The $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) is for older horses going 1 mile on the turf. Fourstardave (G1) winner World Approval was the 5-2 favorite in the full field of 14, off his win in the Woodbine Mile (G1). In to challenge him included 7-2 Ribchester, winner of the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) but 2nd in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1), and 8-1 Suedois, winner of the Boomerang Stakes (G1) and the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1).
World Approval leads a cavalry charge in the stretch.
23-1 Midnight Storm set the pace of 22.30, 45.65, and 1:10.04 while pressed by 16-1 Heart to Heart and stalked by 27-1 Home of the Brave. Entering the lane Heart to Heart briefly led through 7f in 1:22.36 but faded after World Approval, 5th early under John Velazquez, closed late to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths over 13-1 Lancaster Bomber in 1:34.55. It was a head back to 19-1 Blackjackcat third.
Left: World Approval heads to the winner's circle. Winning trainer Mark Casse said, "I was a little concerned early on because there was so much speed. But, this horse came into this race in just great order and he was ready. Norman (Casse, his son and assistant) and his team deserve so much credit for getting him to this point. This is quite a way to cap our last Breeders' Cup together (now that Norman is going out on his own). Maybe now we'll be running in Breeders' Cups against each other.
Right: Singer/actress Jewel presents the trophy to owner Charlotte Weber. Casse added, "It means so much to win this race for Mrs. (Charlotte) Weber. I am so proud to train horses for her and to win this race for her. This is all really very special."
Left: World Approval in the post parade. Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "He was between horses and switched leads coming down the lane. He always had it for me. Horses like him make you look good. He's been perfect for me."
Right World Approval heads back to the barn while trainer Mark Casse looks on.
Left: Second place finisher Lancaster Bomber returns after the race. Jockey Seamus Heffernan said, "I had a peach of a position throughout the race and they all knew I was there on the inside. He's been running well all year. He loves the fast ground."
Right: Third place finisher Blackjackcat racing toward the back of the pack first time by. Trainer Mark Glatt said, "It looked like he had a great shot at the top of the lane. He made that big sweeping move, but was way wide. He had to be because he was wide most of the way coming from the 13 hole. If he'd been able to save some ground that would have helped. But, (jockey) Kent (Desormeaux) did the right thing by swinging him out and going around all of them and then setting him down for the big run."
The horses break from the gate for the Mile. Kent Desormeaux aboard Blackjackcat said, "What an explosive move he made at the three-eighths pole. He ran his eyeballs out."
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: World Approval heads to the winner's circle. Winning trainer Mark Casse said, "I was a little concerned early on because there was so much speed. But, this horse came into this race in just great order and he was ready. Norman (Casse, his son and assistant) and his team deserve so much credit for getting him to this point. This is quite a way to cap our last Breeders' Cup together (now that Norman is going out on his own). Maybe now we'll be running in Breeders' Cups against each other.
Left: World Approval in the post parade. Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "He was between horses and switched leads coming down the lane. He always had it for me. Horses like him make you look good. He's been perfect for me."
Left: Second place finisher Lancaster Bomber returns after the race. Jockey Seamus Heffernan said, "I had a peach of a position throughout the race and they all knew I was there on the inside. He's been running well all year. He loves the fast ground."
