Breeders' Cup Memories are back

BC Memories posts will be returning on June 7th! They will be posted twice a month, more then likely on Sundays. Stay tuned for more coming soon.

BC Memories: 2008 Filly and Mare Turf

Since the race was created for the 1999 Breeders' Cup, the Filly & Mare Turf has been dominated by the European breds. Heading into the 2008 edition, the previous 6 winners (with Ouija Board winning twice) where all bred in Europe. America's best hope that season would be 2006 Champion 3yo Filly Wait a While (Maria's Mon) who had won her previous two races, the latter being the Yellow Ribbon which she also won during her championship season. Halfway to Heaven (IRE) (Pivotal (GB)) was Europe's best shot after winning the Irish 1000 Guineas, Nassau and Sun Chariot. Canada would be represented by their Horse of the Year Sealy Hill (Point Given) who had finished 3rd in her previous race, the E.P. Taylor. Forever Together (Belong to Me) had been no worse then 4th in 2008, but was still coming in as the US' second best shot to win according to the betting public.

As the gates opened, Folk Opera (IRE) (Singspiel (IRE)) with Frankie Dettori onboard took the early lead with Halfway to Heaven in second. Forever Together was in 7th for most of the first mile, Sealy Hill was in 9th and Wait a While in third. In the stretch, Forever Together being ridden by Julien Leparoux actually fell back to 8th, but was able to get out wide to run down Sealy Hill and everyone else to win the 2008 Filly and Mare Turf. Wait a While crossed the wire third, but was dq'ed to 10th due to interference. Visit (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB)) was elevated to her position.

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Trained by Graham Motion, Forever Together would be named 2008 Champion Turf Female and would return to the Breeders' Cup the next year where she finished 3rd to Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB)) and would also run in the 2010 Filly and Mare Turf which was won by her stablemate Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect).

BC Memories: 1998 Mile

Before 1998, only a handful of horses where able to win a Breeders' Cup race in back to back years. Prestonwood Farm & Wallstreet Racing Stable's Da Hoss (Gone West) had won the 1996 Mile at Woodbine and had participated in the 1995 Sprint. Injuries forced him to skip the 1997 Mile which was won by Spinning World (Nureyev) who Da Hoss had defeated the previous year.

Da Hoss was ready to run in the 1998 edition at Churchill Downs and had only one race in-between the races at Colonial. He was would be facing a nice field that included the 1997 BC Juvenile winner and Horse of the Year Favorite Trick (Phone Trick), Europe's superstar Desert Prince (IRE) (Green Desert), 1995 Arlington Million winner Labeeb (GB) (Lear Fan) who was coming off a win in the Woodbine Mile, as well as Among Men (Zilzal) who was being ridden by Gary Stevens who rode Da Hoss in his 96 win.

Now being ridded by John Velazquez, Da Hoss was for most of the race sitting around sixth. In the stretch, it looked like that San Francisco Mile winner Hawksley Hill (IRE) (Rahy) came from 14th to duel with Da Hoss. The former briefly got the lead, but the latter was able to come back to win his second Mile win. Labeeb finished third.

Replay:



This gave more meaning to his trainer Michael Dickerson's nickname "The Mad Genius". Da Hoss now lives at Kentucky Horse Park in their Hall of Champions with 95 Classic winner Cigar, 03 and 04 Classic participant Funny Cide, 94 Classic participant Go For Gin.

(Notes: Also in the race was Cape Cross (IRE) whose daughter Ouija Board (GB) would follow in Da Hoss' footsteps in winning non-consecutive BC races (F/M Turf), Dickerson would go onto train Tapit who is the sire of Juvenile (male and female) winners Hansen and Stardom Bound.)

Breeders' Cup Memories: 2002 Distaff

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 the 2002 Distaff.

 The 2002 Breeders' Cup Distaff featured a field where all eight horses in the race finished no worse than 3rd in their final preps. Held at Arlington Park in the Chicago area, the race featured that year's Kentucky Oaks and Alabama winner Farda Amiga (Broad Brush), the prevous year's Juvenile Fillies runner up and U.A.E. Oaks winner Imperial Gesture (Langfur), and Spinster winner Take Charge Lady (Dehere). However all eyes where on Azeri (Jade Hunter), a filly who had only lost once in her career and was coming off a win in the Lady's Secret.

As the gate's open, Azeri headed right to the lead with Imperial Gesture in second and Take Charge Lady in third. Farda Amiga was in fourth with Mandy's Gold (Gilded Time) who had won the Chicago Handicap earlier in the season and was coming off a runner up finish in the Beldame (to Imperial Gesture) was in fifth. They remained that way for the most part until the stretch when Azeri had pulled away from the field to win the race. Farda Amiga closed to be second and Imperial Gesture faded a bit to be third.

 Replay:

 

 Azeri would be named not only Champion Older Female, but grabbed Horse of the Year honors as well. In 2003, she would return where she would once again only lose once, however she missed the Breeders' Cup. Never the less she would once again Champion Older Female. 2004 was a change where she went from the West Coast to the East Coast. Despite not being quite the same horse she was at 4 and 5, she still picked up 3 G1 wins. Her career with a 5th place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic to Ghostzapper (Awesome Again), but she finished ahead of two horses Bowman's Band (Dixieland Band) and 2003 Derby winner Funny Cide (Distorted Humor) who had finished ahead of her in her first try against males in the Met Mle. She also defeated Belmont winner Birdstone (Grindstone) and the previous year's third place finisher Dynaver (Dynaformer). Azeri would pick up her final Eclipse Award for Older Female once again.

 As a broodmare, Azeri has been a little bit of a success. Her best foal is G3 winner and G1 placed Wine Princess (Ghostzapper). She is currently a broodmare in Japan. She was inducted into Racing's Hall of Fame in 2010.

 Notes: Summer Colony (Summer Squall) the first horse to ever to defeat Azeri was also in the 02 Distaff, but finished last. Take Charge Lady would become the best broodmare of this field with G1 winners Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy) 2012 FL Derby winner and last year's Classic runner up Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song).

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.

Breeders' Cup Memories: 2006 Classic

2006 was possibly the best Breeders' Cup Classic field assembled in quite time. There where the 3yo's Cecil Peacock's SA Derby winner Brother Derek (Benchmark), the late James Hines, Stonewall Stable's AR Derby winner Lawyer Ron (Langfur), as well as Coolmore's European superstar George Washington (IRE) (Danehill). The older horses included the previous year's Kentucky Derby winner Jerry and Ann Moss' Giacomo (Holy Bull), Tracy Farmer's fan favorite Sun King (Charismatic) and another fan favorite the previous year's 3^rd place finisher in the Classic Stonecrest Farm's Perfect Drift (Dynaformer).

However the three favorites in the race where:

• Regally bred Preakness/Travers/Jockey Club Gold Cup Bernardini (A.P. Indy) who was owned by Sheikh Mohammad's Darley Stable.
  
  
• Uruguayan raced Pimlico Special/Suburban/Whitney winner Invasor (ARG) (Candy Stripes) who was owned by Sheikh Mohammad's older brother Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Farm.
  
  
• Rags to riches gelding Hollywood Gold Cup (which he had won for the second time in 06)/Pacific Classic/Goodwood winner Lava Man (Slew City Slew) owned by STD Stable and Jason Wood. 

One of these horses was going to be Horse of the Year with a win in the Classic. The question was who.

Brother Derek took the early lead with Lawyer Ron in second. Bernardini was sitting around 5^th and 6^th, Invasor around 8^th and Lava Man in 3^rd. Around the mile mark, Invasor started to make his move with Bernardini taking the lead and Lava Man who the previous year had run poorly outside his native California had started his retreat. In the stretch it came down to the horses owned by the brothers. Invasor had run down Bernardini in the final furlong to win the Classic. Clark/Woodward winner Premium Tap (Pleasant Tap) was third. Lava Man was 7th.

Trained by former D. Wayne Lukas assistant Kiaren McLaughlin, Invasor was ridden by Fernarndo Jara who at 18 earlier that year had become the youngest rider since Steve Cauthen to ride a Triple Crown race winner with Jazil (Seeking the Gold) in the Belmont.

Replay:

Invasor would be named 2006 Horse of the Year, Bernardini would be named 3yo Champion and Lava Man would be empty handed. However that was Bernardini's final race as he was retired to Darley at Jonabell where he currently stands. Invasor would return the next year where he would win the Donn and World Cup before being retired to Shadwell Farm. He was inducted into Racing's Hall of Fame in 2013. Lava Man would win a third Hollywood Gold Cup becoming only the second horse to win three HGC's in a row (fellow CA bred Native Diver being the other). He is currently a stable pony for his trainer Doug O'Neill (who had won the Sprint) and was involved greatly in the adventures of 2012 Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another (Flower Alley).

Other Notes: also in the 2006 Classic was 05 Travers winner/Classic runner up Flower Alley (Distorted Humor); Jazil's 1/2 sister Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) trained by another former Lukas assistant Todd Pletcher won the Belmont in 2007, 1/2 brother Man of Iron (Giant's Causeway) trained by Aiden O'Brien would win the now defunct BC Marathon; Jara would remain the youngest BC race winning jockey until Joseph O'Brien (son of Aiden) would win the 2011 Turf with St Nicholas Abbey (IRE) (Montjeu (IRE)).

Breeders' Cup Memories: 1996 Sprint

Note: Once a week till the week before the Breeders' Cup, this blog will be featuring a BC race in a new feature called Breeders' Cup Memories. This week's focus is on the 1996 Sprint.

After finishing third in the 1995 Breeders' Cup Sprint to Desert Stormer (Storm Cat), Evergreen Farms' Lit de Justice (El Gran Senor) returned for the 1996 season. Entering the Sprint, he hadn't run since August when he was 3rd to Alphabet Soup (Cozzene) in the Pat O'Brien. In the race held at Woodbine, he would face G1 winner Capote Belle (Capote), the hometown hero Langfur (Danzig) who won the Vosburgh, as well as Met Mile winner Honour and Glory (Relaunch) and Withers winner Appealing Skier (Baldski), both had run in the 95 Juvenile at Belmont won by Unbridled's Song (the latter also defeated Capote Belle in her first start against males).

Lord Carson (Carson City) took the early lead with Honour and Glory sitting second. Lit de Justice was sitting towards the back of the field with jockey Corey Nakatani. In the stretch it looked like that he was going to fall short once again, but he gobbled up ground very quickly to run down the longshot Paying Dues (Cure the Blues) and Honour and Glory held on for third. Lit also made history that day as his trainer Jenine Sahadi became the first woman to saddle a Breeders' Cup race winner (she would repeat the feat the next year in the Sprint with Elmhurst).
 Replay:

 

Lit de Justice would be named 1996 Champion Sprinter. The BC Sprint would be his final race before stud. He passed away in 2012 at the age of 22.

 * Something that didn't make the article was the horses that Lit de Justice finished ahead of in the 1995 Sprint. They included Our Emblem (Out of Distaff winner Personal Ensign ½ to Juvenile Fillies winner My Flag, uncle to Juvenile Fillies winner Storm Flag Flying and the sire War Emblem), You and I (sire of You), and Da Hoss (1996 and 1998 Mile winner, the first horse to win non-consecutive BC races). Finishing right ahead of Lit was Mr. Greeley who would go onto become a superstar sire including being the grandsire of Juvenile Turf winner Nownownow. Also Alphabet Soup would defeat 1995 Classic winner Cigar in the 1996 Classic, but the latter would be named Champion Older Horse and Horse of the Year honors.

Breeders' Cup Memories: 1993 Turf

Note: Once a week till the week before the Breeders' Cup, this blog will be featuring a BC race in a new feature called Breeders' Cup Memories. This week we look at the last turf horse before Wise Dan to win Horse of the Year honors in the US. 1993 Turf winner Kotashaan.

When La Presle Farm's Kotashaan (FR) (Darshaan (GB)) came to the US in 1992, the best he could do in his native France was a win in a G3 race in 1991. That being said, he was also G1 placed. The light turned on in Feb of 1993 when he began what would be wins in 4 stakes races including the G1's San Luis Rey, San Juan Capistrano, and Eddie Read. Going into the Breeders' Cup Turf, he had won the Oak Tree Invitational. Among the horses he would be facing included, fellow French breds Apple Tree (FR) (Bikala (IRE)), Luazur (FR) (Bikala (IRE)) and Hernando (FR) (Niniski), Hollywood Turf Handicap winner Bien Bien (Manila), French and English superstar Hatoof (Irish River (FR)) and the defending champion of the race Fraise (Strawberry Road (AUS)).

Sitting towards the back of the pack when the field in the mile and a quarter mark, Kotashaan and jockey Kent Desormeaux had made their way to 3rd. On the turn he and Bein Bein made moves to put themselves right in the thick of things. It looked like that Bein Bein would get the win, but with about a 1/2 a furlong to go Kotashaan would surge passed him to win by a 1/2 a length. Lauzur would finish in third. Fraise would be fourth.



Trained by Richard Mandella (for his US races including the BC Turf win), Kotashaan would finish his career with runner up finish in the Japan Cup. Race record ended with 22 starts with 10 of them wins, 5 second and 2 thirds with earnings of $2,812,114. He would 1993 Eclipse championships for both Turf Male and Horse of the Year. 

Kotashaan would go on to stand stud first in Japan and than in Ireland.

Breeders' Cup Memories: 1989 Juvenile Fillies

Note: Once a week till the week before the Breeders' Cup, this blog will be featuring a BC race in a new feature called Breeders' Cup Memories. For those who remember the Vault Series on Furlong Drive, these posts are set up basically the same. This week, we look back at the 1989 Juvenile Fillies.

Going into the Breeders' Cup in 1989, the Juvenile Fillies Christiana Stable's Go For Wand (Deputy Minister) had won 2 races and finished second to Stella Madrid (Alydar) in the Frizette, her prep race.  Other horses she would have to face in the race included, G3 placed Voodoo Lily (Baldski), the for mentioned Stella, G2 winners Dance Colony (Pleasant Colony), and G1 placed Special Happening (Relaunch) among many others.

After the break, Special Happening went right for the lead. Wanda (as Go for Wand was affectionally known by) got pinched back on the first turn to sit in about 5th. As the turned for home, she started to make her move and in the stretch it was her and Stella. This time though, she would win the race by 3 lengths over G2 winner Sweet Roberta (Roberto). Stella Madrid who may have made her move too early finished third in the race.



Go For Wand would be named 2yo Champion Female. As a 3yo she would be even better with lose only once in the KY Oaks to Seaside Attraction (Seattle Slew) who would grow up to be the dam to 1995 BCJF 3rd place finisher and 2yo Champion Filly Golden Attraction (Mr. Prospector). Her wins included the Alabama, Maskette, and Beldame. Sadly, Wanda broke down at Belmont in the 1990 Breeders' Cup Distaff where she was dueling for the win with the defending champion Bayakoa (ARG) (Consulantant's Bid) who would win the race. She was euthanized afterwards and is buried at Saratoga.

Posthumously she was named 3yo Champion Filly and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996. The Maskette was renamed the Go For Wand Handicap which has bounced around all three NYRA tracks the past few years. Also, even though she never raced in Delaware (where her dam Obeah won 2 Delaware Handicaps), the prep for the past several years for the Delaware Oaks has been named the Go For Wand Stakes (although it was not run this year I believe).