If a fan cannot go away two days of Breeders’ Cup stimulation with out some eternal recollections, what hope is there? Luckily, the 2024 model at Del Mar supplied various.
Some recollections linger despite themselves, which is why it’s onerous to neglect the shellacking California stables took on the 2023 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita Park. Fourteen races, zero wins, and solely two within the cash—Muth  and Nationwide Treasure  —from the Bob Baffert barn.
This time round, the house subject benefit was not squandered. Californians John Sadler, Dan Blacker, and Baffert received races with Full Serrano , Straight No Chaser , and Citizen Bull , whereas Tim Yakteen was about to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T) with Johannes when Extra Than Appears got here from the clouds to grab the day.
Phil D’Amato had a Breeders’ Cup to recollect after sending forth three runners to complete second. Vodka With a Twist was second greatest to slam-dunk champion Immersive within the Juvenile Fillies (G1), Iron Man Cal was crushed narrowly by Henri Matisse within the Juvenile Turf (G1T), and Motorious misplaced the Turf Dash (G1T) by a neck, with native mare Ag Bullet a nostril again in third for Richard Baltas.
It’s also value remembering that the fourth-place end of Gold Phoenix within the Turf (G1T) for D’Amato was a mirror-image of his fourth within the 2023 Turf at Santa Anita. California grass horses are maligned with regularity, however the file exhibits that the one North American horse to complete in entrance of Gold Phoenix in two BC Turf dances was champion As much as the Mark  .Â
Agave Racing’s Mark Martinez, who began the Saturday card by successful the Filly & Mare Dash (G1) with Soul of an Angel , paid $125,000 for 1 / 4 share of Gold Phoenix on the Keeneland Championship Sale the earlier Wednesday. Fourth within the Turf was value $250,000, so, if my calculator is telling the reality, Martinez is already midway out along with his Agave Racing’s funding within the constant gelding.
Helicopters and A Stewards’ InterView
Dale Gibson, retired British rider and govt director of the Skilled Jockeys Affiliation, was available along with his son, George, to observe PJA members Ryan Moore, William Buick, Colin Keene, and Rossa Ryan win Breeders’ Cup occasions. Additionally they took in a few of the San Diego sights, together with the famed Air & Area Museum in Balboa Park.
“And who can we see there?” stated Gibson. “Aidan O’Brien and his sons, Joseph and Donnacha. All of us climbed into the helicopter on show and had an image taken.”
That might be the Robinson R44 single-engine helicopter outfitted with a semi-rigid two-bladed fundamental rotor, a two-bladed tail rotor, and a skid touchdown gear.
Gibson ended his weekend Sunday morning alongside Rossa Ryan throughout a stewards interview concerning a spot of hassle close to the tip of the Turf Dash. One other rider took exception with Ryan’s alteration in fact aboard victorious Starlust . The consequence stood. The true offender was Irad Ortiz, Jr.—bearing outward beneath a left-handed whip utilized to Cogburn , the tiring favourite—however in some circumstances a rider might be penalized despite the fact that there isn’t a change.
“He is a rising star,” Gibson stated of Ryan Saturday afternoon. “You may be listening to rather a lot from him. Hopefully, he will not be stood down, but when it occurs I am certain he’ll deal with it nicely and transfer on.”
The stewards took no motion.
“Earlier than we began, they requested what my file was this yr in hearings like this,” Gibson stated the subsequent day. “I instructed them I used to be 7-for-9, within the rider’s favor, and one of many ones I misplaced I used to be on trip. On leaving they stated, ‘Proportion improved.'”
O’Brien TAkes The BLAME
After saying time and again that Metropolis of Troy was the most effective horse he’d ever educated, Aidan O’Brien needed to provide you with one thing after Metropolis of Troy bombed within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional (G1). Of all his post-race choices, nobody ought to ever neglect the mea culpa O’Brien delivered to NBC’s Nick Luck within the saddling paddock because the coach ready to saddle Content material for the Filly & Mare Turf (G1T).
“I simply did not have him ready fast sufficient to return out of the stalls. We thought he was fast, however he obtained left three, 4 lengths and gave Ryan no probability, actually. Gave the horse no probability.”
The “stalls” is the beginning gate, and Ryan is jockey Ryan Moore. O’Brien continued:
“Pay attention, we’re studying on a regular basis. For my part, I ought to have had him popping out faster and touring faster. Once you get again that far on that dust floor, you could not do something about it. Hopefully, we’ll attempt tougher subsequent yr.”
Metropolis of Troy struggles to cope with dust kickback as he passes the stands for the primary time within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional at Del Mar
At this, O’Brien flashed a boyish grin. Luck recommended some horses are meant for the dust, some not. O’Brien adjusted his hair and harkened to Metropolis of Troy’s pre-Cup exercise over a Tapeta floor again dwelling.
“Yeah, hear, I feel it’s important to have them ready correctly as nicely. He simply wasn’t. He broke fast, however he did not get into prime gear fast sufficient. Once we introduced him to Southwell, we obtained the opposite horses to steer him. Got here out and went onerous. However possibly we must always have kicked him out and let him lead, if you realize what I imply. I feel if we’ve him like that, he nonetheless solely find yourself in a standard place right here, if you realize what I imply. So, there you go, however this and that.”
And so it goes, if you realize what I imply. O’Brien, who will seemingly hold his job, returned to Content material’s saddling stall, the place a couple of moments later the coach may very well be seen taking a curry comb to the wealthy mane and shining flanks of the filly. Doing the work.
Even Crying Infants Have a Place
Cruising by way of the jam-packed stands, it was encouraging to see so many children within the Breeders’ Cup crowds, particularly in the course of the marathon Saturday program. Their presence tripped the reminiscence of my Lutheran pastor’s remonstration that even crying infants had a spot in church, as a result of if nothing else they’d profit from the atmosphere, and one thing constructive would possibly sink in.
It will be fairly to suppose that 20 years from now that 10-year-old accumulating discarded Breeders’ Cup tickets will win a handicapping contest or personal a racehorse.
I am not so certain, although, in regards to the baby in a stroller carrying purple hair ribbons, who spent the complete publish parade for the Filly & Mare Turf wrestling with a shoe. Moira lastly received and the shoe lastly got here off, and I am undecided which celebration was extra joyful.
Remembering Jayarebe
Lastly, I’ll bear in mind standing with John Gosden within the moments earlier than the sector for the Breeders’ Cup Turf left the gate. The British mare Emily Upjohn held his hopes within the race. Simply earlier than the flag went up, Gosden pointed to the title of Jayarebe in this system.
“He is the hazard,” the coach stated, an commentary that made sense, since Jayarebe was on an upward development that included a stable second to 3-year-old star Economics and a win in a testing group 2 race at Longchamp.
Emily Upjohn didn’t break nicely, prompting Gosden to spend the subsequent moments agonizing over a sluggish tempo that would depart his mare far an excessive amount of to do. However at the very least the daughter of Sea the Stars would go dwelling together with her individuals.
After ending seventh, Jayarebe collapse whereas gearing down and died of what was known as a probable cardiac occasion, which is what vets name it as a result of horses—being herbivores who get numerous train—wouldn’t have coronary heart assaults as people know them.Â
Jayarebe was the primary Breeders’ Cup race fatality because the Traditional dying of Mongolian Groom in 2019. Based on California rules, an official necropsy shall be carried out for ongoing analysis into such non-injury sudden deaths. Maybe, then, Jayarebe is not going to have died in useless.
Jayarebe, who died on the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, wins the Hampton Courtroom Stakes at Ascot Racecourse earlier this yr
