Coach Dan Blacker‘s darkish hair bobbed alongside atop a sea of admirers as he made his means via a mosh pit of MyRacehorse companions threatening to storm the Del Mar winner’s circle. Straight No Chaser, the thing of their hysteria, had simply fulfilled the promise he had proven since coming underneath Blacker’s care as a 2-year-old. And now, after greater than three years and 10 agonizingly spaced begins, the 5-year-old son of Speightster stood atop the racing world because the winner of the $1.84 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Dash on a cool Nov. 2 afternoon, proper the place his journey started.
Lastly, Blacker emerged from the throng to greet Straight No Chaser and John Velazquez as they returned to the stands, victorious by half a size over the longshot Bentornato. They had been 2 1/2 lengths away from third-place Mullikin, the lukewarm favourite in an evenly matched subject of 11 going six furlongs. Gun Pilot edged Federal Decide for fourth. The Dash continued a irritating 2024 Breeders’ Cup for Japanese runners when their three entrants might do no higher than eighth.
After a profession suffering from false begins, Straight No Chaser got here to his most necessary race in high type. In late September, he romped within the Grade 2 Santa Anita Dash Championship Stakes introduced by Estrella Jalisco in solely his second begin of the 12 months.
“He was at his finest going into that race,” Blacker stated. “The problem was getting him again to that time for the Breeders’ Cup.”
Mission achieved, with the assistance of the veteran Velazquez, who entered the weekend with 220 Breeders’ Cup mounts and 20 wins. Blacker, however, was saddling his simply his second Breeders’ Cup starter.
Nonetheless, it had been 20 years since Velazquez had gained the Dash, in 2004 with Speightstown, the sire of Speightster. Straight No Chaser gave the Corridor of Famer the type of trip a jockey loves, with out fuss or hassle and simply sufficient drama to get the blood boiling.
“I wished to interrupt properly and get place,” Velazquez stated. “Dan instructed me to not fear about getting the lead, so I simply let him get into rhythm and let him do his personal factor.”
Down the backstretch and across the flip, Straight No Chaser sat a comfortable third outdoors Federal Decide and Bentornato via a half-mile in :44.12.
“I knew we had been going quick, so I did not need to transfer too quickly,” Velazquez stated. “I squeezed him somewhat on the three-eighths, however then by the three-sixteenths I knew I used to be gonna get it.”
Straight No Chaser’s successful ultimate time was 1:08.62.
Fifth within the 2022 version of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland and third final 12 months at Santa Anita Park, the third time proved to be the allure for Moira as the previous Canadian Horse of the 12 months broke via to win the $1.84 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
“I at all times say she’s by no means received the respect she deserved,” stated her coach, Kevin Attard. “Right this moment I feel she solidified how good a horse she is.”
Moira has pulled off a double that solely two horses have achieved earlier than: successful the Queen’s Plate (now generally known as the King’s Plate) and a Breeders’ Cup race. The opposite two had been 1991 Canadian Triple Crown winner Dance Well, who gained the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and Superior Once more, who gained the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Basic.
“She’s only a nice horse. She confirmed brilliance from the get-go,” Attard stated. “Her win within the Queen’s Plate was so dominating in opposition to males, set a observe file.”
The 1 3/8-mile Filly and Mare Turf couldn’t have set-up extra completely for the Ontario-bred daughter of Ghostzapper and jockey Flavien Prat. She raced in mid-pack down the stretch the primary time as her stablemate Full Rely Felicia set the tempo and posted fractions of :25.38, :49.84, and 1:15.08.
Attard appreciated what he noticed from Moira.
“Right this moment, there was simply one thing completely different about her,” Attard stated. “She was much more relaxed, much more settled.”
Prat moved Moira up on the backstretch to be in rivalry with the leaders coming into the straightaway. Moira took the lead with a furlong to go after which held off the late fees of runner-up Cinderella’s Dream and third-place finisher Didia to win by a half a size. Moira accomplished the gap in 2:14.95 and paid $13.60 to win.
“I do not even assume as a child I ever dreamt about successful a Breeders’ Cup race,” Attard stated with emotion after the race. “Rising up in Canada, being primarily based in Canada, my dream was to win the Queen’s Plate. Moira did that for me. Right this moment, to win a Breeders’ Cup, wow! I do not even know what to say, I do not assume it is sunk in but.”
Ought to this be the tip of Moira’s racing profession, she has already achieved sufficient to earn legendary standing amongst Canadian-bred horses. Bred by Adena Springs, Moira has posted a file of 7-6-2 from 17 begins for earnings of $2,996,017.
“I will miss her,” Attard stated tearfully. “Simply so joyful and so happy with her.” — Sean Collins
It was Extra Than Seems‘ time to shine as he flew house from eighth within the ultimate furlong to seize the $1.84 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile introduced by PDJF Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
Extra Than Seems, educated by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by Jockey Jose Ortiz, was coming off second-place finishes behind Carl Spackler the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland and the Grade 1 FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga. The rivalry had been one-sided, however of their most necessary assembly of all, it was Extra Than Seems that turned the tables.
Longshot Goliad set the tempo with a :22.73 opening quarter mile within the Mile, however the race belonged to the closers.
Carl Spackler, who broke from the surface put up, made a menacing four-wide transfer for the lead on the ultimate flip however couldn’t maintain it.
Ten Comfortable Rose gained the lead by 1 1/2 lengths within the stretch whereas Johannes and Godolphin‘s 2-1 favourite Notable Speech had been gaining on her. Earlier than they may strike the lead, Jose Ortiz and Extra Than Seems, who had been final after the opening quarter and nonetheless in eighth in mid-stretch, flew previous all of them on the surface to win by three-quarters of a size and provides DeVaux her prized first Breeders’ Cup win.
“It is type of a whirlwind,” DeVaux stated. “It’s totally thrilling and I am simply ready for it to sink in.”
The 4-year-old Extra Than Seems coated the mile in 1:32.65 and paid $15.80 to win.
Johannes completed second by a head over Notable Speech who was third. Ten Comfortable Rose was fourth. – Bob Ehalt
Full Serrano‘s Proprietor Kosta Hronis has put his religion in coach John Sadler from the very starting. It is a system that works properly, as horses like champions Flightline, Speed up, and Stellar Wind would attest. Sadler really helpful that Hronis Racing buy Full Serrano from his native Argentina, and the end result was a in victory within the $1 million Huge Ass Followers Breeders’ Cup Filth Mile Nov. 2 at Del Mar.
“I do not actually get to do the buying,” Hronis stated. “I simply comply with John round. I’ve the basket, and he places the stuff in and I’m going to the register. That is my involvement.”
5-year-old Full Serrano got here out there this 12 months, and Sadler has shortly developed him right into a aggressive horse on the high stage. In his first U.S. begin, Full Serrano tackled what could be the identical floor and distance he would encounter on the Breeders’ Cup and gained a mile allowance optionally available claiming race at Del Mar on Aug. 3. He then ran a terrific second within the 1 1/4-mile Grade 1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Basic Stakes, which additionally was run at Del Mar.
Full Serrano returned to Del Mar for Saturday’s Filth Mile and obtained a brand new jockey in Joel Rosario. Whereas Rosario had by no means earlier than piloted Full Serrano, he and Sadler had been a terrific group when the jockey used to trip the Southern California circuit frequently.
Rosario put Full Serrano into the race early, sitting proper off the fast tempo of Japanese invader T O Saint Denis. Full Serrano raced a size behind in second, off fractions of :22.30, :45.47, and 1:09.69. Full Serrano then took command simply previous the quarter pole with lots in reserve. Put up Time, final early, made an enormous four-wide run and Home Product additionally got here from far again, however neither might catch Full Serrano, who hit the wire 1 1/2 lengths forward of Put up Time, with Home Product 2 1/4 lengths again in third.
Full Serrano ($28.80) stopped the clock in 1:35.48.
“The horse did fantastically, did an incredible job up there,” Rosario stated.
Longshots Tumbarumba and Katonah completed fourth and fifth, adopted by Skippylongstocking, Muth, and Seize the Gray among the many subject of 13. Saudi Crown backpedaled and ended up final. — Tracy Gantz
