The 2015 Breeders' Cup World Championships ended on Saturday with 9 races all with year-end championship implications. A crowd of 50,155 came out to Keeneland Race Course in Lexington under overcast skies and temperatures in the high 50's. The main track was rated fast as it was Friday, but the turf was upgraded to "good" after listed as "yielding" on day 1 of the Championship.
Full results with several photos are available for each race at the link below the pay-off chart.
The $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) features the best older horses going 1 1/4 miles on the main track. Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was the 7-10 favorite off his 2nd place finish in the Travers (G1), over 9-2 Honor Code and 6-1 Tonalist. Victor Espinoza put American Pharoah on the lead immediately and he clicked off fractions of 23.99, 47.50, 1:11.21, and 1:35.47 while about 2 lengths ahead of 33-1 Effinex. Turning for home, Espinoza let American Pharoah loose for his final start, and he gave the fans what they came for, drawing off to win by 6 1/2 lengths over Effinex in a new track record of 2:00.07. It was another 4 1/2 lengths back to late-running Honor Code third.
Winning trainer Bob Baffert said, "I'm so proud of the horse, but a sense of relief. After that last race, I was really pretty down on myself. I thought he was doing really well enough to win that race and he just was a little flat. We had that extra time, got him ready. And when he's right, you saw what he can do. It was just very emotional. This horse has brought so much to racing and it's been a privilege to train this horse. It's been a privilege to watch him train, to watch him breeze. He gave everyone what they came to see today. That's what horse racing is about. That's the beauty of the Breeders' Cup. It's tough to win. You better come with a good horse and you better be ready."
The Breeders' Cup Classic
Purse: $5,000,000 Distance: 1 1/4 miles
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
4 American Pharoah Espinoza 3.40 3.00 2.40
6 Effinex Smith 14.20 6.60
9 Honor Code Castellano 3.40
Winning Time: 2:00.07
$2 Exacta 4-6 76.40
$2 Trifecta 4-6-9 322.60
$2 Superfecta 4-6-9-2 1,224.00
$1 Super High Five 4-6-9-2-1 1,715.10
$2 Pick Six 11-5-7-13-9-4 94,424.40
The $3 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) features older horses going 1 1/2 miles on the turf. Irish Champion (G1) and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Golden Horn was the 4-5 favorite over 11-2 Big Blue Kitten and 6-1 The Pizza Man. Luis Saez sent 72-1 "rabbit" Shining Copper to a 20 length lead through fractions of 24.56, 48.38, 1:12.64, 1:39.07, and 2:07.20 with 151-1 longest shot Cage Fighter second, in turn 2 lengths ahead of Golden Horn stalking third. Turning for home Shining Copper tired allowing Golden Horn to inherit the lead at the 3/16 pole. However, 13-2 fourth choice Found, 4th down the backstretch, came through to win by 1/2 length in 2:32.06. It was 3/4 length back to Big Blue Kitten third.
Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "She just didn't have much look in the Arc and went to the line on the bridle. So we came back to the Champions Stakes. She was drawn badly, but came out of the race really well. Like I say, the lads made a decision to run. I thought it was a little bit far fetched, like she was a 3-year-old filly after running in two Champions Stakes and an Arc within a month. But she didn't have any look in any of the races. She's very special filly."
The Longines Breeders' Cup Turf
Purse: $3,000,000 Distance: 1 1/2 miles turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
9 Found Moore 14.80 7.80 4.60
1 Golden Horn Dettori 2.60 2.20
7 Big Blue Kitten Bravo 3.00
Winning Time: 1:32.88
$2 Exacta 9-1 42.80
$2 Trifecta 9-1-7 199.60
$2 Superfecta 9-1-7-4 1,107.20
The $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) features 2-year-old colts and geldings going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Champagne Stakes (G1) winner Greenpointcrusader was sent off as the 7-2 favorite over 7-1 Unbridled Outlaw and 9-2 Nyquist. Jockey Jesse Campbell sent 24-1 Riker to the lead first time by and he set fractions of 23.49, 47.62, and 1:12.14 while pressed by 7-1 Unbridled Outlaw and stalked by 14-1 Conquest Big E. Entering the short stretch, Nyquist, 7th early, moved up to gain the lead and then held off late-runnijng 29-1 Swipe to win by 1/2 a length in 1:43.79. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to 6-1 Brody's Cause third.
Winning trainer Doug O'Neill said, "Well, I think it's such a huge asset to have speed, class, and stamina. Nyquist has all three of those. Today, he showed that he can lose ground on the first turn and settle and make up ground. So he's just, he's added a fourth dimension to a brilliant quality. So it didn't really work out the way I thought initially, but the end result was what we were all hoping and praying for, for sure."
The $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) is for older horses going 1 mile on the turf. Prix de la Foret (G1) winner Make Believe was the 5-2 favorite in the field of 12 over 4-1 Esoterique and 5-1 Tepin. 17-1 Obviously set the early pace of 23.77 and 48.08 while pressed by Tepin and stalked by 13-1 Tourist. On the far turn, jockey Julien Leparoux eased Tepin to the lead through 34 in 1:13.23. She opened a 3 length lead through 7/8 in 1:24.75, and cruised under the line 2 1/4 lengths ahead of late-running 17-1 Mondialiste in 1:36.69. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to 13-1 Grand Arch third, while favorite Make Believe was fifth.
Owner Robert Masterson said, "The thing we were worried about in the very beginning was we wanted her to break well and not get trapped on the rail with maybe two or three horses on the outside of us. She's better if she lets speed in the race go and then lay outside of her, which exactly why Julien let (Obviously) go over and cross over in front of her and then got behind her."
The $1.5 million TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) is for top older sprinters going 6 furlongs. King's Bishop (G1) and Phoenix (G3) winner Runhappy was the 8-5 favorite over 7-2 Private Zone and 9-1 Wild Dude. 28-1 Holy Boss dueled for the lead with Private Zone down the backstretch and around the turn through fractions of 22.05 and 44.31 wile stalked by Runhappy. Private Zone opened up a 1 1/2 length lead midstretch through 5/8 in 56.14, but Runhappy outfinished him in a duel to the line to win by 3/4 length in a new track record 1:08.58. It was another length back to 23-1 Favorite Tale third.
Winning jockey Edgar Prado said, "The plan was to try to go to the lead, come rolling out of there. Don't be bottled up behind horses. Unfortunately, he's not real quick out of the gate. We used Plan B, which is stay behind horses. He took a little kick back and that's where he dropped a little back in the turn. Once he realized it wasn't going to hurt him, he started picking up and finishing, you know. He's a very nice horse and I think he's getting better and better every time."
The TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint
Purse: $1,500,000 Distance: 6 furlongs
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
5 Runhappy Prado 5.20 3.40 2.80
13 Private Zone Pedroza 4.20 3.80
14 Favorite Tale Castellano 10.80
Winning Time: 1:08.58
$2 Exacta 5-13 24.40
$2 Trifecta 5-13-14 388.60
$2 Superfecta 5-13-14-7 5,255.20
The $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) features older fillies and mares going 1 3/16 miles over the Haggin turf course. Legatissimo was the 9-10 favorite over 5-1 Dacita and 7-1 Stephanie's Kitten. 12-1 Secret Gesture set the pace of 23.95, 49.23, 1:13.94, and 1:38.39 while stalked by 72-1 Sharla Rae and 20-1 Photo Call. Turning for home Photo Call gained a short lead but Stephanie's Kitten, last of 10 early, closed with rush to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:56.22. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to 13-1 Queen's Jewel third.
Winning trainer Chad Brown said, "She's tough, I'll tell you. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey deserve a lot of credit because they had a chance to sell her last year and they bought her back and raced her as a six-year-old, which isn't a popular thing to do. They were rewarded today. She won here today just six miles from where she was born and raised and I am so happy for them. I was quite concerned when I saw that Irad had her last in a race that had no pace, and when he chose to go up the inside to get through, I thought that he was going to have to get real lucky,"
The $1 million TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) features older fillies and mares sprinting 7 furlongs on the main track. Test (G1) and Prioress (G1) winner Cavorting was the 7-2 favorite over 11-2 defending champ Judy the Beauty and 6-1 Taris. 13-2 fourth choice La Verdad led through fractions of 22.53, 45.12, and 1:09.54 while pressed by 7-1 Stonetastic and Taris. 10-1 Wavell Avenue, 11th early, came out for room and rallied past La Verdad inside the 1/8 pole to win by 1 3/4 length in 1:22.39. It was just a neck to Taris third.
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Winning owner Michael Dubb said, "The dream trip for her is seven furlongs with pace in front of her and no trouble. We clicked on all three cylinders today and it worked the right way. So we're just over the moon. We did think the pace would be awful quick. There were a lot of horses in there that were suspect at seven furlongs, we thought. And we thought seven furlongs hit her right between the eyes."
The TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint
The $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) features older horses sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs around 1 turn of the Haggin turf course. Diamond Jubilee (G1) winner Undrafted was the 7-2 favorite over 9-2 Lady Shipman and 6-1 Pure Sensation. 13-2 Ready for Rye was quickest away through fractions of 22.19 and 45.09 while pressed by 16-1 Mongolian Saturday and Lady Shipman. In the stretch, Mongolian Saturday took over, opening up a 2 length lead through 5/8 in 57.15. Lady Shipman closed well but Mongolian Saturday held her off by a neck in 1:03.19. It was another 1/2 length back to 7-1 Green Mask third.
Winning owner Ganbaatar Dagvadorj said through a translator, "It's been an honor to participate in this big event. And for us, it's a big dream as Mongolians to participate in this big event. And as a Mongolian, we ride horses starting at age four. So, yeah, it's our tradition just to race with the horse. Being a Mongolian, it's part of our tradition. All Mongolians dream to win this race. With a time difference, it's like 4:00 in the morning. Otherwise, they're all awake (watching on TV)."
The TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint
Purse: $1,000,000 Distance: 5 1/2 furlongs turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
14 Mongolian Saturday Geroux 33.80 13.60 7.80
5 Lady Shipman Ortiz 5.40 4.60
7 Green Mask Rosario 5.40
Winning Time: 1:03.19
$2 Exacta 14-5 243.40
$2 Trifecta 14-5-7 2,107.40
$2 Superfecta 14-5-7-2 26,470.80
Kicking off the Championship races on Saturday was the $2 million 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), featuring the best 2-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Chandelier (G1) winner Songbird was the 3-5 favorite over 5-1 Rachel's Valentina and 7-1 Tap To It. Jockey Mike Smith put favorite Songbird on the lead immediately and she set fractions of 23.60, 47.15, and 1:11.42 while stalked by Rachel's Valentina and 9-1 Nickname. Entering the stretch Songbird began to open up on the field, checking in 5 3/4 lengths ahead of Rachel's Valentina in 1:42.73. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to 25-1 Dothraki Queen third.
Winning owner Rick Porter said, "From the ten hole, we knew we had to get a good break, and she jumped out. Mike (Smith) said she always has been jumping her first three races. And he said, this was the longest jump she's had for me. So he was able to get good position in that first turn, and that was the key. And he slowed 'em down pretty good. He's a great guy, and he loves this horse. I knew we had the best horse going in. But the problem is I've had the best horse in races before, and I'm still upstairs or wherever I was."
The 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Breeders' Cup Saturday Results - There were 9 races Saturday highlighted by the $5 million Classic where American Pharoah was an impressive winner in his final start before retiring to stud. Also on the card, Found won the Turf, Nyquist won the Juvenile, and Tepin won the Mile. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 9 races here. Get more photos and comments for each race here.
Breeders' Cup Friday Results - There were 4 races Friday highlighted by the Distaff where Stopchargingmaria won by a neck over Stellar Wind and the Dirt Mile won by Liam's Map. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 4 races here.
Thursday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 38 horses out on Thursday morning at Keeneland on both the main and training tracks, including American Pharoah. Beholder was also out, but was found to have bled when scoped and is scratched from the Classic.
Wednesday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 46 horses out on a very rainy Wednesday morning at Keeneland on both the main and training tracks, including Keen Ice, Frosted, and Golden Horn. No American Pharoah yet, hopefully he comes out tomorrow.
2015 Breeders' Cup Entries - Check out the entries, post postitions, and morning line odds for the 13 Breeders' Cup World Championship races to be held at Keeneland on October 30 and 31.
Tuesday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 31 horses out on a rainy Tuesday morning at Keeneland including Stephanie's Kitten, Grand Arch, and Private Zone.
Monday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 28 horses out Monday morning at Keeneland including Rachel's Valentina and a timed work by Beholder.
Sunday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 10 horses out Sunday morning at Keeneland including Liam's Map and Lea
Breeders' Cup Weather - Check out the latest weather forecasts for the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland
Review: Crushing the Cup 2015 - by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An invaluable tool for trying to unlock the mysteries of handicapping the Breeders' Cup races at Keeneland updated for 2015.
2014 Breeders' Cup Saturday Results - The feature race was the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic won by Bayern. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 9 races here.
2014 Breeders' Cup Friday Results - Friday was headlined by the $2 million Ladies Classic won by Untapable. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 4 races here.
Breeders' Cup History - Historical info, past results, and photos from previous runnings
The Breeders' Cup Championship Day - The official page for the Breeders' Cup championship races. Just about anything you need to know about it: results, video clips, and race calls for past years, and eventually nominations, entries, and results.
Free Prep Replays - for major prep races in the Breeders' Cup Challenge. The ones with camera logos have video available.
Blazing Silks, Breeders' Cup Edition- an interactive social network game that allows horse racing fans and social gamers to train and care for Thoroughbred horses.
TV Schedule - for all the preps and other programming leading up to the big day
Breeders' Cup Postcards - Breeders' Cup theme virtual postcards to send your friends including many past winners
Breeders' Cup Supplemental Entries - The old official policy on supplemental entries plus all the supplemental entries and how they fared, mostly it was a losing proposition. There are no more supplements now, only late nominations making it impossible to track now.
