For a second, it appeared Bregman Household Racing and Swinbank Stables’ Governor Sam would possibly run away with the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Dash (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The son of Unbelievable jumped out to an early lead earlier than shedding steam mere strides from the wire and ending third to late-surging Magnum Drive and Arizona Blaze .
Regardless of the third, coach George Weaver is pleased with the trouble given by his pupil.
“He is an trustworthy horse, he desires to win,” Weaver stated.
After arising quick on debut in early Might, the colt out of the Into Mischief mare I am Betty G reeled off 4 consecutive wins together with the listed Indian Summer season Stakes at Keeneland final trip.
Making Governor Sam’s effort stand out is within the discipline of 12, seven had been Europeans and the 2-year-old colt was not solely the highest-finishing horse bred in the USA—he additionally prevented a clear sweep by the European runners who took all however third among the many prime seven spots.
“I respect the Europeans—quite a bit. It is racing. Our horse has gained 4 in a row. We do not know what we’re working towards (as a result of they run in Europe). … They have good horses. There is no disgrace in our race right now.”
Flying Underneath The Radar
After Magnum Drive gained the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Dash (G1T), coach Ger Lyons praised jockey Colin Keane. The champion Irish jockey had simply gained his second Breeders’ Cup in his fifth begin on the World Championships, having piloted Tarnawa to victory within the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T).
“When you leg that man up, the job is simple,” Lyons stated. “He is essentially the most understated man—he does not shout; he is humble. However he is essentially the most underrated champion jockey on planet Earth. He is come over right here, he is gained two Breeders’ Cups, and nonetheless no one is aware of about him.
“He is just a little bit like his coach in that the 2 of us like to remain at residence on our farm, stroll our canines, and thoughts our personal enterprise. However when he comes out and he will get the suitable ammunition, he can ship, and he is confirmed that greater than as soon as. I personally would like to see him on the large stage extra. Sadly, I am unable to feed him with that ammo to try this.”
Magnum Drive and rider Colin Keane after successful the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Dash at Del Mar
Nonetheless, Lyons had simply performed precisely that. One of many methods the coach ready Magnum Drive was by coaching him round a flip not not like American turf programs.
“My observe the place I practice at house is much like your turf observe besides mine is all-weather chippings,” Lyons stated. “A really outstanding proprietor as soon as took horses off me as a result of he stated no man can practice winners on a circle observe like that. I believe we have skilled sufficient winners to show that we are able to.”
Immersive Emulates Sire Nyquist With Breeders’ Cup Win
In successful the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Godolphin’s Immersive turned a three-time grade 1 winner throughout an unbeaten 2-year-old marketing campaign—simply as her sire, the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1)-winning Nyquist , was 9 years in the past. Quickly, in a few months, she is going to undoubtedly develop into a champion like Nyquist when Eclipse Award winners are introduced in a ceremony in South Florida.
Although Godolphin didn’t race Nyquist, Godolphin’s stallion division, Darley America, stands him in Kentucky, the place he entered racing Breeders’ Cup Friday because the Seventeenth-leading sire in North America by progeny earnings—and more likely to climb additional earlier than the weekend is over. Along with Godolphin’s homebred Immersive, Nyquist can be represented Nov. 2 in Breeders’ Cup races by Johannes within the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T).
Resulting from these influential races, Darley America reported they might announce his stud charge after the Breeders’ Cup. He stood for $85,000 in 2024.
Talking throughout a press convention after the victory from the Brad Cox-trained Immersive, Michael Banahan, director of bloodstock for Godolphin USA, stated: “Being by Nyquist, as effectively, made it additional particular for us right now. We’re so grateful for Godolphin’s founder, Sheikh Mohammed (bin Rashid Al Maktoum), to place us able to the place we are able to elevate horses like that for him, Brad to coach horses like that for him, as effectively.”
Nyquist at Darley close to Lexington
The Godolphin workforce and Cox can now look to the long run with Immersive, most actually eyeing subsequent spring’s Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs, the place Nyquist captured the 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) the Might after his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) triumph.
Immersive’s dam, Hole 12 months , was bred and raced by Godolphin, changing into a three-time winner earlier than getting into Godolphin’s loaded broodmare band. Immersive is her second winner from as many to race.
“Generally we have hit peaks, and typically we have hit valleys with them, however the good pedigrees at all times come to the fore once more,” Banahan stated.
Close to-File Deal with for Day 1
The all-sources deal with Friday of $63,679,944 was the second-highest deal with for a Breeders’ Cup Friday and the fourth consecutive 12 months the Day 1 deal with exceeded $60 million. The file of $66,141,766 was set in 2022 at Keeneland. The on-track deal with for Friday’s card was $6,683,373.
In the meantime, attendance at Del Mar for the primary day of Breeders’ Cup motion was 30,982. That’s up from 20,536 on Day 1 in 2021, the final time the observe hosted the Breeders’ Cup. Nonetheless, it’s down from final 12 months at Santa Anita Park when the Future Stars Friday card was witnessed by 43,377.
Quotable
- Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., on what it’s wish to experience Thorpedo Anna (Breeders’ Cup Distaff): “It is arduous to explain. She is so dominant and so highly effective in what she does. She simply has this presence about her the place she appears to know the way good she is and she or he desires to go on the market and present it. She is sort of like a warrior princess. She will get cranked up within the publish parade and, as soon as the gates open, she leaves there and will get in her pure rhythm and she or he’ll soar once I want her to. We’re going into this worrying extra about how our filly is doing than fear about who we face.”
- Jockey Manny Franco, on successful his second Breeders’ Cup race (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies): “It means quite a bit. These are the races we dream of and that is what we’re right here for.”
- Jockey Ryan Moore, on how Lake Victoria (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf) compares to others who’ve raced in the identical silks: “You could not evaluate her with all the opposite horses. So far as the 2-year-old fillies go, to do what she’s performed may be very distinctive. I do not assume there would have been one which’s performed that earlier than.”
