Breeders’ Cup Recaps Friday: Juvenile Turfs; Dirt Mile

DMTA-From the Wire —-

Rushing Fall Stays Perfect With Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Win

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2017) – E Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Rushing Fall ($8) swept to the lead in upper stretch to win the 10th running of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) for 2-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length over Best Performance on Friday afternoon at Del Mar racetrack to kick off the 34th Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Javier Castellano, Rushing Fall covered the mile on a firm turf course in 1:36.09 in winning her third race in as many starts. The victory was a repeat for all the human connections of Rushing Fall, who were represented in the winner’s circle last year by New Money Honey.

The victory was the fourth in the race for Brown, who now has nine Breeders’ Cup victories. His other Juvenile Fillies Turf winners are Maram (2008), Lady Eli (2014) and New Money Honey last year. Castellano won his eighth Breeders’ Cup race and second in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF QUOTES

Winning trainer Chad Brown (Rushing Fall and fourth-place Significant Form) — “Both fillies ran very well. The other filly ran terrific. She was too close to the early pace and made the first move and fortunately it took its toll on her the last sixteenth.
(On Rushing Fall) Javier (Castellano) rode a great race. The key was going out of that post and getting a spot in the first half of the field which he accomplished. From there, with a nice pace in front of us, he was comfortable where he was and he moved when he felt the time was right. She has a devastating move when you turn her loose.”

Winning jockey Javier Castellano (Rushing Fall) – “We had a little bit of a rough trip going into the first turn, but I was lucky to be able to save some ground in the first turn and then get to the outside. I had a perfect trip after that.
“She’s a very professional filly. I love the way she does things. She’s a very special filly. She’s 3-for-3 and has won on soft turf and firm turf.”

Second-place trainer Christophe Clement (Best Performance) – “She’s a wonderful filly. She tried very hard. We will live to fight another day when she will be the bride instead of the bridesmaid.”

Second-place jockey Jose Ortiz (Best Performance) – “She ran very well. Broke well. I was in a good position then was shuffled back a little on the second turn. But when I asked her to go she gave me a good turn of foot.”

Third-place trainer Aidan O’Brien (September) – “She missed the break but finished well. She had run a good race. I have two nice fillies for next year.”

Third-place jockey Seamus Heffernan (September) – “All the Europeans seemed to miss the break. I did and that is the advantage the Americans have over the Europeans.”

Jockey of beaten favorite Happily Ryan Moore – “She took too long to find a gear and by then it was too late and there was some horses in front of her.”

View on the Web:
http://www.dmtc.com/media/stable-news/rushing-fall-stays-perfect-with-breeders-cup-juvenile-fillies-turf-1039

Mendelssohn Strikes Right Note to Win Juvenile Turf

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2017) – Derrick Smith. Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor’s favored Mendelssohn ($11.60) swept past Sands of Mali at mid-stretch and then held off a late bid from Untamed Domain by a length to win the 11th running of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) for 2-year-olds Friday afternoon at Del Mar racetrack.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Mendelssohn covered the mile on a firm turf course in 1:35.97. Mendelssohn is a Kentucky-bred son of Scat Daddy and a half-brother to three-time Breeders’ Cup winner Beholder. It was the second victory in five starts for Mendelssohn.
The victory was the fourth in the race for O’Brien and Moore with previous triumphs coming with Wrote (2011), George Vancouver (2012) and Hit It a Bomb (2015). It was the 13th Breeders’ Cup victory for O’Brien and ninth for Moore.

Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien (Mendelssohn) – “He’s progressed with every race. We were afraid to change him up, so we kept him on the grass. He’s stepped up every time. This is marvelous. It’s been a big team effort this year.”

Winning jockey Ryan Moore (Mendelssohn) – “We made the best of the draw in number one. He ran a good race at Newmarket and he quickened well today.”

Second-place trainer H. Graham Motion (Untamed Domain) – “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.”

Second-place jockey Jose Ortiz (Untamed Domain) – “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. I knew we were going to be a little wide, but I’m glad I had a clear run to get second.”

Third-place trainer Chad Brown (Voting Control) – “He had a really good trip, He was just third best. I’m real proud of the horse. I thought he ran big.”

Third-place jockey Javier Castellano (Voting Control) – “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 mile and a sixteenth, mile and an eighth type of horse.”

Jockey Flavien Prat (Sands of Mali, 9th) – “He ran very well, gave me a kick when I asked him, but just got tired at the end.”

Jockey Frankie Dettori (James Garfield, 10th) – “It was a very rough race. He was knocked about all over the place for four furlongs. He had no chance.”

View on the Web:
http://www.dmtc.com/media/stable-news/mendelssohn-strikes-right-note-to-win-juvenile-turf-1041

Battle of Midway Outgames Sharp Azteca to Win Las Vegas Dirt Mile

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2017) – WinStar Farm and Don Alberto Stable’s Battle of Midway ($30.40) prevailed by a half-length over pace-setting Sharp Azteca after a stretch-long duel to win the 11th running of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) for 3-year-olds and up Friday afternoon at Del Mar racetrack.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden by Flavien Prat, Battle of Midway covered the mile on a fast main track in 1:35.20. The victory was the third for Hollendorfer in the Breeders’ Cup and second in the Dirt Mile, having won previously with Dakota Phone at Churchill Downs in 2010. It was the second Breeders’ Cup win for Prat and first in the Dirt Mile.
Battle of Midway is a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Smart Strike, who remained perfect in two starts over the main track at Del Mar.

Winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer (Battle of Midway) – “He’s a horse for the course. He loves Del Mar. He had run a huge number here (when winning the Shared Belief Stakes). We had a lot of confidence in him coming into this race.
“I talked to Flavien (Prat) and we agreed there was a lot of speed in the race. At the break he was able to follow John Sadler’s horse (Accelerate) and got a good position. This horse has always been a fighter and he showed that today. He showed a lot of courage in winning this race.”

Winning jockey Flavien Prat (Battle of Midway) – “I let him break and find position and was wide early. I thought there would be more pace. Then down the backside he relaxed well and gave me a really good kick. He was training really well in the morning.”

Second-place trainer Jorge Navarro (Sharp Azteca) – “When the four horse (Gato del Oro) went by, it stuck him down on the rail and he had nowhere to go. But, he dug in through the stretch and tried hard. He showed up and I’m really proud.”

Second-place jockey Paco Lopez (Sharp Azteca) – “That was a tough beat. I didn’t want to go to the lead but my horse broke sharp and the horse (Gato Del Oro) came to my outside. I had to go to the lead. The horse tried all the way. He kept running but just got caught.”

Third-place trainer Mark Casse (Awesome Slew) – “We couldn’t be more proud of him. We thought he came into this race wonderful and he ran his eyeballs out so we’re happy. The pace was a little slow. I knew down the backside that we were in a little trouble. I thought we were too close, and going too easy. That tells you something.”

Third-place jockey John Velazquez (Awesome Slew) – “He ran really good. He was in a good position, saved all the ground. We kept running, but he was third best.”

Trainer Bob Baffert (Beaten favorite Mor Spirit, eighth) – “I was afraid that with Mor Spirit going in that I couldn’t get enough into him. He just got tired. I was disappointed in Cupid (10th). Maybe it was too short for him. He chased a little bit. If they don’t show up, they don’t show up. I’m happy for Jerry Hollendorfer. I’m a big fan of his, so I’m happy for him.”

Jockey Mike Smith (Beaten favorite Mor Spirit, eighth) – “I was in a really good spot. He just didn’t want it today. That’s not him. He just let go.”

View on the Web:
http://www.dmtc.com/media/stable-news/battle-of-midway-outgames-sharp-azteca-to-win-las-vegas-1040

Cover Photo: Mendelssohn: Casey Phillips/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders’ Cup Photo