Breeders' Cup Memories: 2004 Juvenile

Note: Once a week till the week before the Breeders' Cup, this blog will be featuring a BC race in a feature called Breeders' Cup Memories. This week's post is about a race that many people will remember the horses more than the race itself; the 2004 Juvenile.

Europeans on dirt don't always have the best luck. That being said, Arazi (Blushing Groom (FR)) won the Juvenile in 1991. Another Euro, Go and Go (IRE) (Be My Guest) was 8th in the Juvenile in 1989 but returned in 1990 to win the Belmont. The 2004 Juvenile featured a European based colt, Susan Roy and Paul Reddam's Wilko (Awesome Again) who was third in the Royal Lodge. He would be facing a group of horses that included Fog City Stable's Norfolk winner Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus), Padua Stable's Proud Accolade (Yes It's True) who won the Champagne, as well as Cash is King's Afleet Alex (Northern Afleet) second to Proud Accolade in the Champagne and the winner of the Hopeful.

Sent off as the second to longest shot on the board Wilko sat third behind fellow longshot Twice Unbridled (Unbridled's Song). Afleet Alex was last, Proud Accolade 4th and Roman Ruler 7th. In the stretch it looked to be between Champagne 3rd place finisher Tracy Farmer's Sun King (Charismatic) ridden by 2 time Belmont spoiler Edgar Prado and Afleet Alex who was ridden by Eclipse winning Appriantice Jeremy Rose. However, Wilko ridden by legendary European jockey Frankie Dettori somehow found a second surge after falling back a bit to defeat the Americans. Afleet Alex was second and Sun King was third. Proud Accolade and Roman Ruler both finished off the board.

Replay:




Wilko would finish the year in the Hollywood Futurity, but finish third to eventual 2yo Champion Declan's Moon (Malibu Moon) (finishing second in that race would be the next year's Derby winner Giacomo (Holy Bull)).

Wilko would never win another race in his career and currently is at stud in Canada. Both Sun King and Afleet Alex would become fan favorites as three year olds and beyond. The former as a 4yo finished a nose behind 2006 Classic winner Invasor (ARG) (Candy Stripes) in the Whitney. The latter would hit the board in all three Triple Crown races including wins in the Preakness and Belmont. He would be named 2005 3yo Male over the Classic runner up Flower Alley (Distorted Humor). Sun King currently stands stud in Louisiana and Afleet Alex stands stud in Kentucky.