Tag: Marche Lorraine

Japan’s Breeders’ Cup Double Named 2021 FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment Of The Year

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced today that the breakthrough performance by Japanese horses Loves Only You (JPN) and Marche Lorraine (JPN) at the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar last November has been voted the 2021 FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year based on the results of 3,000 votes cast via Twitter and an online poll.

The FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year will be recognized this evening at the 51st Annual Eclipse Awards presented by 1/ST Racing, FanDuel Racing Group and the NTRA at Santa Anita Park. The Eclipse Awards ceremony will air live on TVG and Racetrack Television Network (RTN) beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

In addition to TVG and RTN, the ceremony will be streamed live on NTRA.com, americasbestracing.net (ABR), Bloodhorse.com, DRF.com, Equibase.com, MyRaceHorse.com (YouTube), santaanita.com/live Thoroughbred Daily News (TDN.com), TOBA.org and XBTV.com.

In voting concluded Feb. 2, fans voted for #JapaneseDuo as the top Moment of 2021. On 13 previous occasions, Japanese-based horses had failed to win a race at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, but all that changed dramatically at last year's Breeders' Cup at Del Mar. On Nov. 6, DMM Dream Club's 5-year-old mare, Loves Only You, slipped between horses and won the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and gave Japan its first-ever Breeders' Cup triumph. Not to be outdone, but just two hours later, U. Carrot Farm's Marche Lorraine shocked the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, winning by a nose at 49-1, and awarding Japan its second win at the World Championships.

Moment of the Year voters chose from 11 occurrences in 2021 illustrating a range of human emotions as well as outstanding displays of equine athleticism. Following #JapaneseDuo in second place was #DiversityStepForward when George Leonard became the first African American trainer to compete in the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Past Moments of the Year

The first-ever “NTRA Moment of the Year” was the touching scene between Charismatic and jockey Chris Antley following the 1999 Belmont Stakes. The next year's winner was the stretch run of the 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic, which saw Tiznow hold on for a dramatic victory against Giant's Causeway.

Tiznow won again the following year as fans selected his stirring repeat victory in the Classic over Sakhee. In 2002, fans cited the passing of the last living Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew. In 2003, the popular Kentucky Derby win by Funny Cide was selected. Birdstone's upset win in the Belmont Stakes over Smarty Jones took down top honors for 2004. In 2005, fans selected Afleet Alex's spectacular victory in the 2005 Preakness Stakes.

Voters in 2006 chose Barbaro's gallant struggle to recover from his Preakness injury while at the New Bolton Center. The 2007 Moment of the Year was a historic victory by the filly Rags to Riches over Curlin in the Belmont Stakes. In 2008, it was Zenyatta's win in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic. Zenyatta “repeated” in 2009 as fans selected her triumph in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

In 2010, fans selected Blame's narrow Breeders' Cup Classic victory over Zenyatta. Drosselmeyer's hard-fought win over Game on Dude in the Breeders' Cup Classic was the public's choice for 2011. For 2012, the recovery of Paynter from near-deadly battles with laminitis and colitis captured the hearts of voters like no other story. In 2013, fans recognized Mucho Macho Man's nose victory in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic for his popular connections. The 2014 award went to California Chrome's dominant win in Kentucky Derby 140. In 2015 there was a landslide vote in favor of American Pharoah's historic Triple Crown-clinching Belmont Stakes win. In 2016, California Chrome was again part of the winning moment – a dramatic Dubai World Cup victory that came as Victor Espinoza's saddle slipped out from underneath him.

In 2017, the tragic fire at San Luis Rey and the industry's response led the way among the votes cast while Justify's sweep of the Classics to become just the 13th Triple Crown winner was the clear pick the following year. In 2019, Maximum Security's historic disqualification in the 145th Kentucky Derby — the first winner in Derby history to be demoted for a racing infraction — earned the distinction.

Authentic's stirring triumph in the 146th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve was voted the 2020 FanDuel Racing-NTRA Moment of the Year.

The Eclipse Awards are sponsored by Roberts Communications, Four Roses Bourbon, Daily Racing Form, Breeders' Cup, FanDuel Group, The Stronach Group and 1/ST Racing, Santa Anita Park, TVG, Dean Dorton, Stonestreet Farm, Keeneland, Racetrack Television Network, Jackson Family Wines, EquinEdge, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Hallway Feeds and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies.

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Saudi Cup The Perfect Swansong For Breeders’ Cup Distaff Winner Marche Lorraine

Leading Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi has revealed The Saudi Cup was the first thing on his mind when Marche Lorraine won the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar last November.

Despite a possibility that the six-year-old mare would retire after her success in California, connections were keen to run one more time – and the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 26 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh will provide the setting for her send-off.

The Japanese superstar recently returned to full training ahead of her Saudi Cup mission and she will join some of the best dirt horses on the planet contesting the nine-furlong race.

Last year's winner Mishriff, Japan Champions Cup winner T O Keynes, and the highly-progressive US-trained Mandaloun are just a few of her potential rivals, with entries from America, Europe, South America and Asia.

Speaking about the decision to run in The Saudi Cup, Yahagi said: “It was immediately after the Breeders' Cup Distaff… I thought The Saudi Cup should be her next race if she ran one more time. There was a possibility that Marche Lorraine would retire after the Breeders' Cup.

“She needed to have a period to relieve fatigue and spent an easy time at the Shigaraki Branch of Northern Farm. She returned to my barn at Ritto Training Centre on Jan. 27.”

Three-time Japanese Champion Trainer, Yahagi, was surprised by Marche Lorraine's win in America, but hopes that she can run to that level again in Riyadh and achieve a similar send off to Loves Only You, who followed her Del Mar win with a triumphant final outing in the Hong Kong Cup.

He said: “With regard to the Filly & Mare Turf, I thought Loves Only You had enough ability to win the race, and I was deeply moved to become the first Japanese trainer to win a race at the Breeders' Cup. It was kind of a surprise – even for me – to watch Marche Lorraine win the Distaff to be frankly honest.

“First of all, I want her to complete the race safely, as she will be a mother soon. While I understand the competition is very tough, I hope she performs well enough, like at the Breeders' Cup.”

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Eclipse Award Finalists Announced

Knicks Go (Paynter) was one of a dozen winners at the 2021 Breeders' Cup meeting at Del Mar in early November to be named Eclipse Award finalists, as the candidates in 11 equine and five human categories were announced Saturday morning on TVG.

While the finalists for 2021 were not revealed–they will be announced at the conclusion of the Eclipse Award ceremony at Santa Anita Feb. 10–it is a fait accompli that Knicks Go will take home the evening's most coveted award. The grey, winner of the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, capped his 5-year-old season in style with a powerhouse victory in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, easily accounting for 3-year-old Eclipse Award finalists Medina Spirit (Protonico) and 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit). He was undefeated at two turns in 2021, which also included a pillar-to-post tally in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational and in the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga, where he had older male finalist Maxfield (Street Sense) 4 1/4 lengths behind him.

The sophomore male division will prove one of the biggest cliffhangers at this year's awards ceremony, as voters will have been forced to choose between the season-long consistency of Essential Quality and Medina Spirit, whose Kentucky Derby 'win' remains an open question and whom many will have opposed on non racing-related grounds, but whose resume features a defeat of elders in the GI Awesome Again S. and a superior finish in the Classic. The brilliant 'Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) earned a spot on the ballot courtesy of his towering score in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Knicks Go and Life Is Good are headed towards a highly anticipated clash in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational in two weeks' time.

The Sprint divisions should prove for more interesting theater. In the male sprint category, Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) was routinely the fastest horse over the course of the season, but stubbed his toe on championship day, finishing well behind Aloha West (Hard Spun). There may also be a smattering of support for 'Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit), smashing winner of the GI Runhappy Malibu S. in his graded stakes debut in December.

The same cloud hanging over Medina Spirit looms a factor in whether 'Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief) earns a second consecutive female sprint statuette. Not nearly as dominating as she was in 2020, she nevertheless was the only member of the divisional heavies to score multiple times at Grade I level, though she was beaten on the square by Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) on Breeders' Cup Saturday. Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) is a decided outsider.

'Rising Star' Corniche (Quality Road) will be heavily favored–despite some opposition–to give his sire another juvenile champion, and 'Rising Star' Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) looms one of the night's unanimous picks in the fillies' division.

Other Breeders' Cup winners to garner spots on the ballot include GI Juvenile Turf hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), one of three BC-winning finalists for his remarkable sire; Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), GI Juvenile Fillies Turf; Space Blues (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}, Mile; Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Turf; and Japan's first Eclipse finalists Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) and Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

Noteworthy in the human categories are Godolphin, who are finalists in both the champion owner and breeder categories, and trainer Brad Cox, who conditioned Knicks Go and Essential Quality in a season in which his stable earned record prize money. The same can be said for Joel Rosario, who will be favored to pick up the Eclipse for champion jockey.

2yo Male

Corniche (Quality Road)

Jack Christopher (Munnings)

Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})

 

2yo Filly

Echo Zulu (Gun Runner)

Juju's Map (Liam's Map)

Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus})

 

3yo Male

Essential Quality (Tapit)

Life Is Good (Into Mischief)

Medina Spirit (Protonico)

 

3yo Filly

Clairiere (Curlin)

Malathaat (Curlin)

Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB})

 

Older Dirt Male

Knicks Go (Paynter)

Maxfield (Street Sense)

Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper)

 

Older Dirt Female

Letruska (Super Saver)

Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn})

Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil)

 

Male Sprinter

Aloha West (Hard Spun)

Flightline (Tapit)

Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music)

 

Female Sprinter

Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot)

Ce Ce (Elusive Quality)

Gamine (Into Mischief)

 

Male Turf Horse

Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB})

Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})

Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})

 

Female Turf Horse

Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn})

Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB})

War Like Goddess (English Channel)

 

Steeplechase

Baltimore Bucko (GB) (Sholokhov {Ire})

Snap Decision (Hard Spun)

The Mean Queen (Ire) (Doyen {Ire})

 

Owner

Godolphin LLC

Juddmonte Farms Inc.

Klaravich Stables Inc.

 

Breeder

Calumet Farm

Godolphin LLC

Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC

 

Jockey

Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Flavien Prat

Joel Rosario

 

Apprentice Jockey

John Hiraldo

Charlie Marquez

Jessica Pyfer

 

Trainer

Steve Asmussen

Chad Brown

Brad Cox

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Entries Out For World’s Richest Race

Defending winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) as well as Breeders' Cup winners Knicks Go (Paynter), Life Is Good (Into Mischief) and Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) are among the entries for the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup which takes place on Feb. 26 at Riyadh. Connections of the 5-year-old Mishriff recently confirmed he is on track for the race, and the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Marche Lorraine is expected to conclude her racing career there. Breeders' Cup Classic winner Knicks Go and Dirt Mile victor Life Is Good are set to clash in the Jan. 29 GI Pegasus World Cup, which Knicks Go won last year before finishing fourth in the Saudi Cup. Knicks Go is set to stand stud at Taylor Made Farm this year for $30,000.

Also among the Saudi Cup entries are American Grade I winners Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), Happy Saver (Super Saver), Art Collector (Bernardini) and Mandaloun (Into Mischief). Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who hasn't been seen since winning last year's G1 Dubai Turf, is among the entries for the Saudi Cup as well as the 2100m Neom Turf Cup, and that is also the case for G1 Coronation Cup winner and last-out G1 Hong Kong Vase second Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}). Last year's G1 Champion S. winner Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {Ire}) is entered for the Saudi Cup under the name of new trainer Francis Graffard, with Jerome Reynier's dual 2021 Group 1 winner Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) also among the French contingent.

Click here for entries for the 2022 Saudi Cup card.

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