Breeders’ Cup Classic

(1m 2f, dirt)

CHURCHILL (seventh) and War Decree (ninth) have turf pedigrees on balance, and were done with before the home turn, though Churchill seemed like he might take to the task for a way.

A strong point has to be made regarding their participation, as well as that of U S Navy Flag in the Juvenile on dirt: O’Brien and Coolmore deserve credit for their enterprise which, though no doubt grounded in a potential cost-benefit analysis, reminds us that horse racing is a sport. There are connections of top horses in Britain who are very conservative with their placement.

Gun Runner was terrific yet again, cutting out fractions of 22.50, 23.81, 24.19, 24.53 and 26.26 – the uneven distribution is prima facie evidence that he had to run hard, and that he is capable of a faster time than even that 2m01.29sec.

That first split would have hurt, yet to see him turn away the Pacific Classic winner Collected in the straight, and open out again, was the high point in quality of a meeting which was a little short on the awesome overall.

Arrogate (fifth) went out tamely, screwing out of the inside stall, then never really extending his incredible stride, though he did make some late gains in vain. He should be remembered as an exceptional racehorse with bottomless stamina. If he doesn’t sire a Belmont winner, something is wrong.