Talismanic Surprises in Breeders' Cup Turf

Talismanic continued a parade of longshot winners Nov. 4 at Del Mar with a 14-1 score in the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). Godolphin's son of Medaglia d'Oro  covered the 1 1/2 miles in 2:26.19. Beach Patrol, the 3-1 second choice finished second over favored Highland Reel.

American-based Oscar Performance set the early pace in the Turf and cruised along throughout the first two bends on an open lead. Beach Patrol tracked in second while off the rail, with Highland Reel, last year's winner in wire-to-wire fashion, tracking in third under Ryan Moore.

The early splits were honest, with the opening quarter-mile going in :23.69, the half-mile in :48.33, and six furlongs in 1:12.86. The leaders were tracked by Hunt and Talismanic, with Mickael Barzalona aboard.

As the field made their way out of the third and final bend, Beach Patrol challenged Oscar Performance and quickly established the lead, but Talismanic was coming after him, with Highland Reel still digging in. The mile went in 1:38.

In the lane Talismanic was too much, edging clear to win by a half-length. Beach Patrol held on by a neck over Highland Reel.

"I can't believe it," Barzalona said. "I am thrilled to have won my first Breeders' Cup race. I expected the horse to run well, but I'm not sure I thought I would win. Mr. Fabre is a great trainer."

Barzalona's previous top victories came aboard Pour Moi in the 2011 Investec Derby (G1) at Epsom and Monterosso in the 2012 Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).

The winner, out of the Machiavellian mare Magic Mission (GB), came to the Breeders' Cup for trainer Andre Fabre with a 5-5-1 mark in 15 starts. This year he won the listed Prix Lord Seymour at Maisons-Laffitte at the Turf distance and the group 2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil at Saint-Cloud in mid July.

His prep was a third-place effort in the Qatar Prix Foy (G2) at Chantilly Sept. 10.

Talismanic is the seventh grade 1 winner for his sire in North America this season. Medaglia d'Oro is the first American stallion since Storm Cat in 1999 to reach six individual grade 1 winners in a single year. Earlier in the card, his daughter Bar of Gold took the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) to tie the record. 

Talismanic's dam Magic Mission was bred by Gainsborough Stud Management and won the 2003 Royal Heroine Stakes (G3T) at Hollywood Park and placed in six other stakes including the grade 1 Matriarch Stakes in 2002.

Fabre is one of Breeders' Cup's leading trainers. The win marked his fifth in the World Championships. He famously sent out Arcangues to a huge upset win in the 1993 Classic (G1) and Saturday's score with Talismanic marks his third win in the Turf. He previously won with In the Wings (GB) in 1990 and Shirocco in 2005 for Darley—both at Belmont Park.

Godolphin experienced a big day during the Breeders' Cup card Nov. 4, also winning the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) with Wuheida.

Talismanic paid $30.20, $10.80, and $6.40 across the board. Beach Patrol paid $4 and $3, while Highland Reel returned $3.40. 

Chad Brown, trainer of Beach Patrol, said the multiple grade 1 winner ran well but was just second-best.

The race lost a bit of luster the day before when Ulysses, the 7-2 morning-line favorite, was scratched due to "some heat in a fetlock" following morning track work, according to Flaxman Holdings' racing manager Alan Cooper.