The full field of 14 had loaded into the gate uneventfully and was waiting for the start when Modern Games grew restless and reared in the one gate, triggering stablemate Albahr (GB) to spook, rear, and fall onto the turf under the gate. Jockey Frankie Dettori, aboard Albahr, managed to extricate himself from the gate without being hurt, as the 2-year-old Charlie Appleby trainee thrashed on the ground. Around the same time, stablemate Modern Games (IRE) under William Buick came out of the adjacent gate. Buick later said that an assistant starter had opened the gate to allow him to escape any injury from Albahr, but that he wasn't sure how many people realized in the moment that his horse had been let out, rather than breaking through the gate.

An unidentified assistant starter was given medical attention for injuries sustained in the incident, according to TVG broadcasters. California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) officials were unable to provide an update on that assistant starter late Friday, or his/her name.

The horses were unloaded and Albahr was extricated from the gate, and Appleby later said the horse seemed to have escaped with minor cuts. While the horses were walking behind the gates awaiting reloading, the public was told Albahr and Modern Games were scratched. Then, an announcement came that Modern Games would run for purse money only.

CHRB officials later explained that two veterinarians standing behind the gate — Dr. Dana Stead and Dr. Chuck Jenkins — saw Modern Games rear and thought the horse hit the back of the gate, and that they believed he subsequently broke through the front gates.

Dr. Jeff Blea, equine medical director for the CHRB, explained that a horse breaking through a gate which has not been opened for the horse can result in a shoulder fracture that may not be detected until the horse began galloping. Such an injury could prove fatal.

CHRB executive director Scott Chaney said that veterinarians radioed to the stewards that Modern Games would be a scratch before the horse had been brought back around behind the gate. The scratch was announced and the horse was taken out of the wagering pools for around four minutes before veterinarians examined Modern Games and spoke with Buick. They concluded the horse had not broken the front gates and was in a fit state to race.

California Horse Racing Board rule 1974(B) states that “if a horse removed from the wagering pool due to a totalizator error or due to any other error, and neither the trainer nor the owner is at fault, the horse shall start in the race as a non-wagering interest for the purse money only and shall be disregarded for pari-mutuel purposes.”

At that point, the stewards could have left the horse scratched, or they could have allowed it to run for purse money only. Chaney said he did not think they could have put the horse back into the pools once it had been out for several minutes.

The stewards later released the following statement about the incident:

Prior to the start of the race, #1 Modern Games (IRE) reared up and hit the back of the gate; #2 Albahr (GB) flipped over and became lodged underneath the starting gate. The scratch of #2 Albahr was relayed to the stewards and that horse was taken out of the wagering pools. Albahr appears uninjured. The veterinary staff then relayed a second scratch of #1 Modern Games (IRE) to the stewards based on initial observation. Upon confirmation that #1 also was to be scratched, the stewards removed the horse from the wagering pools. After further discussion among the regulatory veterinarians at the gate and after further observation of #1 Modern Games, that horse was declared fit and racing sound, and this fact was relayed to the stewards, who pursuant to CHRB rule 1974 allowed the horse to run for purse money only. The CHRB and the Breeders' Cup are reviewing the current veterinary and scratching procedures to ensure that this does not occur going forward.

There is no rule in California requiring that a horse who breaks through a gate is an automatic scratch; rather, that decision is left up to the official veterinarian on the ground.

Buick said later he was unaware his horse ever had been scratched, because he knew the horse had not been injured in the incident. He was asked by veterinarians on the ground what had happened, and after he explained that he was let out of the gate by the starter, his horse was examined and he was reloaded.

“Usually horses get backed out the back of gate and everyone gets reorganized and goes again,” Buick said afterwards. “The stall handler there, he obviously meant well and tried to do the right thing, but he opened the front gate without anyone being ready for it and my horse did what he's taught to do and jumps out. Fortunately he got my message and we pulled up and went around the back. To be honest I was unaware of the situation. The vet team wanted to know what happened, I told them what happened and the guy who opened my gate told them thankfully exactly what he did and what happened there. They had all the information. Maybe there was a bit of confusion and panic back there.”

The horses were reloaded into the gates, and Modern Games sat fifth or sixth early leaders Coinage and Portfolio Company, who set the early pace through the backstretch. Grafton Street was sent after them at the top of the stretch, but Modern Games swung wide and found an extra gear in mid-stretch, drawing clear by 1 1/2 lengths at the wire.

Tiz The Bomb crossed the wire behind Modern Games, with Mackinnon and Grafton Street following. Due to Modern Games' status as “purse money only,” bettors were paid as though Tiz The Bomb had won the race: he returned $17.60, $7.40, and $5.20.

Modern Games returned to the Del Mar grandstand to a loud and persistent wave of boos from 20,536 race attendees who were upset about the wagering situation, creating a strange reception for Buick, Appleby, and Godolphin, who were awarded the trophy.

Modern Games came to the Breeders' Cup off a win in the G3 Sommerville Stakes at Newmarket on Sept. 23, having previously won the Take The Reins Handicap two weeks earlier. He is a 2-year-old son of Dubawi (IRE) out of New Approach (IRE) mare Modern Ideals (GB). He was bred in Ireland by the owner.

The race gave Appleby his fourth Breeders' Cup win. He won the same race in 2018 with Line of Duty.

Horseplayers expressed outrage and confusion at the mix-up online. Chaney attributed the sequence of events, in part, to the fact the race was the last of the day and already had an 18-minute delay as officials waited for the injured assistant starter to be transported by ambulance and for another ambulance to come onto the course to chase the field. The sun was setting by the time the race went off at 5:48 p.m. local time.

Additionally, Chaney pointed out, the current climate with regard to animal welfare probably had veterinarians and officials eager to take every precaution to prevent any kind of equine injury.

“This might be an example of trying too hard,” said Chaney at a press conference Friday night.

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Breaking seventh from the gate, Lanfranco Dettori gave Albahr much the same ride he had on Wild Beauty in the Natalma, content to sit toward the back of the pack early and improving position up the backside to fifth as they entered the far turn.

Into the stretch, Dettori took Albahr to the outside to find racing room as front runner First Empire tired, the Godolphin horse taking over the lead. As Albahr began to separate from the field, Degree of Risk went with him, briefly running head to head. Albhar's turn of foot was too much for the Eoin Harty trainee as the Godolphin colt pulled away to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Grafton Street passed Degree of Risk late to take second.

The final time for the one-mile Summer was 1:35.77. Find this race's chart here.

Albahr paid $3.30, $2.60, and $2.50. Grafton Street paid $6.10 and $5.80. Degree of Risk paid $4.80.

As a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, the winner of the Summer Stakes earns a fees-paid, guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Bred by his owner, Albahr (GB) is a 2-year-old gelding by Dubawi (GB) out of Falls of Lora (IRE), by Street Cry (IRE). With his win in the Summer, he improves to four wins in five starts to $235,181.

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The Godolphin filly went into the gate as the post-time favorite, breaking from the middle of the field of 10. She appeared to hit the gate and then was buffeted by horses, running last into the first turn. From there, Dettori kept her on the outside toward the back of the field while Cardio Princess and Guileful led the field. Down the backstretch, Wild Beauty steadily passed horses up to seventh as they entered the far turn.

On the turn, Dettori kept Wild Beauty to the outside, taking her five-wide to find running room as they entered the stretch. With daylight in front of her, the 2-year-old filly had no trouble taking over the lead and pulling away to a 2 3/4-length victory. Bobby Flay's Pizza Bianca was second and Eminent Victor was third.

Mrs. Barbara, Diabolic, Guileful, Ready Lady, Baksheesh, Royal Engagement, and Cardio Princess rounded out the order of finish.

The final time for the one-mile Natalma was 1:35.08. Find this race's chart here.

Wild Beauty paid $4.90, $3.10, and $2.40. Pizza Bianca paid $4.30 and $3.50. Eminent Victor paid $4.20.

The G1 Natalma is a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. As a Win and You're In race, the winner earns a fees-paid guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the corresponding race at the Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Bred and owned by Godolphin, Wild Beauty (GB) is by Frankel (GB) out of the Pivotal mare Tulips (IRE). Trained by Chalie Appleby, the filly's win in the Natalma brings her to three wins in six starts for career earnings of $230,477.

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Breaking from the second post, Dettori settled Walton Street behind longshot Primo Touch, who got out to a multi-length lead within the first half-mile. Logging fractions of :25, :49.49, and 1:14.37, Primo Touch slowed the pace down, leaving the door open for the field's closers. With a quarter of a mile to go, Walton Street easily took over the lead, entering the stretch on the leading and pulling away to a five-length advantage in the race's final furlong.

At the wire, it was all Dettori and Walton Street, with Desert Encounter second and Primo Touch third.

The final time for the 1 1/2 miles was 2:29.07. Find this race's chart here.

Walton Street paid $3.70, $2.40, and $2.20. Desert Encounter paid $5.40 and $4.30. Primo Touch $6.80.

Bred in England by Darley, Walton Street is a 7-year-old gelding by Cape Cross out of the Encosta de Lago mare Brom Felinity. He is owned by Godolphin and trained by Charlie Appleby. With his win in the G1 Canadian International, Walton Street has three wins in five starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of seven wins in 19 starts and career earnings of $962,153.

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The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races where the winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, Calif., on Nov. 5-6.

Palace Pier, trained by John & Thady Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, traveled up on the outside of the field and showed a sparkling turn of foot to go clear of his seven rivals before having to withstand a strong challenge from Group 1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas hero Poetic Flare (IRE) in the final furlong to hold on by a neck. The defending Grade 1 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile champion, Order of Australia (IRE), was a further 1 ¾ lengths back in third.

After completing the mile in 1:35.96 over a course listed as good, Palace Pier was cut to 7/4 with Unibet for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile in November.

John Gosden speaking after the race, said: “I thought it was a very clean race. They went a sensible pace. They quickened from 600 meters out and so it was a test of speed and he's done it well. He's a gorgeous and lovely horse to be around. He's got this amazing cruising speed and acceleration. I've made no secret that he was ill. He had a blood disorder and missed the G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes and we've come here on the absolute minimum amount of work. He's probably come here at 80% and as Frankie (Dettori) said, his class has got him through. He's having a strong blow after, so he was probably 10 days short of work, but they weren't going to move the Jacques Le Marois!”

Gosden indicated that QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot in October could be next for the five-time Group 1 winner.

“We'll now wait until Champions Day and go either for the 1-mile Group 1 QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes or perhaps the 1 ¼ mile Group 1 QIPCO Champion Stakes.”

When asked if the Breeders' Cup could be on the agenda for the son of Kingman (GB), Gosden replied: “November is a long way off! Del Mar is a track I'm very fond of and I had a lot of success there and have a lot of good friends there, but that's a long way down the road at the moment.”

Palace Pier was already a winner of the “Win and You're In” G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and is one of seven horses this year to have gained a “Win and You're In” berth for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. Jet Dark (SAF), winner of the Group 1 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate in South Africa, Succeso (CHI) who claimed the Group 1 Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella in Chile, Smooth Like Strait who won the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile, Danon Kingly (JPN) who captured the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen in Japan, Alcohol Free (IRE) who stormed clear in the Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes, and Got Stormy who yesterday won the Grade 1 Fourstardave, are the other six.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Palace Pier to start in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile, which will be run at a mile on the Del Mar turf course. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

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