Breeders’ Cup Classic
(Grade 1)
BAYERN brushed with Shared Belief out of the gate in the $5 million Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic and got away with it, outlasting the British invader Toast Of New York and Kentucky Derby hero, California Chrome in a thrilling stretch duel last Saturday at Santa Anita. Stewards reviewed the start of the race for several minutes before ruling that there would be no change in the order of finish.
According to public address announcer Trevor Denman, officials decided the incident occurred at a point of the race that did not affect the final order of finish.
An enthusiastic crowd of 61,114 was on hand to see Martin Garcia go gate to wire and win the 31st running of the mile and two furlong Breeders’ Cup Classic at odds of 6/1.
Breaking from stall seven in the 14-horse field, Bayern broke inwardly and banged squarely into Shared Belief, directly to his inside, a couple of jumps out of the gate.
The collision started a chain reaction that caused Shared Belief, in turn, to knock Moreno as the outside half of the field drifted inside as well in a ragged start.
Trained by Bob Baffert for owner Kaleem Shah, Bayern defeated Toast Of New York by a nose, with Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome a neck back in third in a terrific finish.
Shared Belief, the 5/2 favourite, was unable to overcome his early problems and finished three and a half lengths farther back in fourth, suffering his first loss in eight lifetime starts.
“When he hit the wire, I was just like… it’s been so many years in the making and to finally get it done was just so great, and with my wife, Jill, here, and my son (Bode),” Baffert said after collecting his first Breeders’ Cup Classic win.
“How about Toast Of New York? He would not go away, and California Chrome, he showed up,” Baffert added. “Shared Belief didn’t get a chance to run. But, Bayern is really something.”
The first six finishers in the race were all three-year-olds with Grade 1 Belmont winner Tonalist and Candy Boy next.
After clearing the field following the ragged start, Bayern outpaced Toast Of New York and a slightly wide California Chrome as Cigar Street stalked along the inside.
Turning for home after reaching the quarter pole in a sizzling 1m 34.16secs, Bayern held on stubbornly to his narrow advantage to deep stretch, and arrived at the wire just in time as Toast Of New York and California Chrome closed in.
“It’s an amazing feeling, a dream come true,” said Garcia after winning the Classic for the first time. “To compete in these races, especially this day, is a big thing for everyone. In this situation, you don’t take away when a horse likes to run on the lead. We let him run, and if anything happens, you make adjustments. In this race, he broke really good and I took advantage.”
Jockey Mike Smith, who rode Shared Belief, said the bump had changed the entire complexion of the race.
“I think it cost me the race,” he said.
Bayern carryied 122lbs (8st 10lb), four fewer than his older rivals.
British raider Toast Of New York, runner-up to Shared Belief in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic in his most recent start for trainer Jamie Osborne, had retiring jockey Jamie Spencer aboard.
“Toast (Of New York) has run his heart out and he nearly pulled off the impossible,” Osborne said after picking up a $900,000 cheque for second.
“I’m incredibly proud of him and all the team. Yes, it hurts to come second. It would have been wonderful for Jamie (Spencer) to have pulled off a Breeders’ Cup Classic on his last ride.”
Bayern (by Offlee Wild) was coming off a five and a quarter length romp in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby in September, and won the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in July. The dark bay colt, was a $320,000 purchase by Baffert at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic two-year-olds in training sale from Florida-based Irishman, Eddie Woods’ consignment.