Record wagering, champion horses, and a fascinating mix of winners from Japan, Europe, and the United States marked the second day of the 38th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. KNICKS GO put an exclamation point on a brilliant season, winning the $6 million Classic to complete what was a wonderful day of racing, erasing the botched goings-on of Future Stars Friday when fans booed the track after Modern Games won the Juvenile Turf, racing for purse money only.
Total all-sources common-pool handle for the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club was $182,908,409, a new record for the two-day event.
The total represents a 4.7% increase over the prior record of $174,628,986 set when the event was held at Santa Anita Park in 2019 and a 14.0% increase from the total handle of $160,472,893 at the 2020 event held at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, KY.
Race summaries, with files from Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Videos from NBC of each race at bottom of post.
CLASSIC
Korea Racing Authority’s Knicks Go ($8.40) played catch-me-if-you-can in the 38th running of the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) for 3-year-olds and up, and no one could as he posted a 2 ¾-length victory over Medina Spirit to conclude the Breeders’ Cup World Championships races Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Joel Rosario, Knicks Go covered the 1 ¼ miles on a fast main track in 1:59.57. The victory is the first in the Classic for Cox and eighth overall while Rosario picked up his 15th World Championships victory and second in the Classic. He won the 2018 running with Accelerate at Churchill Downs.
In becoming the sixth horse to win two different Breeders’ Cup races, Knicks Go set off on an uncontested lead through fractions of :23.16, :45.77 and 1:10.04 with Art Collector in closest pursuit early with Medina Spirit and Hot Rod Charlie tracking in third and fourth.
On the far turn, Art Collector backed out of the picture as Medina Spirit tried to mount a rally to the outside of Knicks Go and Hot Rod Charlie cut the corner on the inside. The threats were short-lived as Knicks Go scampered clear to add the Classic to his victory in the Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1) last year at Keeneland.
Essential Quality rallied for third and was followed in order by Hot Rod Charlie, Stiletto Boy, Art Collector, Tripoli and Max Player.
A 5-year-old Maryland-bred son of Paynter out of the Outflanker mare Kosmo’s Buddy, Knicks Go improved his record to 24-10-3-1 that includes five Grade 1 victories. The winner’s share of $3,120,000 increased his earnings to $8,673,135.
ANGIE MOORE, 29, and her mother Sabrina bred KNICKS GO in Maryland – Maryland Racing did this video:
TURF
YIBIR (GB) won the Turf, the second winner on the day for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby, jockey William Buick, and third of the two-day Breeders’ Cup – Cindy Pierson Dulay – horse-races.net
The parade of Godolphin homebreds to the Breeders’ Cup winner’s circle continued when Yibir (GB) ($19) rallied for a half-length victory over Broome (IRE) to win the 38th running of the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Yibir covered the 1 ½ miles on a firm Jimmy Durante Turf Course in 2:25.90, establishing a course record.
It is the third victory of the weekend for Appleby and Buick who combined to win the Juvenile Turf (G1) on Friday with Modern Games (IRE) and the FanDuel Mile (G1) presented by PDJF with Space Blues (IRE) earlier Saturday afternoon.
It is the first victory in the Turf for both trainer and jockey and the sixth overall for Appleby and fifth for Buick.
Longshots Tribhuvan (FR) and Acclimate set the pace and maintained the advantage until the far turn when the rest of the field closed ranks.
Broome swept past Teona (IRE) at mid-stretch and established a daylight advantage only to be run down in the final 50 yards by Yibir. Teona finished third and Japan (GB) was fourth to complete a European superfecta.
The victory was worth $2,080,000 and increased Yibir’s earnings to $2,895,580 with a record of 12-6-1-2.
Yibir is a 3-year-old son of Dubawi (IRE) out of the Monsun (GER) mare Rumh (GER).
CANADIAN-bred star CHANNEL MAKER was battling for the lead turning for home and landed fifth in another big Breeders’ Cup effort for the Ivan Dalos-bred.
DISTAFF
It was predicted by many, a pace battle was going to be tough for the top mare of 2021, Letruska.
U. Carrot Farm’s Marche Lorraine (JPN) ($101.80) edged Dunbar Road by a desperate nose to win the 38th running of the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) for fillies and mares Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden by Oisin Murphy, Marche Lorraine covered the 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track in 1:47.67. It is the second victory of the afternoon for Yahagi, who saddled Loves Only You (JPN) to win the Maker’s Mark Filly and Mare Turf (G1). It is Murphy’s first Breeders’ Cup victory.
Private Mission led a wild scramble for the early lead that included favored Letruska through wild fractions of :21.84 and :44.97 as Marche Lorraine and Dunbar Road raced near the rear of the field.
As the field approached the far turn, the early leaders were cooked as Marche Lorraine surged to the front in the middle of the track with Royal Flag and Clairiere to her outside and Dunbar Road and Malathaat surging to her inside.
Marche Lorraine put away her two outside rivals and then surged again in the shadow of the wire to repel the bid by Dunbar Road.
The victory was worth $1,040,000 and improved her earnings to $2,845,677 with a record of 21-9-2-2. Marche Lorraine is a 5-year-old daughter of Orfevre (JPN) out of the French Deputy mare Vite Marcher (JPN).
Marche Lorraine (JPN), ridden by Oisin Murphy, wins the Longines Breeders Cup Distaff on Breeders Cup Championship Saturday at the Del Mar. John Voorhees/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup
How do you win a @BreedersCup race? 🤔@OisMurphy talks us through his incredible ride on MARCHE LORRAINE マルシュロレーヌ to win the #BreedersCup Distaff 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/yoLj2bMVKY
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) November 7, 2021
MILE
Godolphin’s homebred Space Blues (IRE) ($6.20) collared longtime leader Smooth Like Strait at mid-stretch and went on to post a half-length victory in the 38th running of the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) presented by PDJF for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Space Blues covered the mile on a firm Jimmy Durante Turf Course in 1:34.01. It is the second victory of these Championships for Appleby and Buick who teamed up to win Friday’s Juvenile Turf (G1) with Modern Games (IRE). It is the fifth Breeders’ Cup victory for Appleby and fourth for Buick and the first for both in the Mile.
Smooth Like Strait seized the early initiative from Blowout (GB) and maintained a daylight advantage with Space Blues running in third. Leaving the far turn, Buick angled Space Blues off the rail and set his sights on Smooth Like Strait who grudgingly gave way in the run to the wire.
Space Blues is a 5-year-son of Dubawi (IRE) out of the Noverre mare Miss Lucifer (FR). With his third Grade or Group 1 win, Space Blues increased his record to 19-11-3-1 and added $1,040,000 to his bankroll and hiking his earnings to $2,585,725.
SPRINT
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Aloha West ($24.60), sixth at the head of the stretch, rallied on the far outside to edge Dr. Schivel by a nose at the finish line to win the 38th running of the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) for 3-year-olds and up, Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
Trained by Wayne Catalano and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Aloha West covered the 6 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:08.49. It is the fourth Breeders’ Cup victory for Catalano and fifth for Ortiz and the first in the Sprint for Catalano and Ortiz, who won his second race of this year’s World Championships.
Heavily favored Jackie’s Warrior found himself in an early duel for the lead with Special Reserve and Matera Sky as Dr. Schivel raced in the clear in fourth and Aloha West was last early.
Turning into the stretch, Dr. Schivel swept past Jackie’s Warrior and Special Reserve and opened a daylight margin, appearing well on his way to victory until the final jump.
The victory was worth $1,040,000 and increased his earnings to $1,311,068 with a record of 9-5-2-0. It is the first stakes victory for the 4-year-old Maryland-bred son of Hard Spun out of the Speightstown mare Island Bound.
Winning trainer Wayne Catalano (Aloha West) – “I liked everything. I liked where we were at early in the race and the head-bob was a tough one. But you know when the results come this way we’re happy. Right now, it’s a good time to win a race like this. We are low on horses and have been around a long, long time. I have been reinventing myself so many times. Fifty years and counting. I just want to settle down and have a handful of nice ones in one spot and enjoy my life with my three grandkids and one more on the way.”
ALOHA WEST, by Hard Spun, won the head bob after a pace battle with big favourite Jackie’s Warrior – Cindy Pierson Dulay – horse-races.net
FILLY & MARE TURF
DMM Dream Club Co.’s Loves Only You (JPN) ($10.60) split horses in deep stretch to prevail by a half-length over My Sister Nat (FR) to win the 23rd running of the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden by Yuga Kawada, Loves Only You covered the 1 3/8 miles on a firm Jimmy Durante Turf Course in 2:13.87. Yahagi and Kawada were making their Breeders’ Cup debuts.
Going to Vegas led the field early with minimal pressure from Dogtag and Pocket Square (GB) as Loves Only You tracked closely behind the leaders.
The race’s complexion changed on the far turn as favored War Like Goddess moved five wide to the lead with Love (IRE) going right with her to her inside. Those two pulled clear in mid-stretch but My Sister Nat made first run at War Like Goddess only to have Loves Only You split those two late in the stretch and pull away.
A 5-year-old mare, Loves Only You is a daughter of Deep Impact (JPN) out of the Storm Cat mare Loves Only Me. The victory was worth $1,040,000 and increased her earnings to $6,493,602 with a record of 15-7-2-3. It is her third Grade or Group 1 victory.
DIRT MILE
WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.’s Life Is Good ($3.40) shrugged off a challenge from Ginobili at the top of the stretch and drew off by 5 ¾ lengths to win the 15th running of the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Life Is Good covered the mile on a fast main track in 1:34.12. The victory is the 12th Breeders’ Cup score for Pletcher and second in the Dirt Mile and the 14th for Ortiz, second in the Dirt Mile and third for the 2021 World Championships.
Life Is Good, now a winner of five of six career starts, quickly took command out of the gate and opened a daylight advantage going into the first turn. He maintained that clear edge until the far turn when Ginobili ranged up to his outside but quickly repulsed that threat and cruised to victory.
A 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief out of the Distorted Humor mare Beach Walk, Life Is Good added $520,000 to his bankroll that swelled to $1,059,200.
Life Is Good, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., wins the Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile on Breeders Cup Championship Saturday. Alex Evers /Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup
FILLY & MARE SPRINT
Bo Hirsch’s homebred Ce Ce ($14.40) swept past a trio of dueling leaders, including defending champion Gamine, at the head of the stretch and drew off by 2 ½ lengths to win the 15th running of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) for 3-year-olds and up, the first of nine Breeders’ Cup World Championships races Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
Trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Victor Espinoza, Ce Ce covered the 7 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:21. It is the second Breeders’ Cup victory for McCarthy and the fourth for Espinoza.
Gamine, seeking to become the second repeat winner in the history of the race, took the lead out of the gate but was quickly pressured on the outside by Bella Sofia. On the far turn, Bella Sofia applied more pressure on the outside and Edgeway slipped through on the inside as Ce Ce began a sweeping four-wide move.
As the field straightened in the stretch, Ce Ce quickly burst clear to erase any doubt of the outcome. Edgeway was second, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Gamine.
The victory was worth $520,000 and increased Ce Ce’s earnings to $1,753,100 with a record of 16-8-1-3. It is her third Grade 1 victory and fifth graded score overall.
Ce Ce is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Elusive Quality out of the Belong to Me mare Miss Houdini.
TURF SPRINT
Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg’s Golden Pal ($7) rocketed to the lead out of the gate and never was pressured in posting a 1 ¼-length victory over Lieutenant Dan to win the 13th running of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.
Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Golden Pal covered the 5 furlongs on a firm Jimmy Durante Turf Course in :54.75 to equal the course record. The victory is the second of the weekend for Ward and Ortiz, who teamed up to win Friday’s Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) with Twilight Gleaming (IRE).
It is the sixth Breeders’ Cup victory for Ward and 13th for Ortiz but first for both in the Turf Sprint.
Golden Pal, winner of last year’s Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) at Keeneland, becomes the fifth horse to win two different Breeders’ Cup races, joining Zenyatta (Classic and Distaff), Beholder (Juvenile Fillies, Distaff), Stephanie’s Kitten (Juvenile Fillies Turf and Filly & Mare Turf) and Secret Circle (Juvenile Sprint and Sprint).
The victory was worth $520,000 and increased Golden Pal’s earnings to $1,299,056 with a record of 8-5-2-0. It is his first Grade 1 victory and third graded score overall.
Golden Pal is a 3-year-old Florida-bred son of Uncle Mo out of the Midshipman mare Lady Shipman.
Each race can be viewed on the NBC Sports site here.
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