European Stars Dominate 2008 Breeders' Cup

by Steve Davidowitz | Oct 30 2008

American-based Zenyatta, Stardom Bound, Mike Smith, Garrett Gomez and Bob Baffert have their fine moments

A Column by Steve Davidowitz
October 30, 2008

The 25th edition of the Breeders' Cup was run on a glib turf course and an equally fast Pro-Ride main track that featured extremely fast clockings and a baker's dozen of stretch running winners in the 14 Breeders' Cup events.

When all was said and done, 2007 Horse of the year Curlin could only manage a fourth-place finish in the $5 million Classic, this after making a strong, wide move to the lead on the final turn. The race was far from over, however, as two high-class European turf milers - Raven's Pass and Henrythenavigator - powered past Curlin in mid stretch. From there to the wire, Curlin was struggling to maintain a semblance of his world-class form, but even the less imposing, notorious purse nibbler Tiago managed to pass him for third in the final yards.

At the heart of the Europeans' unparalleled success in this $5 million race and other positive Breeders' Cup results this year were factors that probably deserved far more weight than many might have believed prior to the races being run.

According to the great British-based trainer John Gosden, who won two Breeders' Cup races - the Classic with Raven's Pass and the Juvenile Turf with Donativum - it was the "absence of steroids" for the first time in Breeders' Cup history and the change "from a dirt main track to a synthetic racing surface" that was responsible for the outstanding showing by so many European horses.

Gosden went so far as to say that the Europeans knew they had a "level playing field" in this Breeders' Cup "for the first time." Said Gosden: "Many of us felt it would bring us closer together with a better chance to win."

In all, the Euros won five of the 14 races, with six seconds and that doesn't include in-the-money performances by converted Europeans, such as Square Eddie who finished second in the Juvenile and Cocoa Beach who was second in the Ladies' Classic. Nor does it include Canadian Sealy Hill who was a strong second in the Filly & Mare Turf.

Here, in my final column for Bodog this year, are my capsule reviews of all 14 Breeders' Cup races.

Friday, October 24th, Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park

* The $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, 7 furlongs on Pro-Ride.

Fractional Splits: :22.26 :44..02 1:07.91 1:19.90 - Fast splits on a very fast Pro-Ride racing surface in which the outer lanes were by far the best lanes.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 103 - Just about par for this race being run at a longer distance than last year.

Ventura, coming out of a series of turf races at one mile, lagged towards the rear and was a clear stretch running, four-length winner over solid sprinting 3-year-old filly Indian Blessing who did as well as she could holding second after racing close to the leaders for a half-mile and taking a short lead at the furlong pole.

Zaftig also rallied for third and Miraculous Miss rallied for fourth, as front runners Dearest Trickski, Dream Rush and La Tee all tired badly under the intense pace pressure.

* The $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, one mile.

Fractional Splits: :22.53 :45.82 1:10.10 1:22.60 1:35.15 - Slightly above par split to the half-mile marker, with a par final quarter-mile.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 87 - Just about par for 2-year-olds going this far on grass.

Maram, from New York, and Heart Shaped, from Europe, rallied strongly to move past a stubborn front running Laragh, who went a touch too fast early, opened up more than two lengths in the upper stretch only to fail to hold off the top two in the final yards.

* The Gr. 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, 1 1/16 miles on Pro-Ride.

Fractional Splits: :22.77 :45.92 1:09.85 1:34.64 1:40.99 - Above par splits all the way through.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 94 - Another par rating for a 2-year-old Breeders' Cup race for fillies at a distance of ground.

Stardom Bound, an electrifying young filly, took the overland route to post an easy score while Dream Rush was a bit late in getting in gear, nevertheless looked good through the stretch taking second over previously unbeaten Sky Diva, who had a safe trip for seven furlongs and altered course late to barely hold off 64-1 stretch runner Dave's Revenge for third.

Front running C.S. Silk and Be Smart faded badly from their early efforts as so many front runners did on these two high-class racing cards on this synthetic racing strip.

* The Gr. 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, 1 1/4 miles.

Fractional Splits: :25.50 :50.02 1:14.78 1:38.12 2:01.58 - A very slow pace for six furlongs with a strong final half-mile on a very firm, very fast turf course.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 105 - A solid rating for the level and distance.

Forever Together flashed her powerful late kick to move past Wait a While, who had recently won the Yellow Ribbon over the course and distance. Stretch running Sealy Hill also moved past Wait a While to get second while no danger to the winner.

Front running Folk Opera was pressed by Halfway to Heaven and both faded once Wait a While added to the pressure on the final turn. Although Wait a While held together well enough for a third-place finish, Folk Opera folded up almost immediately and Halfway to Heaven seemed to need a much softer pace scenario to handle 1 1/4 miles.

* The Gr. 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic, 1 1/8 miles on Pro-Ride.

Fractional Splits: :23.71 :48.08 1:11.08 1:35.12 1:46.85 - An erratic pace given the slow second quarter-mile split, but the final three furlongs clocked in 35.78 was well above par.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 103 - A par rating for a G1 race, but the rating doesn't do the winner justice given her extremely wide trip and sudden burst of acceleration.

Zenyatta was an awesome winner from last to first around the entire field that included five proven G1 winners, including the 2007 champion filly Ginger Punch. Although she was in the rear for almost seven furlongs, this was a one-horse race. Coupled with Curlin's defeat in the Classic on Saturday, this performance probably clinched the 2008 Horse of the Year award for this undefeated 4-year-old filly champion. At least that is how I will mark my ballot.

The Godolphin stable pair Cocoa Beach and Music Note - finished second and third.

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Saturday, October 25th, Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park

* The $500,000 Breeders' Cup Marathon, 1 1/2 miles on Pro-Ride.

Fractional Splits: :24.59 :50.08 1:16.20 1:40.95 2:28.24 - Slow, even splits through the first six furlongs, followed by a final six furlongs clocked in a solid 1:12 04.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 100 - Par for a G3 race at this distance.

Muhannak took over from pace setting Booyah around the final turn and barely held off late finishing Church Service, with Big Booster and Delightful Kiss third and fourth. The front runner faded to last.

* The $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, at 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill course.

Fractional Splits: :20.73 :41.81 1:05 1:11.60 - An extremely fast pace, one of the fastest I've ever seen, a pace that had to favor deep closers over the horses who were caught up in it.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 101 - A rating slightly below expectations for a race that attracted several G2 turf sprinters.

Desert Code won this with a last-to-first surge that didn't get untracked until the field entered the stretch.

Diabolical, well ridden by Frankie Dettori to make an effective late run in the stretch, moved to a clear two-length lead between calls inside the final 50 yards, but was overwhelmed by Desert Code's whirlwind finish.

Storm Treasure, Fleeting Spirit and Heros Reward rallied for third, fourth and fifth, while front runners Mr. Nightlinger, California Flag and Idiot Proof all faded badly in the final furlong.

* The $1 million Breeders' Cup 'Dirt' Mile, on Pro-Ride.

Fractional Splits: :22.24 :45.02 1:08.57 1:21.09 1:34.41 - Fast early splits that led to another stretch running result.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 102 - A moderate G2 rating for this main track mile on Pro-Ride.

Albertus Maximus and Rebellion finished 1-2 with their strong rallies from the rear of the pack, while front running Two Step Salsa ran a dynamite race, setting the pace and holding on very well for third over My Friend Charlie and a half-dozen other stretch runners.

Lewis Michael, who raced close to the pace and made a bid to the lead on the final turn, faded to seventh. Slew's Tizzy and Surf Cat were hard used making the pace and were running in reverse in the final furlong.

* The Gr. 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile, on the turf.

Fractional Splits: :23.00 :46.52 1:10.07 1:22.10 1:33.40 - Par early splits followed by a strong final few furlongs.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure:107 - A G1 rating for a world-class G1 filly.

Goldikova, who had defeated Henrythenavigator in her latest mile race in Europe, showed a brilliant turn of foot here to defeat last year's Breeders' Cup Mile winner Kip Deville.

The latter ran as well as he did to win this race last year, stalking the pace and moving well to challenge for the lead in mid stretch. But he was left in the dust by Goldikova's electrifying late surge.

In my judgment, Goldikova is second only to two-time Mile winner Miesque as the best 3-year-old filly turf miler I've ever seen. Interestingly, Goldikova's trainer Freddie Head rode Miesque to her two Breeders' Cup triumphs in 1987 and 1988.

* The Gr. 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile, 1 1/6 miles on Pro-Ride.

Fractional Splits: :23.55 :47.08 1:10.61 1:34.65 1:40.94 - Slower than par early splits and above par final few furlongs.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 91 - About five points below the usual rating for a G1 race at this distance for 2-year-old males at this time of year.

Midshipman was the only front running winner in any of this year's Breeders' Cup races. He did it with a strong burst out of the gate from his wide post position #11 and he showed a gritty disposition from the far turn to the wire while being attacked from both sides by Square Eddie and Street Hero.

Square Eddie, the favorite after a facile victory at Keeneland, re-rallied inside from close range for second. Street Hero, who defeated Midshipman in the recent Norfolk Stakes, was in close contact with the winner throughout but weakened slightly late.

Terrain, who finished fourth, was one of the few horses in the two-day Breeders' Cup card who had some traffic problems.

* The $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, one mile.

Fractional Splits: :22.54 :46.53 1:10.34 1:22.58 1:34.68 - Par splits all the way through.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 93 - A G2 par rating for 2-year-olds at one mile on the grass at this time of year.

Donativum scored narrowly over Westphalia, as both rallied strongly through the stretch to outgame Coronet of a Baron, who was close to the pace all the way and made his move to the lead while wide at the top of the stretch.

Donativum won because jockey Frankie Dettori used all his skill to find a seam for a clear late run and Westphalia just missed because he was not as lucky as the winner to find the clear lane between horses in time. It was also true that the winner was a tad sharper and probably deserved the close verdict.

Coronet of a Baron, making his debut on grass, turned in a strong race for third, but he barely had enough energy left in the tank to hold off 29-1 shot City Style for third.

* The Gr. 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint, 6 furlongs on Pro-Ride.

Fractional Splits: :21.28 :43.85 :55.14 1:07.08 - Very fast early splits that gave a boost to the strong-finishing winner.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 112 - A solid G1 rating.

Midnight Lute, a stretch running winner of this race at Monmouth Park in 2007, was brilliantly trained to reach his peak form here by future Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Essentially, Midnight Lute went into the Breeders' Cup starting gate at Santa Anita with one weak performance at Del Mar in nearly a year and uncorked his best rally to sweep on by the entire field with long bounding strides.

"This is the best horse I ever trained," said the man who trained three Kentucky Derby winners and 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given.

Fatal Bullet, a speedy sort, was well positioned in the outside post #8, and did stalk the early leader First Defence before taking command on the far turn. While he stubbornly continued on in good form to the wire, he had no answer for Midnight Lute.

* The Gr. 1 $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf, 1 1/2 miles.

Fractional Splits: :24.28 :47.06 1:10.20 1:33.86 1:58.73 2:23.42 - Par splits through the first half-mile, above par splits from there to the wire.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 110 - A solid G1 rating.

Europeans Conduit and Eagle Mountain dominated, running one-two. But there were two bad rides in this event that contributed to the outcome.

In the first place, what was jockey Johnny Murtagh doing with Soldier of Fortune, the eventual fourth-place finisher? What was he doing so close to the pace that was being set by his 'rabbit', Red Rocks Canyon? Fault jockey Johnny Murtagh for that major error of judgment.

Also, there was no need for jockey Kevin Shea (aboard Eagle Mountain) to make his move on the tiring leaders before entering the far turn. Had he waited more patiently, his mount would have inherited the lead rather than had to work for it. In my judgment, the expenditure of energy cost him the race.

Conduit, a very good European-based 3-year-old, gained conditioning by winning the longer St. Leger Stakes on an uphill course and finished boldly to catch Eagle Mountain in the final yards. His connections say they will be back to defend their title at Santa Anita in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf.

* The Gr. 1 $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, 1 1/4 miles on Pro-Ride.

Fractional Splits: :23.77 :47.60 1:11.64 1:35.48 1:59.27 - Solid splits and a strong last quarter-mile clocked in :23.79 for a new track record on the Pro-Ride surface.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 110 - A par rating for a G1 race on Pro-Ride.

Raven's Pass settled well towards the rear and Frankie Dettori chose to put him right behind Curlin for most of the race to save his energy. Meanwhile, Henrythenavigator also was covered up behind horses until he was let loose by American-based jockey John Velazquez.

Curlin launched his move around the field to reach a slight lead in the upper stretch but simply couldn't sustain his momentum when the two Euro milers attacked from both sides in mid stretch.

Tiago, last of 11, rallied steadily and did catch Curlin in the final stride for third.

At the bottom line, Curlin ran well, but as previously stated, he probably lost his claim to the 2008 Horse of the Year to the amazing 4-year-old filly Zenyatta who completed an undefeated campaign of seven races this year, to extend her career winning streak to nine and still counting. No one knows at this point if Zenyatta will be back as a 5-year-old, but if she does come back, there will be no reason for her connections to point her towards anything other than the Breeders' Cup Classic.

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So with this, my final column here, let me thank all of you for your interest and support through the past two years and let me wish all of you the best of good handicapping and good luck into 2009. Steve Davidowitz

Steve Davidowitz has written two highly acclaimed books on Thoroughbred racing---Betting Thoroughbreds and The Best and Worst of Thoroughbred Racing. He also is a regular contributor to Daily Racing Form's Simulcast Weekly and DRF Plus and his columns appear in the Bodog Racebook each week.