Mongolian Groom Steals the Show in Awesome Again Upset

Whether a Breeders' Cup race or a Breeders' Cup Challenge contest, trainer Enebish Ganbat and his family's Mongolian Stable can pull off a surprise.

Four years ago, Ganbat registered a 15-1 upset in the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Keeneland with Mongolian Saturday, and Sept. 28 at Santa Anita Park, he scored with 25-1 longshot Mongolian Groom, who led at every call over McKinzie and Higher Power in the $300,351 Awesome Again Stakes (G1), a key prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

Though the Awesome Again was a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Nov. 2 Classic at Santa Anita, Mongolian Groom is not nominated to the Breeders' Cup, and Ganbat seemed reluctant after the race to make the required supplemental fee to make him eligible. He mentioned running the horse in Asia as an alternative.

Several competitors from the Awesome Again still figure to continue toward the Classic. Runner-up McKinzie, third-place Higher Power, and fourth-place Seeking the Soul earned Classic berths by winning designated races this year. Rather than think about the Breeders' Cup, Ganbat seemed merely delighted to savor the victory.

"We were running against the two best horses in America, McKinzie and Higher Power," he said. "I didn't think he could beat them. No, no, no. Best two trainers, best two horses. How can I beat them? But it happened."

It happened, in part, because of how the race unfolded. A 1 1/8-mile dirt test, it was relatively void of speed. The favorable circumstances were then compounded when TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) winner Higher Power stumbled leaving the gate and when Whitney Stakes (G1) winner McKinzie was rated.

"I saw McKinzie didn't go, so I took the lead," winning jockey Abel Cedillo said.

Once there, Mongolian Groom controlled the tempo with relaxed fractions of :23.99, :48.29, and 1:12.07. He turned back an early stretch bid from 3-10 favorite McKinzie and pulled away by 2 1/4 lengths. Finishing in 1:49.27 on a fast track, Mongolian Groom returned $52.80 for a $2 win wager.

A 4-year-old gelding by Hightail out of the Dynaformer mare Bourbonesque, Mongolian Groom recorded his first stakes victory. Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, he was a $12,000 purchase from the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale Of 2-Year-Olds in Training by his owner from the consignment of Coastal Equine.

Despite McKinzie's defeat, rider Mike Smith was optimistic for what is ahead for his mount in the Breeders' Cup.

"We lost the battle, but this ain't the war," he said. "Hopefully, we'll come back and be ready."

None of the other four finishers were close to the winner. Higher Power checked in 5 1/4 lengths behind McKinzie in third, followed by Seeking the Soul, Draft Pick, and Isotherm.

Though the results brought smiles to the connections of Mongolian Groom, the mood at Santa Anita was somber after Emtech suffered a catastrophic breakdown in the eighth race. The 3-year-old colt fell hard onto the Santa Anita main track, unseating jockey Mario Gutierrez.

A report issued by track publicity suggested Gutierrez escaped serious injury, though the jockey did not ride his final scheduled mount of the day, Don't Sell, in the 11th race, the $100,205 Unzip Me Stakes. He was replaced by Evin Roman, who guided the filly to a 1 1/4-length victory on the turf.

Emtech's fatality marked the 32nd at Santa Anita since Dec. 26, the majority of which came during the early and middle portions of the winter/spring meeting. Following that period, Santa Anita came under widespread scrutiny, and expanded safety measures were initiated.

Video: Awesome Again S. (G1)