Tag: 40th Breeders’ Cup World Championships

What Was Your Favorite Moment Of 2023: Donna Brothers

As 2023 draws to a close, the TDN is asking industry members to name their favorite moment of the year. Send yours to suefinley@thetdn.com

“The Breeders' Cup. Going in, so many races looked ultra-competitive, and the results bore out with exciting stretch runs and thrilling finishes. When I'm on horseback, I don't get to see the stretch run, so all I have is Larry Collmus's race call, which, in so many of the races, had me guessing about who the winner would be until they literally hit the wire. In some cases, we didn't know until after they crossed the wire and the photo finish results were posted. Two of the best days of racing I've witnessed in a long time.”
–Donna Brothers, NBC Sports

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2023 Breeders’ Cup Attendance Up, Handle Down

Total all-sources, global common-pool handle for the Nov. 3-4 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita was $176,281,989, the lowest number since 2020, the same year live Breeders' Cup races at Keeneland had no reported attendance due to COVID-19. At the same time, attendance of 109,624 for the two-day event in 2023 was the highest of the past five years. Breeders' Cup Limited released the numbers late Saturday evening.

“Racing fans here and from around the world were treated to two days of the very best of our sport, including three repeat champions,” said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. “The 40th running of the Breeders' Cup was certainly worthy of the vision of its founders, who set out to create one of the most prestigious international events in our sport. We want to thank all of the weekend's participants, our sponsors, the communities of Arcadia and Pasadena, and our partners from 1/ST racing for their support.”

All-sources, common-pool handle on Saturday's 12-race Breeders' Cup card was $114,145,050, while the all-sources, common-pool handle for the 10-race 'Future Stars Friday' card was $62,136,939. The latter did not count Friday's 'All-Turf Pick 3′ special. On-track handle for the two days was $19,419,844. The total all-sources, common-pool handle of $176,281,989 was down from $189,060,373 last year and $182,908,409 in 2021. However, it was up slightly from the $174,628,986 when the event was last held at Santa Anita in 2019.

Saturday's on-track attendance was 66,247; Friday's was 43,377. The combined attendance of 109,624 was the highest since the Breeders' Cup was held at Churchill Downs in 2019 with an attendance of 112,672 and was up slightly from the 109,054 the last time the event was staged at Santa Anita in 2019.

The Breeders' Cup World Championships will return to California in 2024 and will be held at Del Mar.

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Juddmonte’s Distaff Win by Idiomatic Helps Curlin Equal his Own Breeders’ Cup Record

In 2022, Hill 'n' Dale's super sire Curlin got a record-setting three winners on Saturday's Breeders' Cup card. In 2023, the remarkable sire equaled that as Juddmonte homebred Idiomatic (Curlin–Lockdown, by First Defence) gave her sire a hard-fought victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff sandwiched between the encore wins by Cody's Wish in the GI Dirt Mile earlier on the card and Elite Power later in the GI Sprint. Idiomatic, who has had a stellar year with eight wins from nine starts, has almost certainly sewn up the Eclipse Award as older female and put herself squarely in the middle of Horse of the Year consideration as well with the win.

“I think she definitely deserves some votes for Horse of the Year,” said trainer Brad Cox. “It's a serious record. It's Horse of the Year, not horse of the fall, horse of the summer, horse of the spring, or horse of the Breeders' Cup. She has had a tremendous year from start to finish. Today was just icing on the cake.”

Idiomatic kicked off 2023 with two optional allowance wins at Turfway Park, followed by her first black-type win in the listed Latonia S. in March. While it's safe to say Idiomatic is the first Breeders' Cup winner to come out of that race, it would catapult Idiomatic to graded company. After a runner-up finish, her only 2023 loss, in the GII Ruffian S., Cox teamed her up with Florent Geroux. The two have never lost in their five consecutive pairings, all graded stakes, and have hit triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures every time. Those five straight included both the GI Spinster S., sponsored by her owner and breeder, and GI Personal Ensign S. in her last two starts.

Geroux reflected on the year immediately following the Distaff: “Her prior victories have been very easy for her, but this one she had to earn it. She showed how great she was, and she deserved to be the champion just because of how much fight she showed today and how much heart.

“Sometimes that's what makes the difference between good horses and great horses, and I think she's one of the greats for sure.”

Idiomatic | Benoit

In Saturday's older-mare showcase, GI Alabama S. winner Randomized (Nyquist) shot to the Distaff lead when the gates flew as Idiomatic, under a hard hold, tracked her in second behind :22.31 and :46.26 fractions. Idiomatic began moving on Randomized with three furlongs to go as MGISW Clairiere–another daughter of Curlin–found a dream seam from the back of the field and threatened menacingly from the inside. Idiomatic and Randomized hooked up on the turn to fight down the lane–yet another great battle in a race which has seen some of the sport's top skirmishes. Idiomatic wore down Randomized to shake loose, but not by much, as a mad scramble ensued behind her and the wire loomed. In the end, Idiomatic, a super-sized filly, prevailed by a half-length over Randomized as Spinster second Le Da Vida (Chi) (Gemologist) outfinished Clairiere for third.

“When I needed her the most, the last eighth of a mile when I really went after her and gave her the indication of going forward,” said Geroux, “she just put her head down and start digging for me really hard. She was all heart in that victory.”

Cox and Geroux had previously partnered for Distaff wins in 2018 and 2020 with Monomoy Girl (Tapizar). It was Juddmonte's first win in the Distaff, although the organization has had a number of other top fillies and mares on the grass in the Breeders' Cup, including 2018 Turf winner Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and 2001 and 2005 Filly and Mare Turf-winning full-sisters Banks Hill (GB) (Danehill) and Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill). Like Idiomatic, they were all homebreds sporting the famed green and pink silks.

After the Distaff, Juddmonte's Garrett O'Rourke added: “[Idiomatic] comes from a pedigree that is Juddmonte through and through. And her dam is Juddmonte, granddam is Juddmonte, her maternal grandsire is Juddmonte. That's tremendously satisfying for an owner/breeder operation like Prince Khalid and his sons.”

On Saturday, Juddmonte also won the aforementioned Sprint with Elite Power, although he was a $900,000 Keeneland September purchase rather than a homebred.

Pedigree Notes:

Juddmonte is recognized across the sport for one of the most extraordinary breeding programs in modern times; in few horses is that more evident than with Idiomatic. A fourth-generation Juddmonte-bred, Idiomatic hails from the direct female line of Broodmare of the Year Best in Show (Traffic Judge), her fifth dam, whose daughters and descendants have produced elite horses for five decades. Among that number was 'TDN Rising Star' and champion Close Hatches, a full-sister to Idiomatic's stakes-winning and multiple Grade I-placed dam, Lockdown. Close Hatches produced 2019 GII Wood Memorial S. winner Tacitus (Tapit), who also placed in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont S.

Idiomatic | Benoit

Juddmonte homebred and broodmare sire First Defence, sire of Close Hatches and Lockdown, hails from Juddmonte Broodmare of the Year Toussaud (El Gran Senor) and is out of that legendary mare's GISW daughter Honest Lady (Seattle Slew). Honest Lady finished second against the boys in the 2000 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint and the 2000 GI Met Mile. First Defence has 14 stakes winners out of his daughters and currently stands in Saudi Arabia, while Lockdown died in 2022 after producing just three foals. Idiomatic is the only one to race to date; her final foal is a yearling filly by Into Mischief named Chasten.

The accolades also continue for Idiomatic's sire Curlin, who notched his sixth individual Breeders' Cup winner Saturday with the Distaff winner. Idiomatic's Breeders' Cup win, combined with Curlin's other Saturday repeat victories, made eight winning World Championship races as a sire for the chestnut. It was also his second consecutive year with the Distaff crown, as he also had 2022 winner Malathaat. The tremendous Curlin has 21 Grade I winners to his credit, as well as 55 graded winners and 98 black-type winners worldwide.

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
LONGINES BREEDERS' CUP DISTAFF-GI, $1,820,000, Santa Anita, 11-4, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:50.57, ft.
1–IDIOMATIC, 124, f, 4, by Curlin
        1st Dam: Lockdown (SW & MGISP, $445,900), by First Defence
        2nd Dam: Rising Tornado, by Storm Cat
        3rd Dam: Silver Star (GB), by Zafonic
O/B-Juddmonte Farms Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $1,040,000. Lifetime Record: 12-9-1-2, $2,456,840.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Randomized, 121, f, 3, by Nyquist
        1st Dam: French Passport, by Elusive Quality
        2nd Dam: Air France, by French Deputy
        3rd Dam: Twin Propeller, by Known Fact
($420,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Cove Springs, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $340,000.
3–Le Da Vida (Chi), 124, m, 6, by Gemologist
        1st Dam: Viene Cantando (Chi) (MG1SW-Chi, $119,875), by Gstaad
        2nd Dam: Cantan Las Flores (Chi), by Dynamix
        3rd Dam: Lanza Flores (Chi), by Gallantsky
O-Masaiva Inc.; B-Haras Santa Olga (Chi); T-Ignacio Correas, IV. $180,000.
Margins: HF, NO, NK. Odds: 1.80, 7.90, 16.60.
Also Ran: Clairiere, Desert Dawn, Search Results, Adare Manor, Wet Paint, Hoosier Philly. Scratched: A Mo Reay, Pretty Mischievous. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by Fanduel TV.

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Happily Ever After for Cody’s Wish Fairy Tale in Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

What a way to kick off Saturday's Breeders' Cup action as the sport's favorite fairy tale got its happily-ever-after ending. Cody's Wish (Curlin–Dance Card, by Tapit) made it back-to-back GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile wins in a dramatic running of the first World Championships race on the card Saturday. Cody's Wish had captured the heart of the racing world last year as the story of his incredibly special connection with Cody Dorman, a boy suffering from Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome, emerged and grew. There were few dry eyes among those who witnessed the bay's win in the 2022 Dirt Mile, but in 2023, the sport instead held its collective breath as the fan favorite got mugged at the start and had to survive both a photo finish and an inquiry for the stretch run.

“Sometimes wishes do come true,” said Hall of Famer Bill Mott.

After training exceptionally all week, Cody's Wish got squeezed at the break from both sides in the Dirt Mile and was quickly relegated to the rear of the field. Meanwhile, GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road) went straight to the lead through early fractions of :22.51 and :46.02, as last-out GII Charles Town Classic winner Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) stalked from second. Still sixth and far back but in the clear with just a half to go, Cody's Wish unleashed a monster move. He split horses, weaving in and out, and finally dipped inside Skippylongstocking as he set his sights on National Treasure, who was still strong and comfortable in front.

“I didn't feel I had the luxury to go around the horses since these are Grade I horses,” said jockey Junior Alvarado. “He was helping me. I was like, 'Let me try to cut the corner a little bit, save some ground since it's moving forward.' I did all that, and right when I tip him out, he was there for me.

“When I got to the other horse, at that point, I just kind of let him know, 'Listen, my job is done right here. Just take me to the last part.' Since I know him, I knew he wasn't going to let that other horse go by once he got in front.”

Cody's Wish (outside) and National Treasure | Horsephotos

Cody's Wish angled outside to collar National Treasure, but the sophomore didn't relent. The two battled down the length of the stretch, bumping repeatedly. The Godolphin homebred got there by a nose, but had to endure a long inquiry as stewards reviewed the contact and finally upheld Cody's Wish as the winner, much to the relief of the crowd. Final time for the race was 1:35.97 as Skippylongstocking held third.

“The fact that he split horses in the turn could have made the difference,” said Mott. “I think, if he goes around, he loses another half-length or so.

“It was a great ride and a great run by the horse. It was a good effort.”

The Dirt Mile marked the eighth win in the last nine starts for Cody's Wish, who was coming off a GII Vosburgh S. victory Oct. 1 after his first loss–a third when stretching out to nine furlongs in the GI Whitney S. Aug. 5 in a less-than-ideal trip–since March, 2022. 'Cody' has captured seven graded stakes, including five Grade Is, and is undefeated in eight starts at a mile. In addition to his 11 visits to the winner's circle, he has never finished worse than third.

The race was Cody's Wish's swan song, as he will be retired to Godolphin's Jonabell Farm near Lexington. Mott and Alvarado also teamed up Friday with Just FYI (Justify) to win the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, while Mott later got an additional Breeders' Cup win Saturday with Elite Power (Curlin) in the GI Sprint. Godolphin got a second homebred 2023 Breeders' Cup winner shortly after the Dirt Mile with Charles Appleby trainee Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the $2-million Mile.

Bill Mott and Cody Dorman in the winner's circle | Horsephotos

Mott, who was winning his 14th Breeders' Cup with the 2023 Dirt Mile (and later his 15th with the Sprint), reflected on where his other wins, including the 1995 Classic with Horse of the Year Cigar's unbeaten 10-for-10 season, ranked in comparison.

“I think, if it's not the best, it's certainly a dead heat,” said Mott. “It's probably one of the most memorable rides that we've all been on, and I think it's meant so much to so many different people.

“Sometimes it's a small group that gets to enjoy the win, but I think this one's been for a lot of people. We're very thankful for the Make-a-Wish Foundation that brought everything together. Godolphin has been terrific. I mean, the team at Godolphin has been so giving and open, and they were all about it, about this whole story, and they made the story.”

Kelly Dorman, whose son, Cody, is behind the dual Dirt Mile winner's name, added: “It's a blessing I can't–I don't even know if I could– even start to describe. In a lot of ways, I think that horse probably saved Cody's life. I know him and the horse has made a lot of lives better.

“First and foremost, the blessing is today Cody's Wish put his head in Cody's lap. The next blessing is all the people we got to meet, like these guys sitting right here, the fans, the entire horse racing nation has been incredible to us. We're so thankful and grateful for that.”

 

Pedigree Notes:

Two-time Horse of the Year, 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, and extraordinary sire Curlin added to his laurels in a big way Saturday. The Dirt Mile started the day for him with a sixth individual Breeders' Cup win and he later added two more with Idiomatic in the GI Distaff and Elite Power in the aforementioned Sprint. It was the second consecutive year Curlin had three Breeders' Cup winners, a record he set in 2022 and matched this year. That gives Curlin eight individual Breeders' Cup wins, making him the all-time and undisputed leader among Breeders' Cup sires. To add to the embarrassment of riches, none of the three sires who trail him in second were themselves Breeders' Cup winners, unlike Curlin. The remarkable son of Smart Strike will stand for $250,000 in 2024 at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. With seven U.S. champions, Curlin has 98 black-type winners worldwide and 55 graded winners, 21 at the highest level.

Dance Card, winner of the 2012 GI Gazelle S. and third in the 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in the Godolphin colors, produced Cody's Wish and MGSW Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro). Her 2-year-colt Hunt Ball (Into Mischief) is also in the Mott barn and has twice placed in two starts. She has a yearling filly by Street Sense and a weanling filly by Gun Runner. Dance Card, who was picked up for $750,000 by John Ferguson on behalf of Godolphin out of the Fasig-Tipton February 2-year-old sale in 2011, has been bred back to Curlin for a full-sibling to Cody's Wish in 2024.

Broodmare sire Tapit, who will stand for $185,000 next season at Gainesway, is one of only three sires in Breeders' Cup history to have seven Breeders' Cup wins as a sire. He's done mighty nicely as a damsire as well with 93 stakes winners out of his daughters. Two of the best this year out of his daughters–GI Belmont/GI Travers winner Arcangelo (Arrogate) and GI Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief)–both scratched earlier this week from the Classic and the Distaff, respectively.

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
BIG ASS FANS BREEDERS' CUP DIRT MILE-GI, $890,000, Santa Anita, 11-4, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:35.97, ft.
1–CODY'S WISH, 126, h, 5, by Curlin
                1st Dam: Dance Card (GISW, $502,200), by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Tempting Note, by Editor's Note
                3rd Dam: Tempt, by Devil's Bag
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $520,000. Lifetime Record: 16-11-1-4, $3,106,030. *1/2 to Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), MGSW, $970,133. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–National Treasure, 123, c, 3, Quality Road–Treasure, by Medaglia d'Oro. ($500,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $170,000.
3–Skippylongstocking, 126, c, 4, Exaggerator–Twinkling, by War Chant. ($15,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $37,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Daniel Alonso; B-Brushy Hill, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.. $90,000.
Margins: NO, 3 3/4, 6HF. Odds: 0.80, 4.80, 11.60.
Also Ran: Charge It, Zozos, Stage Raider, Shirl's Bee. Scratched: Algiers (Ire), Practical Move.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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