Europeans Dominate First Day of Breeders' Cup

Outstrip rallied gamely to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf under Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith. (Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire)
A Triple Crown contender earlier in the year, Goldencents proved that his connections were smart to put him in the shorter $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mileat the championship event.
Goldencents went straight to the lead and outlasted the pressure from Broadway Empire, who faded out of the picture as the field hit the stretch. Goldencents kept rolling, winning by 2 3/4 lengths under jockey Rafael Bejarano for the biggest victory of his career. Last year's Travers co-winner Golden Ticket finished second while Brujo de Olleros finished third.
Goldencents finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby but since the Triple Crown has found his calling at shorter distances with three close seconds in sprints over the summer before. The win was the first Dirt Mile victory for Bejarano and trainer Doug O'Neill. Partially owned by Rick Pitino, Goldencents earned all of his connections the $550,000 winner's share of the race. 
Outstrip Wins Juvenile Turf for Europe
Outstrip was the first juvenile of the weekend to win a race at the Breeders’ Cup when the colt took home the winner’s share of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
Outstrip relaxed near the back of the pack for much for the one-mile race as favorite Bobby’s Kitten set the pace. As the field entered the stretch, jockey Mike Smith moved Outstrip from his spot on the rail to find clear running, allowing Outstrip to put in his best run.  Outstrip was faced with the task of running down fellow European invader Giovanni Boldini down the stretch, and he reeled in the leader in the shadow of the wire.
The win allowed Mike Smith to go 2-for-2 on the Breeders’ Cup card, extending his Breeders’ Cup record to 19 career wins in the event.
SMITH CELEBRATES THE JUVENILE TURF WIN

Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire
The victory also was a good story created by Outstrip, who hadn’t been aimed toward the Breeders’ Cup until finishing third in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes on Oct. 13.
By Exceed and Excel, Outstrip is out of Grade 1 winner and 2006 Breeders’ Cup Distaff contender Asi Siempre and raced by Godolphin Racing. He is trained by Britain-based trainer Charles Appleby.
CHRISELLIAM WIN GOOD CONSOLATION PRIZE FOR CO-OWNER WILLIE CARSON
Chriselliam made a clean sweep for the Europeans in the races they were entered in today when she claimed the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
The England-based filly sat around midpack for the first half of the mile race before picking off horses from the inside going around the turn. By the time the field hit the stretch, she was on the outside and easily passed the field for champion jockey Richard Hughes' first win in the Breeders' Cup.
BREEDERS' CUP DAY 1 IN PHOTOS

Chriselliam now has three wins in six starts, including two Grade/Group 1 wins. Trained by Charles Hills, she is owned by Willie Carson, Emily Asprey, and Christopher Wright. The win is a nice consolation for Carson, who lost the 1990 Breeders' Cup Classic when his mount jumped a shadow near the wire and lost the race.
Mike Smith won the Breeders’ Cup Marathon in the first Breeders' Cup race of the day aboard London Bridge to kick off the 2013 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. London Bridge, a 3-year-old colt by Arch, won three of seven starts in Europe before making his U.S. debut in the Marathon.
For Equibase charts, click here.
SMITH AFTER WINNING MARATHON WITH LONDON BRIDGE

Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire