Saturday, October 30, 2004
BREEDERS’ CUP RESULTS
TWO BRITISH RUNNERS - TWO BRITISH WINNERS
DISTAFF - 1=Ashado 2/1 got first run ; 2= Storm Flag Flying 4.6/1; finished well 3=Stellar Jane 10.3/1 kept on; distances 1.25, nk; 11 ran
JUVENILE FILLIES - 1= Sweet Catomine 2.30/1 strong run straight soon clear; 2=Balleto 4.10/1 prominent, kept on well; 3=Runaway Model 10/1 kept on; distances 3.75, 1.25 12 ran NR In The Gold
MILE 1= Singletary 16.5/1 first run, held on; 2=Antonius Pius 31.4/1 strong run straight, veered left twice; 3=Six Perfections 5.9/1 finished well; distances 0.5, 1.5 14 ran
SPRINT 1=Speightstown 3.7/1, prominent on inside, led straight soon clear 2=Kela 4/1 finished well 3=My Cousin Matt 60.7/1 finished well; distances 1.25, 0.75 13 ran
FILLY & MARE TURF 1=Ouija Board 0.9/1 patiently ridden, progress straight, led final furlong; 2= Film Maker 16.5/1 prominent, kept on; 3=Wonder Again 10.7/1 behind, good run, kept on; distances 1.5, nk, 12 ran
Ouija Board proved those who pounded her to odds-on favourite correct in their thinking. What they probably didn't figure on were the incredibly slow fractions that she closed on to win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).
There was much discussion by Ouija Board's owner, Lord Derby, and trainer, Ed Dunlop, whether to run the filly in the Filly & Mare Turf or John Deere Turf (gr. IT). She was cross entered and they opted to run against her own sex.
Moscow Burning set the early fractions and looked for awhile like she might run away with the 11-furlong race. She went six furlongs in 1:18.50 and was still on an easy lead when they ran a mile in 1:42.36.
Aubonne and Film Maker had been tracking Moscow Burning throughout but Aubonne finally backed up as Film Maker hung tough. Finally as the field turned for home, Kieren Fallon kicked Ouija Board on and she gobbled up the ground down the stretch.
Wonder Again, who figured to like the soft turf, also was gaining ground under Edgar Prado but they could not catch the top two, Ouija Board and Film Maker.
Heavily favored Ouija Board paid $3.80, $3 and $2.80, while Film Maker returned $9 and $6.60. Wonder Again paid $6.60 to show.
The final time for the 1 3/8-miles over a yielding turf course was 2:18.25.
Ouija Board was bred in England by Stanley Estate and Stud. The 3-year-old filly is out of the Welsh Pageant mare Selection Board
Edward Dunlop, trainer, winner, Ouija Board, said: “I was very concerned the first half because the pace was so slow. She was coming from one and a half miles back to 1 3/8 miles and I was afraid that slow pace might get her beat. Kieren (Fallon) rode a great race and had her in the right spot and the result was just what we wanted. She stays in training as a four-year-old.”
Kieren Fallon, jockey, winner, Ouija Board, declared: “The draw helped me win. I was in the “box” seat. That's where I like to be with not too much ground to make up. This filly likes to follow a fast pace, but I knew there wouldn't be much pace here so we were saving ground on the rail. I was always confident. I knew she was the best filly and she proved herself - I never had any worries.”
JUVENILE 1=Wilko 28.3/1 prominent, rallied straight, ran on; 2=Afleet Alex 3/1 moved up every chance straight, kept on; 3=Sun King 6.9/1 prominent, kept on; distances 0.75,nk 8 ran
Wilko, who had won just two of 10 starts in Europe, beat the best 2-year-old colts at Lone Star Park Saturday, winning the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).
Wilko does have a pedigree that made you think he would like the dirt, being by 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again. His dam's side says turf though; he was produced from the Indian Ridge mare Native Roots.
The big horse from Bob Baffert's barn, Roman Ruler, failed to fire, finishing fifth while never in the running.
Longshot Twice Unbridled set the early pace while Frankie Dettori had Wilko sitting second. Consolidator and Sun King were also running with the leaders early as they went a quarter in :23.54, a half in :47.49, and six furlongs in 1:11.25.
Dettori let Wilko drop back a bit, but he then came on again to win by three-quarters of a length. Afleet Alex was running at the same time as the winner and got second, a quarter of a length ahead of Sun King.
Wilko was bred in Kentucky by Ro Parra and is owned by J. Paul Reddam and Susan Roy. All 10 of his prior races were in England, where he is based with trainer Jeremy Noseda
Jeremy Noseda, trainer, winner, Wilko, said: “This feels fabulous. He's by Awesome Again, and after his second start in England, I told Susan Roy (co-owner), this could be a dirt horse. An interest (75%) in the horse was sold to Paul Reddam and we talked about this race a couple of months ago. Wilko has always trained better on artificial surface than on grass. The plan is to transfer him to Craig Dollase and go from there.”
Frankie Dettori, jockey, winner, Wilko, decalred after a flying dismount: “I can't believe it. I mean the horse worked well on the dirt but we were just hoping to be in the first four. He got a great jump but I got outpaced to the quarter-pole, but they stopped so I pulled him out and he ran on. I am just speechless. I don't know what to say. I expected to be really outpaced but I can't believe he jumped right out to second and Jeremy (Noseda) said be aggressive and don't hold back which I did.”
TURF 1=Better Talk Now 27.9/1 progress, challenged in straight, ran on 2=Kitten’s Joy 0.7/1 prominent, rallied straight, kept on; 3= Powerscourt 2.9/1 moved second turn for home, every chance, kept on; distances 1.75, 1; eight ran
CLASSIC 1=Ghostzapper 2.5/1 always prominent, led turning for home, went clear; 2=Roses In May 8.7/1 chased leaders, every chance straight; kept on; 3=Pleasantly Perfect 2.5/1held up; raced on the outside; kept on; distances 3, 4, 13 ran
attendance 53,717
BREEDERS’ CUP DAY, LONE STAR PARK, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2004
The sun is shining for the first time since last Sunday at Lone Star Park, Texas, on Breeders’ Cup Day today (Saturday, October 30) and the weather is set to remain good for the horses and sell-out crowd.
Situated in Grand Prairie, a city 15 miles west of Dallas, Lone Star Park normally can accommodate a maximum 16,000 crowd but today will be hosting over 50,000 - traffic chaos started early.
The temperature will rise to around 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the late afternoon but it is not as humid as it was earlier in the week.
There are no late defections reported from the eight Breeders’ Cup races.
The Value Betting Column recommends
DISTAFF
The opening Breeders’ Cup Distaff over nine furlongs often provides the best bet of the day and this year looks no exception..
Storm Flag Flying , who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Arlington Park in 2002, comes late and, as long as she does not get too far behind, she must have an excellent chance.
The four-year-old filly is very consistent, has the assistance of Jerry Bailey and is excellent each-way value at 5/1.
JUVENILE FILLIES
Balletto , already a Grade One winner, is another cracking each-way bet at 5/1. She too is ridden by Jerry Bailey and is drawn one which is favourable.
MILE
An interesting race - the Europeans take on the Americans over this tight course where the draw will be a major factor.
The Andre Fabre-trained Diamond Green disappointed in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot last time out but had solid Group One form before that. He is drawn fairly in eight, has Frankie Dettori up and is worth a speculative each-way bet at 14/1.
SPRINT
Far too difficult.
FILLY & MARE TURF
It is worth opposing Ouija Board she has had a busy season and will go off a short price. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Yesterday looks the value as she iis meant to be back near her best after just two runs this year. She is around 9/1.
JUVENILE
Too difficult despite only eight runners.
TURF
This is best watched. Kitten’s Joy is meant to be the best American turf horse since Manila in 1986 while Powerscourt and Magistretti are both very consistent but may lack the final bit of class. Kitten’s Joy is too short to support.
CLASSIC
Last year’s winner Pleasantly Perfect defends his crown from Ghostzapper, Roses In May, Birdstone, Funny Cide and Azeri among others. This is best watched for the spectacle.
GOOD LUCK
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