was only a nose back in third, and beat Sconsin across the line by 1/2 length. The last half of the field followed in this order: Come Dancing, Speech, Sally's Curlin and Venetian Harbor. A win bet on Gamine paid $4.20; a place bet on Serengeti Empress paid $4; and a show bet on Bell's the One paid $3. The Perfecta paid $16.20; the Trifecta paid $52; and the Superfecta paid $514.
Gamine, jockey John Velazquez, trainer Bob Baffert
The second BC race was the Turf Sprint, a 5 1/2 furlong dash worth $1 million that drew a full field of 14 entries. Four ladies ran against the boys, but with only two international starters because of the shortness of the race. Another Track Record was set, with Glass Slippers (GB), a 4-year-old filly, winning by a 1/2 length in 1:01.53. Wet Your Whistle was a 1/2 length ahead of Leinster, who beat Extravagant Kid across the finish line by a head. Following those four were: Got Stormy, Front Run the Fed, Wildman Jack, Bombard, Oleksandra (AUS), Big Runnuer, Texas Wedge, Into Mystic, Imprimis, and Just Might. A win bet on Glass SLipper (GB) paid $22.40; a place bet on Wet Your Whistle paid $25; and a show bet on Leinster paid $3.60. The Perfecta paid $834.20; the Trifecta paid $4,945; and the Superfecta paid $81,689.60.
Glass Slippers (GB), jockey Tom Eaves, trainer Kevin Ryan
The Dirt Mile was next on the card, worth another $1 million. Only males contested the race this year, with a full field of 12, and everyone bred in Kentucky, except Knicks Go, a Maryland-bred. The winner was Knicks Go, winning by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:33.85, yet another Track Record. Jesus' Team was just a nose ahead of Sharp Samurai, who was a 1/2 length in front of Complexity. Owendale, Mr. Freeze, Rushie, Art Collector, War of Will, Silver Dust, Mr. Money and Pirate's Punch followed the leaders over the line. A in bet on Knicks Go paid $5.60; a place bet on Jesus' Team paid $33.60; and a show bet on Sharp Samurai paid $4.60. A Perfecta paid $219.60; a Trifecta paid $2,464.60; and the Superfecta paid $14,596.
Knicks Go, jockey Joel Rosario, trainer Brad Cox
The 1 3/16 miles Fillies & Mares Turf had a purse of $2 million, with a full field of 14 contenders. The ladies ranged in age from 3 to 7, with 8 of them bred in Europe. Starship Jubilee was making her last start before becoming a broodmare. She stumbled coming out of the gate and lost her rider, a sad end to her 5-year racing career. It was a hotly contested race, with Audarya (FR) winning by a neck in 1:52.72. Rushing Fall was a head in front of Harvey's Lil Goil, who was 3/4 length in front of Lady Prancealot (IRE). They were chased across the finish by Civil Union, Sistercharlie (IRE), Mean Mary, Nay Lady Nay (IRE), My Sister Nat (FR), Cayenne Pepper (IRE), Peaceful (IRE), Mucho Unusual, and Terebellum (IRE). - I sent a question to commentator and ex-jockey Jerry Bailey before the race asking if two half-siblings from the same dam (Sistercharlie and My Sister Nat) had competed against each other in the Breeders Cup before, and he answered, on air, that it had happened once before, in 2018. - A win bet on Audarya (FR) paid $37.60; a place bet on Rushing Fall paid $4.80; a show bet on Harvey's Lil Goil paid $10.80. The Perfecta paid $199.20; the Trifecta paid $3,398.60; and the Superfecta paid $79,790.40. *Audarya was a mount originally to be ridden by Christophe Sumillion, with his positive test, Pierre-Charles Boudot got the mount.
Audarya (FR), jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, trainer James Fanshawe
The $2 million Sprint over 6 furlongs was next up, with a full field of 14. Vekoma was a scratch due to a fever, and Lasting Legacy drew into the field. Frank's Rockette was the only female in the entries. The 7-year-old gelding Whitmore out ran everyone, winning by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:08.61. C Z Rocket was second by a neck over Firenze Fire, who finished 3/4 length ahead of Empire of Gold. The rest followed in this order: Manny Wah, Diamond Oops, Hog Creek Hustle, Yaupon, Lasting Legacy, Bon Raison, Frank's Rockette, Collusion Illusion, Echo Town and Jasper Prince. A win bet on Whitmore paid $38.80; a place bet on C Z Rocket paid $7.60; a show bet on Firenze Fire paid $6.40. The Perfecta paid $276; the Trifecta paid $2,184; and the Superfecta paid $59,771.60.
Whitmore, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr, trainer Ron Moquett
The Turf Mile also drew a full field of 14 for the $2 million purse. One Master was a scratch yesterday, so Order of Australia (IRE) filled in her spot, running from gate 14, as horses 10 to 14 moved one space to the left. Ages ranged from 3 to 7 years, and there were 8 international starters, including Ivar (BRZ),the grandson of Kentucky Derby, Preakness and BC Classic winner Sunday Silence. One Master's scratch left Uni as the only female in the race. Order of Australia (IRE), the draw-in, won the race by a neck in 1:33.73 - and under a substitute jockey, again, Pierre-Charles Boudot, who was replacing Christophe Soumillon, the Covid-19 positive rider. Circus Maximus (IRE) finished second, 3/4 length in front of Lope Y Fernandez (IRE), who was 1 length ahead of Ivar (BRZ). The mare Uni (GB) came next, followed by Halladay, Kameko, Factor This, Siskin, Raging Bull (FR), Digital Age (IRE), Casa Creed, March to the Arch, and Safe Voyage (IRE). A win bet on Order of Australia (IRE) paid $148.40; a place bet on Circus Maximus (IRE) paid $12.60; and a show bet on Lope Y Fernandez (IRE) paid $12.60. The Perfecta paid 42,117.80; the Trifecta paid $17,572; and the Superfecta paid $305,609.60. * Aidan O'Brien is the trainer of the first three finishers in this race.
Order of Australia (IRE), jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, trainer Aidan O'Brien
The $2 million Distaff drew a field of 10, ranging in age from 3 to 5 in the 1 1/8 mile race. The morning line betting favorite, 5-year-old Monomoy Girl, is scheduled to be sold this week in Keeneland's Breeding Stock sale. Her trainer is hoping the new owner will race her again next year, and, hopefully, keep him as the trainer. The second choice was Swiss Skydiver, who won the Preakness in October, beating the boys. Swiss Skydiver stumbled coming out of the gate and was in last place for most of the race. Monomoy Girl (maybe) finished her racing career in style, taking the Distaff crown by 1 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:47.84. She was chased across the line by Valiance, who was a 1/2 length ahead of Dunstan Road, who was only a neck in front of Harvest Moon. They were followed by: Ce Ce, Point of Honor, Swiss Skydiver, Ollie's Candy, Horologist and Lady Kate. A win bet on Monomoy Girl paid $4; a place bet on Valiance paid $8.80; and a show bet on Dunstan Road paid $8. The Perfecta paid $42.60; the Trifecta paid $525.40; and the Superfecta paid $3,580.20.
Monomoy Girl, jockey Florent Geroux, trainer Brad Cox
The 1 1/2 mile Turf race had a purse of $4 million this year, and 10 owners and trainers felt confident enough to enter. There were 6 international entries, and 4 of those 6 were ladies. Irish trainer Dermot Weld, who has won races in 7 different countries, including one Triple Crown race here in the US, had never won a Breeders Cup, although he has tried. The only horse he entered this year was filly, and her regular jockey was the positive-testing Christophe Soumillon. Irish jockey Colin Keane picked up the mount, and, because of the pandemic, Dermot Weld stayed at home. Tarnawa (IRE), Weld's only entry, won the Turf by 1 length in a time of 2:28.02. Magical (IRE) was second by a nose over Channel Maker (ONT), who finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Lord North (IRE). The order of finish for the rest was: Mogul (GB), Arklow, Mehdaayih (GB), United, Red King, and Donjah (GER). A win bet on Tarnawa (IRE) paid $11.40; a place bet on Magical (IRE) paid $4; and a show bet on Channel Maker (ONT) paid $5.60. The Perfecta paid $36.20; the Trifecta paid $284.40; and the Superfecta paid $1,802.20. * Each horse that French jockey Christophe Soumillon was set to ride won with one of two replacement riders. Both jockeys, Bouton and Keane, said that Somillon had given them insights into the horses the rode in his stead.
Tarnawa (IRE), jockey Colin Keane, trainer Dermot Weld
The final Breeders Cup race was worth $6 million - the Classic, run at 1 1/4 miles on the dirt track. All of the analysts agreed that the field of ten was pretty evenly matched, even though they ranged in age from 3 to 7. The most attention was paid to the 3 and 4 year-olds, with last year's disqualified Kentucky Derby winner, and this year's Belmont and Derby winners all lining up for a race. This year's Kentucky Derby winner, Authentic, won the Classic by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:59.19. Improbable was one length before Global Campaign, who finished 2 lengths ahead of Tacitus. Maximum Security finished next, followed by Tiz the Law, Title Ready, By My Standards, Tom's d'Etat, and Higher Power. A win bet on Authentic paid $10.40; a place bet on Improbable paid $4.80; and a show bet on Global Campaign paid $8.80. The Perfecta paid $45.40; the Trifecta paid $671.80; and the Superfecta paid $6,711.
Authentic, jockey John Velazquez, trainer Bob Baffert
And that's it until next year's Triple Crown races......
