The $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) is a 1 mile test around 2 turns of the Jimmy Durante turf course at Del Mar for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Mendelssohn was sent off as the 9-2 favorite off a second place finish in the Dewhurst (G2) at Newmarket. In to challenge him included 5-1 second choice Masar, winner of the Solario (G3) at Sandown but third in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) at Chantilly, and 6-1 third choice Catholic Boy, winner of the With Anticipation (G3) at Saratoga.
Mendelssohn draws away in the stretch.
20-1 Sands of Mali set the pace of 22.83, 46.87, and 1:11.19 under Flavien Prat while pressed by 23-1 Flameaway and stalked by 12-1 Encumbered and Mendelssohn. Sands of Mali led to the 1/8 pole through 7f in 1:23.67 before tiring. Mendelssohn inherited the lead and easily held off late-running 13-1 Untamed Domain in 1:35.97 over the firm going. It was another 1/2 length back to 9-1 Voting Control third.
Mendelssohn wins the Juvenile Turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
1 Mendelssohn Moore 11.60 8.40 5.60
2 Untamed Domain Ortiz 11.00 7.00
8 Voting Control Castellano 6.20
Winning Time: 1:35.97
$1 Exacta 1-2 73.30
$1 Trifecta 1-2-8 603.50
$1 Superfecta 1-2-8-4 3,206.80
Left: Mendelssohn heads to the winner's circle. Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "He was a late foal and every week he's getting better. We knew he has a dirt pedigree but we just didn't want to stop that progression so we left him on the grass. Hopefully he's the sort of horse we could train for the Kentucky Derby now, particularly now that we have a trial race for that at home."
Right: The trophy celebration for the Juvenile Turf.
Left: Mendelssohn in the post parade. Winning jockey Ryan Moore said, "He's still learning but he got away well and travelled very kindly the whole race. He was able to ease his way out, and I felt he still had plenty to give. He still wasn't sure how to get down and gallop. He's a big, raw horse still and he'll improve with racing and experience."
Right: Mendelssohn heads back to the barn after the race. Co-owner Michael Tabor said, "In his short life, Scat Daddy was a great stallion and we've been on the lookout for the next one. Hopefully this fellow will do the trick."
Left: Second place finisher Untamed Domain returns after the race. Trainer Graham Motion said, "He ran awesome. But, it's awfully tough to come in second in these races. It's better than seventh I guess. I'm happy to be second, but you only have one shot at these races. He didn't get sharp away from there, but he never has been. He had to come very wide, but he ran great."
Right: Third place finisher Voting Control returns after the race. Jockey Javier Castellano said, "I had a good trip. I followed (Mendelssohn) every step of the way. When I got through in the stretch it took him time to get some momentum. I don't think he's a mile horse. I think he's more of a 1 1/16, 1 1/8 type of horse."
The horses break from the gate for the Juvenile Turf. Jose Ortiz aboard Untamed Domain (post 2) said, "He's always kind of slow out of the gate and he was today again. I saw, on the inside going into the backside, lots of guys were checking. A lot of people were in trouble and clipping heels. Then I saw (Kent) Desormeaux sitting chilly on the outside (aboard 11-1 My Boy Jack). I knew we were going to be a little wide, but I'm glad I had a clear run to get second."
2017 Breeders' Cup Wrap Up - Records set, statistics, first-time winning jockeys and trainers, how previous winners finished, and more for the 34th running of the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar.
2017 Breeders' Cup Saturday - There were nine Breeders' Cup races on Saturday at Del Mar headlined by the Classic (G1) where Gun Runner won over Collected. Also on the card, Talismanic won the Turf (G1), World Approval won the Mile (G1), and Good Magic won the Juvenile (G1). Get the results, charts, and photos for all 12 stakes on the card. More photos: Classic - Turf - Juvenile - Mile - Sprint - F&M Turf - F&M Sprint - Turf Sprint - Juvenile Fillies
2017 Breeders' Cup Friday - There were four Breeders' Cup races on Friday at Del Mar headlined by the Distaff (G1) where Forever Unbridled held off Abel Tasman to win by a half length. Also on the card, Rushing Fall won the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), Battle of Midway won the Dirt Mile (G1), and Mendelssohn won the Juvenile Turf (G1). Get the results, charts, and photos for all 8 stakes on the card. More photos: Juvenile Turf -
Juvenile Fillies Turf - Dirt Mile - Distaff
2017 Breeders' Cup Entries - Entries closed Monday and post positions were drawn for the 13 Breeders' Cup Championship races on November 3 and 4 at Del Mar. The Classic will have a field of 11 with Gun Runner in post 5 the 9-5 favorite over Arrogate in post 1 at 2-1.
Breeders' Cup Weather - Check out the latest weather forecasts for the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar
Review: Crushing the Cup 2017 - by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An invaluable tool for trying to unlock the mysteries of handicapping the Breeders' Cup races at Del Mar. Updated for 2017, this is their 26th anniversary edition and first for Del Mar.
2016 Breeders' Cup Saturday Results - The feature race was the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic won by Arrogate. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 9 races here.
2016 Breeders' Cup Friday Results - Friday was headlined by the $2 million Ladies Classic won by Beholder. 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.
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 since the change.
Left: Mendelssohn heads to the winner's circle. Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "He was a late foal and every week he's getting better. We knew he has a dirt pedigree but we just didn't want to stop that progression so we left him on the grass. Hopefully he's the sort of horse we could train for the Kentucky Derby now, particularly now that we have a trial race for that at home."
Left: Mendelssohn in the post parade. Winning jockey Ryan Moore said, "He's still learning but he got away well and travelled very kindly the whole race. He was able to ease his way out, and I felt he still had plenty to give. He still wasn't sure how to get down and gallop. He's a big, raw horse still and he'll improve with racing and experience."
Left: Second place finisher Untamed Domain returns after the race. Trainer Graham Motion said, "He ran awesome. But, it's awfully tough to come in second in these races. It's better than seventh I guess. I'm happy to be second, but you only have one shot at these races. He didn't get sharp away from there, but he never has been. He had to come very wide, but he ran great."
