Dateline: 10/25/03

The 20th anniversary of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships was contested at a smoke-shrouded Santa Anita Park on Saturday, October 25. It was very hot and sunny and smoke from the brush fires in the nearby mountains obscured the famous backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains. Longshots were the order of the day as the hot weather, the hard turf course, and the smoke and smog took their toll on some of the more highly regarded entrants.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 2   Adoration          Valenzuela      83.40   33.40 25.80
 6   Elloluv            Nakatani                 9.20 12.20
 7   Got Koko           Solis                          6.80


Adoration out front by 4 1/2 lengths.
Winning Time:  1:49

$1 Exacta 2-6               238.40
$1 Trifecta 2-6-7          1017 40
$1 Superfecta 2-6-7-5      1981.70

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies was expected to be a coronation for Halfbridled as champion 2-year-old filly and she didn't disappoint as the 5-2 favorite. Under jockey Julie Krone, who became the first female jockey to win a Breeders' Cup race, she tucked in behind runners having to angle in from the far outside post. Turning for home she kicked into gear and blew right by the pace, drawing away to win by 2 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:42 3/5 for the 1 1/16 mile feature. 13-1 shot Ashado was second, and it was a neck back from her to 8-1 shot Victory U.S.A in third.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
14   Halfbridled        Krone            6.60    4.80  3.40
 5   Ashado             Velazquez               11.60  7.20
 8   Victory U.S.A.     Bailey                         4.80


Halfbridled lived up to her reputation
and won easily by 2 1/2 lengths.
Winning Time:  1:42 3/5

$1 Exacta 12-5               63.00
$1 Trifecta 14-5-8          343.10
$1 Superfecta 14-5-8-3     2995.10

Taking to the turf for the first time in the afternoon, the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile drew a wide-open full field of fourteen. 5-1 shot Six Perfections, a three year old filly taking on boys, stayed in between horses back in eighth early, then came on strong down the stretch splitting rivals to win by 3/4 length over 12-1 shot Touch of the Blues. The time for the mile distance on the firm turf course was 1:33 4/5. It was a neck back to 39-1 longshot Century City. 3-1 favorite Peace Rules set the early pace but had nothing left turning for home, fading badly and finishing last.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
13   Six Perfections    Bailey          12.60    7.00  4.80
 9   Touch of the Blues Desormeaux               9.80  6.80
 8   Good Journey       Day                            3.60


3-year-old French filly Six Perfections
rallied from 8th to win the mile.
Winning Time:  1:33 4/5

$1 Exacta 13-9               76.80
$1 Trifecta 13-9-8        2,628.70
$1 Superfecta 13-9-8-11  39,233.10

The speedsters were next in the Sprint, with 13 horses going six furlongs. 23-1 longshot Cajun Beat stalked the pace for the first quarter which went in a blistering 21 seconds, grabbed the lead after half a mile and then drew away down the lane to win by 2 1/4 lengths over 14-1 shot Bluesthestandard in a time of 1:07 4/5. It was 2 lengths back to 7-2 shot Shake You Down in third. 2-1 favorite Aldebaran finished a disappointing sixth for trainer Bobby Frankel in his first try at 6 furlongs.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
11   Cajun Beat         Velasquez       47.60   19.80 11.20
 8   Bluesthestandard   Smith                   12.60  8.00
 2   Shake You Down     Luzzi                          5.00


Cajun Beat drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths
after setting a blazing first half in 43 1/5.
Winning Time:  1:07 4/5

$1 Exacta 11-8              380.10
$1 Trifecta 11-8-2        2,151.70
$1 Superfecta 11-8-2-3   31,146.80

The Filly and Mare Turf may have finally put to rest any excuse for Europeans about travelling to California, as European trained horses swept the first three positions and European bred horses the top five. 3-1 favorite Islington stalked the pace in sixth early under Kieren Fallon, then at the top of the stretch came on strong and duelled with 47-1 shot L'Ancresse down the stretch to win by a neck. The final time was 1:59 for the 1 1/4 mile turf feature. It was 2 1 /2 lengths back to 14-1 shot Yesterday, while Bobby Frankel trainee Heat Haze (bred in England) finished fourth.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 4   Islington          Fallon           7.80    6.00  4.20
11   L'Ancresse         Prado                   32.60 13.00
 2   Yesterday          Kinane                         7.80


Islington won by a neck over L'Ancresse.
Winning Time:  1:59

$1 Exacta 4-11              212.40
$1 Trifecta 4-11-2        1,589.50
$1 Superfecta 4-11-2-3   18,834.10

The Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile featured twelve 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. 27-1 longshot Action This Day shocked the crowd with a last to first run. Jockey David Flores kept him back in last early, then on the turn, split rivals passing seven horses in upper stretch. Inside the final furlong, Action This Day collared his stablemate 9-1 shot Minister Eric and won going away by 2 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:43 3/5 to give trainer Richard Mandella a 1-2 sweep. It was another 5 lengths back to 6-1 Chapel Royal. 8-5 favorite Cuvee stalked the pace in fourth early but tired badly at the top of the stretch and finished last, eased under the wire.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 2   Action This Day    Flores          55.60   19.20 11.00
 7   Minister Eric      Solis                    8.80  7.20
10   Chapel Royal       Velazquez                      5.60


Action This Day rallied from last at the
half to win going away by 2 1/4 lengths.
Winning Time:  1:43 3/5

$1 Exacta 2-7               188.40
$1 Trifecta 2-7-10        2,245.40
$1 Superfecta 2-7-10-6    9,123.40

Perhaps the most exciting finish of the day was in the 1 1/2 mile the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf. Defending champion and 5-1 shot High Chaparral stalked the pace in third early then rallied down the lane between horses. Meanwhile, 14-1 longshot Johar, unhurried in last in the early stages, stormed down the lane five wide to hit the wire with the champion. After a lengthy delay as the stewards looked at the photo, the first dead heat for win in Breeders' Cup history was announced. It was another head back to 7-2 shot Falbrav in third. 2-1 favorite Storming Home disappointed in seventh.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 3dh High Chaparral     Kinane           6.40    6.20  3.80
 9dh Johar              Solis           13.60    9.00  5.40
 8   Falbrav            Holland                        4.20


The most exciting finish of the day was the
dead heat for win between High Chaparral and
Johar with Falbrav only a head back in third.
Winning Time:  2:24 1/5

$1 Exacta 3-9                44.40
$1 Exacta 9-3                36.30
$1 Trifecta 3-9-8           248.30
$1 Trifecta 9-3-8           180.20
$1 Superfecta 9-3-8-7      1905.80
$1 Superfecta 9-3-8-7      1116.90

Capping the festivities for the afternoon was the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge. A field of 10 faced the starter vying for the winner's share of the $4 million purse, the richest in North America. 14-1 shot Pleasantly Perfect was unhurried early, then turning for home went four wide to wear down 5-2 favorite Medaglia d'Oro in the final strides and win by 1 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:59 4/5. It was 3/4 length back to 15-1 shot Dynever in third. Interestingly, Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide was ninth while defending champion Volponi was tenth and last. The win gave Richard Mandella his fourth Breeders' Cup win on the afternoon, a record for a trainer in a single Breeders' Cup, and jockey Alex Solis got his second win on the card. Also worth noting, Mandella won two Cup races on one card once before, in 1993 when it was last held at Santa Anita.

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 2   Pleasantly Perfect Solis           30.40    9.60  6.60
 8   Medaglia d'Oro     Bailey                   4.40  3.60
 6   Dynever            Nakatani                       7.40


Local hero Pleasantly Perfect rallied from 8th
to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Medaglia d'Oro.
Winning Time:  1:59 4/5

$1 Exacta 2-8                         70.00
$1 Trifecta 2-8-6                    831.00
$1 Superfecta 2-8-6-9              4,931.40
$2 Pick Six (13-11-4-2-3/9-2)  2,687,611.60
$2 Pick Six (13-11-4-2-3/9-2)     18,663.80

Details and photos for all the races:

• Breeders' Cup Entries and Post Positions - full details for all the horses entered.
• Breeders' Cup Friday Works - It was a smokey morning at Santa Anita as a huge cloud of smoke from the wildfires raging to the east of town. Here are photos and details for 18 of the Breeders' Cup contenders who were on the track today.
• Breeders' Cup Thursday Works - It was another busy morning at Santa Anita with lots of horses on the track. Here are photos and details for 21 of the Breeders' Cup contenders.
• Breeders' Cup Wednesday Works - Even more horses were on the track Wednesday morning at Santa Anita as many of the European horses cleared quarantine. Here are photos and details for 20 of the Breeders' Cup contenders.
• Breeders' Cup Tuesday Works - Lots of horses were on the track Tuesday morning at Santa Anita. Here are photos and details for 11 of the Breeders' Cup contenders.
• Breeders' Cup Links - the master list with even more info
• The Breeders' Cup Championship Day - The official page for the Breeders' Cup championship races. Just about anything you need to know about it: results, video clips, and race calls for past years, and eventually nominations, entries, and results. New Flash section for this year's running now available.
• Free past performances for all the races from Equibase and Breeders' Cup. Click each race for the link to its file.
• Free past performances for the Classic from BRIS. You can purchase all the races here
• Handicapping the Breeders' Cup - Resources, tips, and more to help you handicap the Breeders' Cup.
• Pre-entry Analysis - each of the 101 pre-entered horses gets a quick analysis by Ellis Starr of Equibase/TrackMaster
• Breeders' Cup Video Preview - online video of all the 2003 prep races leading up to the Breeders' Cup will be available starting October 12. Requires you sign up for a free userid and password to access this.
• Review: Crushing the Cup 2003 - by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An essential tool for anyone trying to handicap the Breeders' Cup races. Includes statistics, trends, local track info, and more to help you handicap the Breeders' Cup.
• Points Standings - from the Breeders' Cup with supplements and injuries indicated
• Breeders' Cup Hotels and Travel - Need a room? Here is a list of the hotels closest to the track that still have rooms available plus links to sources for discount airfares.
• Breeders' Cup Weather - What will the weather be like at Santa Anita on October 25th? Here are lots of places to find out!
• TV Schedule - for all the preps and other programming leading up to the big day
• Breeders' Cup Postcards - Breeders' Cup theme virtual postcards to send your friends now updated with Santa Anita postcards and all last year's winners.
• Breeders' Cup Supplemental Entries - past supplements and how they fared
• Blood Horse Countdown to the Cup - Contenders, news, history and more
• DRF Breeders' Cup Coverage - articles, clocker reports, selections & analysis, and more.
• Thoroughbred Times Breeders' Cup Coverage - News, contender profiles, stats, history, and more. Now updated for 2003.
• European News - the latest on the Euro contenders from Sporting Life
• 2002 Breeders' Cup Results

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