Bloodless Coup

The Breeders Cup

Today's the day. Many of the greatest race horses from around the world have come to the US to compete in 8 races. While the Kentucky Derby may still be the most famous horse race in the United States, Breeder's Cup day is when you have the best of the best competing in many divisions.

In the first race of the day the the favorite, Ashado, won the Nextel Distaff by 1 1/4 lengths over Storm Flag Flying (who was competing in her last race). In the second race, favorite Sweet Catomine overcame traffic problems to win an easy victory in the Juvenile Fillies. She will now presumably win the 2004 Eclispe Award for the best horse in her division. The winner of the Mile was more of a surprise - Singletary, a Kentucky-bred named after the famed linebacker. The six year-old Speightstown, who had won 4 of his 5 previous starts in 2004, was victorious in the Sprint. Speightstown and Ashado are both trained by Todd Pletcher. Pletcher, who had never before had a Breeders Cup winner is having a very fine afternoon. English superstar Ouija Board cemented her position as the world's top turf female by winning the Filly and Mare Turf.

UPDATE: In the day's later races ... Frankie Dettori rode Wilko to a very surprising win in the Juvenile. Also in the money in that race were Afleet Alex and Sun King. There was another huge upset (one of the biggest in the history of the Breeder's Cup) in the Turf as Better Talk Now defeated heavy-favorite Kitten's Joy. And in the Classic, the biggest race of the day and arguably the most important horse race of the year, Ghostzapper posted a commanding win. He took the lead immediately and no horse seriously threatened his lead throughout the race. Roses in May placed. Pleasantly Perfect, last year's champion in the Classic, came in third. Ghostzapper, who's trained by Bobby Frankel and owned by Stronach Stables, won over 2 million dollars for Saturday's effort. He ends the year victorious in all of his starts, and would seem likely to be named Horse of the Year.