Japan-Bred Karakontie Scores Mile Win

In a race that completely changed complexion in the stretch, Flaxman Holdings' homebred Karakontie rallied to victory in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park .

Karakontie becomes the first horse bred in Japan to win a Breeders' Cup race as the son of Bernstein completed the mile turf test in 1:32.88, holding off a late charge from Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's Anodin, a full brother to three-time Mile winner Goldikova. Trade Storm rounded out the top three.

At the quarter pole the top three finishers raced in fifth, 11th, and 10th, respectively, but the final two furlongs saw everything change.



Early on Obviously, a two-time grade I winner at the distance on the Santa Anita turf, led the field of 14 through a half-mile in :45.16 and six furlongs in 1:08.82, while 2-1 favorite Toronado tracked in second. When Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) winner Toronado saw his challenge end when he blew the far turn, floating outside at the top of the stretch, Obviously inherited a four-length lead in midstretch.

But behind the front-runner Karakontie had shifted into another gear, getting the jump on other late-running competitors. Karakontie would surge past the front-runner and at 30-1 hold off Anodin's late charge for a one-length win. It was another length back to Trade Storm, who edged Summer Front by a head for third. Summer Front was the top U.S.-based finisher in the race.

"Emotionally this is the biggest win of my career; to win a Breeders' Cup race in America," said winning rider Stephane Pasquier of France. "I just rode him like the quality horse he is. A mile is his distance."

While bred in Japan by the Niarchos family's Flaxman Holdings operation there, Karakontie had competed exclusively in France until his Breeders' Cup Mile victory. The 3-year-old colt, who is trained by Jonathan Pease, secured a classic victory in this year's Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Fr-I, French Two Thousand Guineas) but had finished off the board in his two group I races before the Mile.

"He was a brilliant 2-year-old and was very good this spring," Pease said. "We gave him a break (after the spring races) and he showed us a great turn of foot today."

Anodin's backers may be wondering "what if?" after he launched his swift move from ninth in midstretch but came up short.

"I'm very happy with him. He did everything right," said jockey Olivier Peslier. "He had a good turn of foot and finished very well."

Karakontie returned $62 to win, $33 to place, and $19.40 to show. Anodin returned $12.60 and $7.20 while Woodbine Mile (Can-IT) winner Trade Storm paid $12.80 to show.

Karakontie is out of the Japanese-bred mare Sun Is Up, by 1989 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Sunday Silence.