SABATO 5 NOVEMBRE 2016. America, Breeders’ Cup day 1: Duello entusiasmante nel Distaff, risolve #Beholder di muso! Ecco i risultati della prima giornata in attesa delle 9 corse con gioco in Italia di sabato

Congedo più bello non poteva esserci. La campionessa Beholder (Henny Hughes) ha salutato il mondo delle corse battendo un’altra campionessa come Songbird (Medaglia D’Oro), fin qui imbattuta, in un ideale passaggio di consegne, al termine di una battaglia a dir poco epica con duello che si è protratto fin sul sul traguardo, con testa a testa incredibile nel Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff G1 sul dirt. Le 2 femmine si sono guardate negli occhi più volte, ma all’ultimo tuffo a vincere è stata la cavalla di Richard Mandella con Gary Stevens in sella, riuscita a coprire 39 “feet” in più della sua rivale secondo i rilevamenti Trakus, con la 3 anni di Jerry Hollendorfer con Mike Smith a bordo che aveva graduato in avanti con parziali di 23,62, mezzo miglio in 47,16s e i 1200 metri passati in 1m 11,14s. Sulla curva finale l’attacco di Beholder, il face-to-face e tuffo significativo della anziana sul palo, che ne ha certificato la vittoria. Per Beholder a 6 anni era l’11° vittoria di G1 in carriera, la terza nelle Breeders’ dopo il Juvenile G1 nel 2012 ed il Distaff del 2013 ed un ruolino di marcia che parla di 26 corse disputate, 18 vittorie e 6 piazzamenti. Ora l’ingresso in razza mentre per Songbird la carriera continua in una sconfitta che, in questo ambito, conta relativamente e non toglie nulla ad una campionessa comunque autorevole. IL RISULTATO COMPLETO QUI. IL VIDEO DEL DISTAFF QUI.

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PUBBLICATO DA GABRIELE CANDI A SABATO, NOVEMBRE 05, 2016

Highland Reel Speeds to BC Turf Rout

By Jeremy Balan, November 5, 2016 6:47 PM

It wasn’t a theft. Highland Reel just ran away with the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT) Nov. 5. Watch Video

Under the guidance of Seamus Heffernan, the 4-year-old Galileo colt set stiff fractions in the 1 1/2-mile race, opened up a daylight lead in the backstretch, and was never threatened late by second-place finisher and favorite Flintshire en route to a 1 3/4-length score at Santa Anita Park.

The Aidan O’Brien trainee, owned by Coolmore connections, ran the first quarter in :24.83, hit the half in :48 flat, covered six furlongs in 1:12.70 and a mile in 1:36.16, then held off the best efforts of Flintshire to hit the wire in 2:23 flat. With a half-mile to run, Highland Reel held a seven-length advantage.

“He’s the type of horse that’s brave in front,” Heffernan said. “And when he wants to go, you let him go and he turns it on. I thought there were a few horses that were going to come from the back and come quick. So if I was going, I wanted to go early.”

O’Brien stablemate Found, who defeated Highland Reel last time out in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I), checked in third, another 2 1/4 lengths back.

“He tried to steal the race and he stole it,” said Flintshire’s jockey, Javier Castellano. “Unfortunately, the way it worked out, it was unfortunate for my horse. Usually you don’t see the European horses run so aggressively, open up, and carry their speed—especially at 1 1/2 miles—but it worked out great for him.”

Along with two group I scores internationally, Highland Reel is now undefeated in two starts on U.S. soil following his score in the 2015 Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington International Racecourse.

“We know he gets a mile and a half very well,” O’Brien said of Highland Reel. “We know that he handles fast ground. He doesn’t mind dictating. He doesn’t mind sitting in. So it was straightforward, really. But Seamus executed it brilliant. He was very happy to make the run, and when he did, he controlled the race perfectly.”

Ulysses, closed from seventh to take fourth, followed by Ashleyluvssugar, Money Multiplier, Texas Ryano, Ectot, Ralis, Twilight Eclipse, Da Big Hoss, and Mondialiste to complete the order of finish.

The winner paid $9.60, $5.20, and $3.40 across the board. Flintshire brought $3.20 and $2.40, and Found delivered $3.

fonte : Bloodhorse.com

Tourist-360

Tourist holds the late challenge of Tepin to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile

PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Tourist has perfect trip this time in Mile

BY DAVID CARR, 5 NOV 2016

Report: Santa Anita, Saturday, Breeders’ Cup Mile (Grade 1) 1m, turf, 3yo+

TOURIST made it third-time lucky to deny Tepin back-to-back victories in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Fortune had not smiled on the five-year-old in two previous cracks at the race, having been handed a very wide draw in 2014 before meeting trouble in running 12 months ago.

But he got a perfect run on the inside this time, led in the straight and held on by half a length from Tepin – who was an impressive winner in 2015.

The race was run at a breakneck pace and Tourist, who was returned at just over 12-1, won in a time just 0.02sec off the recently established track record.

Breeders’ Cup record

He was a tenth Breeders’ Cup winner for trainer Bill Mott and a fifth for jockey Joel Rosario.

Rosario said: “I thought they were going too quick early, they were really flying. I just let him be happy where he was, saving ground, and took it from there.

Mott added: “I looked at the horses in the field and thought this has to be one of the most competitive races of the day.

“A good trip is imperative and he had a good trip on the inside, saving ground.”

Obviously-360

Obviously: gained a deserved Breeders’ Cup success

PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Obviously it had to be him, eventually

BY DAVID CARR, 5 NOV 2016

Report: Santa Anita, Saturday, Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1) 6½f, turf, 3yo+

IF AT first you don’t succeed, try, try, try and try again – that’s how it worked for the remarkable eight-year-old Obviously.

The Irish-bred gelding, who won twice in his native country before being sold to the USA, had run in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in each of the last four years but managed no better than third – achieved back in 2012.

He was dropped back in trip for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, run over 6½f, as he became just the fifth horse to run at the meeting five times.

But Obviously has plenty of speed – remarkably, it is more than four years since he had not had the lead at some stage of a race.

He was not the quickest away this time but he was soon in front under Flavien Prat, in a contest run on a unique downhill course, and held on by a nose from the fast-finishing second Om, with Pure Sensation another length back in third.

‘Absolute warrior’

Obviously was a first Breeders’ Cup winner for trainer Philip d’Amato and a first ride at the meeting for Prat.

The jockey said: “Once he got to the lead he relaxed and I was happy. He was tired close home but he is a good horse.

“This is a dream come true. I feel so lucky.”

D’Amato added: “This race is extra special as I used to share this horse with my old boss Mike Mitchell [who died last year] and this is a win for both of us.

“Obviously is the barn favourite. It was a deserved win as he’s an absolute warrior – he brings it every time. This win feels so rewarding. Flavien’s ride was picture-perfect.”

Unusually for a Grade 1 sprint winner, Obviously was schooled over hurdles in his younger days, when he won at Cork and Dundalk for Peter Fahey.

European challenge

Favourite Washington DC, representing Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, travelled well but could not sustain his effort and faded to finish in mid-division.

The Hugo Palmer-trained Home Of The Brave could never get competitive under James Doyle, who said: “It all happened a bit quick for him. I thought we had a nice position after the first couple but I think he’s a horse who needs to go seven or a mile and dictate a bit better. He likes to dominate and breathe a little.”

Palmer said: “He just doesn’t have the change of gear over that trip and that’s why he was in the Mile and we thought about it. Maybe we made the wrong decision but he ran well for a long way.”

Arrogate-2-360

Arrogate: stayed on powerfully to win the Classic

PICTURE: Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos

Arrogate overhauls Chrome to win Classic

BY TONY MCFADDEN, 6 NOV 2016

Report: Santa Anita, Saturday, Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade 1) 1m2f, dirt, 3yo+

BILLED as a clash between two of the best horses in the world, the Breeders’ Cup Classic did not disappoint as Arrogate overhauled California Chrome close home with the pair well clear of the field.

The five-year-old California Chrome had carried all before him this year, winning all six starts prior to the Classic, but he could not resist the late surge of three-year-old Arrogate, who backed up the excellent impression that he had created when destroying his rivals in the Travers Stakes.

Things looked to be going perfectly for California Chrome, who was sent straight into the lead and was allowed to set easy fractions under Victor Espinoza, but Arrogate powered down the straight to win by half a length.