Drosselmeyer wins the Breeders Cup Classic
Court Vision held off Turallure in the final strides to spring a huge upset in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Mile and deny Goldikova (IRE) a fourth consecutive win in the race. Turallure, the winner of the 2011 Woodbine Mile, made a big run from the back of the pack but could not get his nose ahead of Court Vision at the wire. Three-time Mile winner Goldikova (IRE) ran her heart out but couldn’t hold off the late charging horses in the final furlongs.
An objection was lodged against Goldikova at the end of the race for coming off the hedge and interfering with Courageous Cat. The stewards denied the objection and made no change to the running order.
American champion turf horse Gio Ponti finished 4th.
Court Vision is a six-year-old son of Gulch out of a Storm Bird mare (Weekend Storm). He is trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Robby Albarado. His last win came in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile on Sept. 19, 2010.
The win by a 65/1 Court Vision, the highest priced winner of the weekend and the second highest win payout in the history of the Breeders’ Cup, set off box car returns.
After two days of racing at Churchill Downs, the main event arrived as 12 of the top three-year-olds were called to the post for the 2011 Breeders Cup Classic. The race pit a few familiar names against each other again, with Stay Thirsty, Uncle Mo and Ruler on Ice — all competitors in at least on Triple Crown race this year — were in the field.
Flat Out entered the gates as the favorite, going off at 7-2 odds. Havre de Grace was bet down to 4-1 at the time of post. The filly was followed closely by Uncle Mo and So You Think, who each headed to the post with the second-best odds at 5-1.
The field made it into the gates without incident and the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic got underway at Churchill Downs. Uncle Mo bust from the outside and Game On Dude took the lead from the inside, leading the field down the front stretch. As they hit the first turn, it was Game on Dude, Uncle Mo, So You Think and Stay Thirsty leading the way into the back-stretch.
Game On Dude held the rail as they came to the final turn, with Uncle Mo breaking from the outside along with To Honor and Serve. As they came down the stretch, So You Think got a run down the inside, with Game On Dude surging. But out of nowhere, Drosselmeyer came on in a shocker, coming out of nowhere down the stretch to take it at the wire.
Game on Dude was second and Ruler on Ice finished in third.
Hansen, doing all the dirty work in the early stages, held off the previously undefeated Union Rags to win the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Hansen came into the Juvenile off of a couple of blowout wins at Turfway Park but stepped up his game on the big stage to win his third race in three starts.
Union Rags had a tough trip throughout the race but still mounted a spirited late charge in the final furlongs. He bore out slightly in the lane, continued to gain on Hansen, but couldn’t get past the winner at the wire.
Creative Cause, winner of the Grade 1 Norfolk last time out, finished in third. Dullahan closed from well back to finish fourth.
Hansen is a two-year-old son of Tapit out of a Sir Cat mare (Stormy Sunday). He is trained by Kentucky native Michale Maker and ridden by Ramon Dominguez.
