Day 1 of the Breeders’ Cup World Championship weekend ended the way it started, with the favorite taking the win.
Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint Results
The Bob Baffert trained colt Secret Circle was bet down as the 2/5 heavy favorite and he did not disappoint. He sat off the leader Trinniberg until the top of the lane, drew off by 3 lengths and held on to win by a length. He ran the 6 furlongs in 1:10.52.
Secret Circle – Bob Baffert – Rafael Bejarano
Shumoos – Brian Meehan
Holdin Bullets – Wesley Ward
Seeker – Steven Asmussen
Jake Mo – Allen Milligan
Sum of the Parts – Thomas Amoss
Trinniberg – Binath Parboo
Blacky the Bull – Jeff Bonde
Vexor – John Kimmel
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G2) Results
European filly Elusive Kate was favored as the 5/2 favorite after winning four straight in Europe that included two Group victories. However, it was Stephanie’s Kitten who made it back to back Grade 1 wins herself. She sat a few back of the leaders and made a bold move down the middle of the lane to win by 3/4 lengths. She won the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland on synthetic October 7. Add a Grade 1 turf to her resume now.
Stephanie’s Kitten – Wayne Catalano – John Velasquez
Stopshoppingmaria – Todd Pletcher
Sweet Cat – Todd Pletcher
Up (IRE) – Aidan O’Brien
Hard Not to Like – Gail Cox
Somali Lemonade – Michael Matz
Pure Gossip – Philip Serpe
Elusive Kate – John Gosden
Dayatthespa – Chad Brown
Royal Bonnie – George Weaver
Customer Base – Thomas Proctor
My Gi Gi – Brian Koriner
Ann of the Dance – Martin Wolfson
Dear Lavinia – Jean-Claude Rouget
Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) Results
You can always count on the odd longshot to appear on occasion during the Breeders’ Cup and it started with Bill Kaplan’s Musical Romance. Never ran 7 furlongs before, but that didn’t seem to bother her as she sat off the lead the entire race, saving ground on the rail and took off half way down the stretch. She would finish 1 1/4 lengths in front of four year old filly Switch, who had a horrible gate that left her last early on. She ran the 7 furlongs race in 1:23.47.
Musical Romance – William Kaplan – Juan Leyva
Switch – John Sadler
Her Smile – Todd Pletcher
Pomeroys Pistol – Amy Tarrant
Turbulent Descent – Mike Puype
Champagne d’Oro – Eric Guillot
Golden Mystery – Juan Guerrero
Irish Gypsy – Bob Baffert
Tanda – Mike Mitchell
Tamarind Hall – Jeremiah Englehart
Great Hot (BRZ) – A.C. Avila
Tar Heel Mom – Stanley Hough
Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Results
There were several undefeated fillies heading into this contest but only the Steven Asmussen trained My Miss Aurelia would come away with her perfect record in tact. She was the 2/1 favorite and ran like she should have been 1/5. She sat off the leader Candrea until the far turn, then the race was all hers. She took the lead at the top of the stretch and drew off to win by 3 lengths. She is now 4 for 4 in her brief career with with two Grade 1 victories and one Grade 2.
My Miss Aurelia – Steven Asmussen – Corey Nakatani
Grace Hall – Anthony Dutrow
Weemissfrankie – Peter Eurton
Self Preservation – Ben Cecil
Questing (GB) – John Gosden
Miss Netta – Kiaran McLaughlin
Northern Passion – Mark Casse
Putthebabiesdown – Kenneth McPeek
Frolic’s Revenge – Milton Wolfson
Say a Novena – Ed Pleas Jr.
Candrea – Bob Baffert
Awesome Belle – Stanley Gold
Rocket Twentyone – W.T. Howard
Homecoming Queen (IRE) – Aidan O’Brien
Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) Results
It was a perfect day for Perfect Shirl, the four year old filly trained by Ontario native Roger Attfield. She had not won a graded stakes race since July 28, 2010 in the Grade 2 Lake George at Saratoga. A span of 8 races. As of late, she has been running very well. Her last race she lost by just 1/2 length in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes to Never Retreat and prior to that finished 3rd in back to back stakes races. On Friday, she sat well behind the leaders in the 1 3/8 miles turf race. She made an explosive move down the stretch going from 6th to the lead, overtaking European import and undefeated three year old Nahrain. She won by 3/4 lengths and paid $57.60 to win! For Perfect Shirl, this was her first Grade 1 victory.
Perfect Shirl – Roger Attfield – John Velasquez
Nahrain (GB) – Roger Varian
Misty for Me (IRE) – Aidan O’Brien
Distorted Legacy – Angel Penna Jr.
Aruna – Graham Motion
Dubawi Heights (GB) – Simon Callaghan
Shared Account – Graham Motion
Cambina (IRE) – Jeff Bonde
Harmonious – John Shirreffs
Stacelita (FR) – Chad Brown
Dynaslew – Seth Benzel
Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) Results
As I mentioned at the top, the favorite opened the day, and the favorite closed the day. Three year old Bill Mott filly was bet down as the 2/1 favorite and she delivered a convincing win over her 8 rivals. Early on, she sat off the leaders Plum Pretty and It’s Tricky, the two fillies she has raced for the better half of this year. They have taken turns beating each other. It was an expected speed duel, that never took place. Plum Pretty was out on easy fractions of 24.18, 49.0 and 1:13.72 for the first 6 furlongs. Not exactly blazing. Royal Delta still sat back patiently waiting for her opportunity. That opportunity came as they turned for home.Plum Pretty started to fall back despite those easy fractions. It quickly became a two horse race between her and It’s Tricky. Half way down the stretch, that two horse race became one as Royal Delta was too much. She took the lead, then drew off to win by 2 1/2 lengths. It was her 2nd Grade 1 win of the year. The other the TVG Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on August 20. She also won the Grade 2 TVG Coaching Club American Oaks at Pimlico on May 20. It’s been quite a year.
Royal Delta – William Mott – Jose Lezcano
It’s Tricky – Kiaran McLaughlin
Pachattack – Gerard Butler
Ultra Blend – Art Sherman
Plum Pretty – Bob Baffert
Ask the Moon – Martin Wolfson
Super Espresso – Todd Pletcher
Satans Quick Chick – Eric Reed
Miss Match (ARG) – Neil Drysdale
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