Breeders' Cup Races to Remember: Part 3

Mucho Macho Man photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire
By Tom Pedulla, America's Best Racing
In celebrating the 32nd anniversary of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Tom Pedulla of America’s Best Racing cites the races he remembers most from each edition of the 30 previous events. Here is the final installment, a look back from 2004 through 2014:
Twenty-first running, Oct. 30, 2004, Lone Star Park
Race to remember: Distaff. Favored Ashado provided trainer Todd Pletcher with his first Breeders’ Cup victory. The setting meant everything to the Dallas native since the breakthrough win came at Lone Star Park. “It’s particularly gratifying because I have a lot of family here,” Pletcher said after Ashado clinched 3-year-old honors in winning by 1 ¼ lengths against Storm Flag Flying.

Twenty-second running, Oct. 29, 2005, Belmont Park
Race to remember: Filly and Mare Turf. Intercontinental, under a brilliantly measured ride by Rafael Bejarano, wired the field in upsetting Ouija Board, the defending champion and the top choice in the event. The late trainer Bobby Frankel, who could be slow to praise, said of Bejarano: “He couldn’t have ridden a better race.”

Twenty-third running, Nov. 4, 2006, Churchill Downs
Race to remember: Filly and Mare Turf. Ouija Board redeemed herself with her second victory in three tries in this event as a convincing 2 ¼-length winner for Frankie Dettori in the final start of her distinguished career. Lord Derby, her jubilant owner, said, “This mare has quite literally changed the lives of all of the connections. We’ve traveled the world with this horse a few times over, and I think she deserves the opportunity to retire.”

Twenty-fourth running, Oct. 26 and 27, 2007, Monmouth Park
Race to remember: Classic. The race brought together the top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in Kentucky Derby champion Street Sense, Preakness victor Curlin and hard-knocking Hard Spun. Curlin, perhaps hurt by lack of seasoning earlier in the year, displayed his brilliance and class in splashing home by 4 ½ lengths against Hard Spun on a sloppy track. There was no disputing proud owner Jess Jackson when he proclaimed Curlin “a champion of champions.”

Twenty-fifth running, Oct. 24 and 25, 2008, Santa Anita Park
Race to remember: Classic. Raven’s Pass, at 13-1, became the second foreign horse to win the centerpiece contest. He finished 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Henrythenavigator in giving Europeans a one-two finish on a Pro-Ride surface. “I’m too happy,” declared winning rider Frankie Dettori. Trainer Steve Asmussen pointed to the synthetic track in explaining heavily-favored Curlin’s fourth-place showing.

Twenty-sixth running, Nov. 6 and 7, 2009, Santa Anita Park
Race to remember: Classic. In what surely ranks among the most dramatic moments in Breeders’ Cup history, Zenyatta launched one of her prolonged, breathtaking rallies to nail Gio Ponti by one length and make history as the first female to win the Classic. “She’s sent from God,” said awe-struck Mike Smith, her ecstatic jockey. “It’s his filly.” The Classic extended Zenyatta’s perfection to 14 for 14.

Twenty-seventh running, Nov. 5 and 6, 2010, Churchill Downs
Race to remember: Mile. Goldikova, who possessed rare quality, bested the great Gio Ponti by 1 ¾ lengths to become the first to win three Breeders’ Cup races. “She has everything an athlete can have,” said trainer Freddie Head.

Twenty-eighth running, Nov. 4 and 5, 2011, Churchill Downs
Race to remember: Mile. There would be no fourth consecutive victory for Goldikova. Court Vision, an improbable victor sent off at 65-1, made certain of that in fending off a late charge by Turallure to pull a shocking upset for trainer Dale Romans. The win payoff was the second-highest in Cup history.

Twenty-ninth running, Nov. 2 and 3, 2012, Santa Anita Park
Race to remember: Ladies’ Classic. Royal Delta demonstrated her speed and staying power in leading almost every step of the way to successfully defend her title in this race. As trainer Bill Mott said, “She kept going and ran them off their feet.” My Miss Aurelia was second best. Awesome Feather was dealt her first defeat in 11 starts. 

Thirtieth running, Nov. 1 and 2, 2013, Santa Anita Park
Race to Remember: Classic. I will never forget the sight of Kathy Ritvo, a heart transplant survivor and the first female to train a Classic winner, running onto the track to greet Mucho Macho Man and jockey Gary Stevens after their pulsating nose victory against Will Take Charge. Ritvo was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a steady weakening of the heart muscle, in 2001. She believes she was days away from dying before a suitable match was found on Nov. 13, 2008. She returned to training against the advice of doctors, who feared an increased risk of infection. That Stevens, a proud grandfather who made a remarkable comeback from retirement, rode gritty Mucho Macho Man made this storybook ending all the sweeter. 

Thirty-first running, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, Santa Anita Park
Race to Remember: Dirt Mile. Goldencents became the first horse to repeat in the Dirt Mile since the event was added to the Breeders’ Cup menu in 2007, and he did it with a sensational front-running effort on a lightning fast track. With Rafael Bejarano asking for early speed after they broke from farthest outside in post 11, the 4-year-old son of Into Mischief responded in a big way. He jutted his head in front around the first turn and blazed along on the front end, setting a brisk pace that caused one opponent after another to falter in completing the mile in 1:35.12. When fatigue inevitably set in during the stretch run, he displayed the heart of a champion in fending off late-running Tapiture by 1 ¼ lengths. Pants on Fire was another five lengths back in third. Purchased for $62,000 as a 2-year-old, Goldencents surpassed $3 million in career earnings in a memorable final start.