The $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) presented by Coolmore America is a 1 mile test around 2 turns of the turf course at Santa Anita for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) third place finisher and Dewhurst Stakes (G1) runner-up Arizona was the 2-1 favorite. In to challenge him included 3-1 second choice Decorated Invader, winner of the Summer Stakes (G1), and 5-1 third choice Structor, winner of the Pilgrim (G3).
Structor in deep stretch.
Jockey Hector Barrios sent 19-1 Graceful Kitten to the front and he set fractions of 23.14, 47.55, and 1:11.68 while pressed by 116-1 Proven Strategies and 55-1 Billy Batts. Turning for home, Proven Strategies gained a short lead through 7f in 1:23.46 before tiring. Structor, 6th early under Jose Ortiz, came out for room and outfinished Billy Batts to win by 3/4 lengths in 1:35.11. It was a neck back to 67-1 Gear Jockey third, while Arizona checked in 10th.
Left: Structor in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Chad Brown said, "He's just improving so much every week, this horse. We've always thought a lot of him and he's come in here and been improving week to week. His last race was very impressive to me. We thought he was sitting on another good race. Irad (Ortiz) opted for the other horse and that's how it goes."
Right: The trophy presentation for the Juvenile Turf. Winning jockey Jose Ortiz said, "He broke alertly and I was able to save ground all the way around. I wanted to ask him to run sooner, but I had nowhere to go at the three-eighths pole. Once we got into the clear, he really finished strong.
Left: Structor in the post parade.
Right: Structor heads back to the barn after the race. Brown added, "Jose was obviously a very capable replacement having been one of the leading jockeys now for the last couple years. We had a lot of confidence in him and I can't tell you how proud I am of him. Yes, he had a great post but he made all the right calls. He just rode an outstanding race and the horse ran an outstanding race. My staff did a great job bringing this horse along. I'm going to try this horse on dirt at some point. He trains very well on it. He deserves it and he's got the right running style to potentially run on both surfaces."
Left: Second place finisher Billy Batts in the post parade. Trainer Peter Miller said, "He broke alertly and I was able to save ground all the way around. I wanted to ask him to run sooner, but I had nowhere to go at the three-eighths pole. Once we got into the clear, he really finished strong." Jockey Paco Lopez added, "At the eighth pole I thought I had it, but the other horse came flying on the outside and caught me. My horse ran a good race against the best horses in the world."
Right: Third place finisher Gear Jockey returns after the race. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione said, "It was a good trip. I sat fifth, about in the two path most of the way, two or three lengths off the lead. I just sat there until we straightened away, picked a spot and he came home for me. I thought it was a huge race. He's still a maiden, but he keeps stepping up big time and improving. Hopefully he will take the next step forward and we'll be good in the future."
Left: Tenth place finisher and beaten favorite Arizona returns after the race. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "With him getting a bit slowly away, Ryan (Moore) had to accept the position in which he found himself. I don't think it was a fast pace, which also didn't help him, but we're not too disappointed. He's going to be a lovely 3-year-old and I'd imagine he'll go straight to the Guineas now."
Right: The horses break from the gate for the Juvenile Turf.
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Left: Structor in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Chad Brown said, "He's just improving so much every week, this horse. We've always thought a lot of him and he's come in here and been improving week to week. His last race was very impressive to me. We thought he was sitting on another good race. Irad (Ortiz) opted for the other horse and that's how it goes."
Left: Structor in the post parade.
Left: Second place finisher Billy Batts in the post parade. Trainer Peter Miller said, "He broke alertly and I was able to save ground all the way around. I wanted to ask him to run sooner, but I had nowhere to go at the three-eighths pole. Once we got into the clear, he really finished strong." Jockey Paco Lopez added, "At the eighth pole I thought I had it, but the other horse came flying on the outside and caught me. My horse ran a good race against the best horses in the world."
Left: Tenth place finisher and beaten favorite Arizona returns after the race. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "With him getting a bit slowly away, Ryan (Moore) had to accept the position in which he found himself. I don't think it was a fast pace, which also didn't help him, but we're not too disappointed. He's going to be a lovely 3-year-old and I'd imagine he'll go straight to the Guineas now."
