2:59 PM CT: Happy Breeders' Cup Saturday, everyone! As I sit writing this, two of the day's nine Breeders' Cup races have been run, with Ria Antonio claiming the Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) via the disqualification of She's a Tiger, and Dank proving much the best in winning the Filly and Mare Turf (gr. I).
The result of the Juvenile Fillies was marred by the death of Secret Compass, who broke down on the far turn and had to be euthanized. Her jockey, John Velazquez, has been hospitalized and is off his remaining mounts for the day, which include reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the Breeders' Cup Mile and Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Palace Malice in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
On a happier note, the Filly and Mare Turf was a thrilling race, with at least five or six horses in contention turning for home. Favored Dank proved best, holding off a charge from fellow British invader Romantica to win by about a length. Alterite finished best of the American fillies, edging Emollient by a head for the third spot.
It has been reported that Jose Lezcano will replace John Velazquez on Wise Dan in the Mile.
3:54 PM: Many people doubted whether Groupie Doll was the same filly this year as she was in 2012, when she dominated the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in stellar fashion. But with Rajiv Maragh aboard, Groupie Doll burst to the lead in the homestretch and held off determined late rallies from Judy the Beauty and Dance Card to win the Filly and Mare Sprint for the second consecutive year.
With Dance to Bristol finishing off-the-board, Groupie Doll now has a legitimate claim to a second consecutive Eclipse award title as champion female sprinter. Her other efforts this year include a win in the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (gr. II) and a third-place finish in the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. II).
The next race on the card is the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. I), which begins the pick six. Mizdirection, winner of this race last year, is the current favorite at 5-2. I personally an intrigued by Rock Me Baby, who is 19-1 off of troubled seventh-place finish in the Eddie D Stakes. With Joe Talamo aboard, he could be a live longshot in this wide-open race.
Rajiv Maragh, fresh off his victory in the Filly and Mare Sprint, replaces John Velazquez on Spring to the Sky.
4:16 PM: If you were considering trying to beat Little Mike in the Turf, Trinniberg in the Sprint, Wise Dan in the Mile, and Fort Larned in the Classic . . . well, it might be wise to rethink your strategy! :) Mizdirection just became the third repeat winner of this year's Breeders' Cup, following Beholder and Groupie Doll, when she rallied in deep stretch to edge Reneesgotzip and Tightend Touchdown, who finished in a dead-heat for second after battling for the lead through fractions of :21.47, :43.36, and 1:06.02. The final time was 1:12.25 seconds.
Actually, the form from last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint held up very well this year. Mizdirection won the race for the second consecutive year, 2012 third-place finisher Reneesgotzip moved up to second, and 2012 runner-up Unbridled's Note rallied to be fourth this year.
Coming up next is the $2,000,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), where Gary Stevens will pick up the mount on morning line favorite Havana. At the present time, though, with 22 minutes to post time, it is the one-raced Tap It Rich that is favored at odds of 2-1. Havana is 4-1.
4:36 PM: It has been announced that Rafael Bejarano will ride Palace Malice in the Classic, assuming John Velazquez is not back in time to ride the end of the card.
5:08 PM: It looked like Gary Stevens was going to add another Breeders' Cup victory to his already stellar record when Havana surged to the lead turning for home in the Juvenile, but the previously unbeaten colt got a bit leg-weary late and succumbed late to New Year's Day, the more lightly regarded of the two Bob Baffert-trained colts in the race. Strong Mandate finished third in an impressive performance, dueling with Conquest Titan through very quick fractions and battling on gamely throughout the stretch to lose by only about two lengths.
Next up is the Breeders' Cup Turf, where Joel Rosario will replace John Velazquez aboard Point of Entry. With ten minutes to post time, The Fugue is favored at 3-2.
5:34 PM: The Fugue looked like a winner after making a powerful run around the far turn to take the lead at the top of the stretch, but Magician -- an Irish invader trained by Aidan O'Brien -- came flying with a spectacular late rally to edge the filly by a half-length. Indy Point ran a huge race as well to finish third, beaten little more than a length.
6:34 PM: After making a strong run along the rail to take the lead turning for home, I thought the Gentlemen's Bet had the Breeders' Cup Sprint all but sewn up. Then Secret Circle came rallying on the far outside to become the fourth repeat Breeders' Cup winner of 2013, having previously won the Juvenile Sprint in 2011. Longshot Laugh Track rallied powerfully to finish second, while Gentlemen's Bet held on to third.
Up next is the much-anticipated Breeders' Cup Mile, where last year's winner Wise Dan will attempt to stake his claim for a second consecutive Horse of the Year title.
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