The Dubai World Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic - Part II.

 

The Dubai World Cup and the Breeders’ Cup Classic – Part II.

Joseph Di Rienzi

In Part I. of this two part series, I looked at the first four horses who tried to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the same year they triumphed in the Dubai World Cup. In this second piece, the efforts of the last three horses who failed to complete the Dubai World Cup – Breeders’ Cup Classic will be reviewed.

 

California Chrome winning the 2016 Dubai World Cup
(bloodhorse.com)

The next opportunity for a horse to try this double was in 2016. The charismatic rags-to-riches California Chrome had actually run in the Dubai World Cup the previous year finishing second. However, subsequent injuries precluded a tilt at the year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. As a five-year-old “Chrome”, as he was called by his multitude of admirers, began 2016 racing in January with a victory in the San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita. Now owned by a partnership called California Chrome LLC, the plucky son of Lucky Pulpit followed a similar route that Curlin took winning a prep race in Dubai and then forging to a decisive triumph in the World Cup itself at Meydan Racecourse.

After a brief rest, the Art Sherman trained flashy chestnut streaked into the Breeders’ Cup Classic with victories in the San Diego Handicap, Pacific Classic and Awesome Again Stakes. With the Breeders’ Cup this year at Santa Anita at Chrome’s home track (back to a traditional dirt surface) it was believed the stars were aligned for him to complete his campaign undefeated.

The Classic saw nine go to post with California Chrome the clear favorite. His main adversary appeared to be three-year-old Arrogate who trained up the Classic from his track record breaking Travers Stakes victory. Other entries included Frosted, Melatonin, Hoppertunity, Effinex and Keen Ice.

After the break, Victor Espinoza pushed Chrome to the front followed by Melatonin. Arrogate was not sent forward by Mike Smith as he did in the Travers but took a rating position in third place a couple of lengths behind the leader. The first three positions were unchanged down the backstretch as California Chrome was running comfortably on the lead. Around the far turn, Smith angled Arrogate inside of Melatonin as he took aim at California Chrome. Down the stretch, California Chrome continued to stride out purposefully, and, although Arrogate was under a drive on the outside, it appeared he was not gaining. That changed just before the finish when the big gray son of Unbridled’s Song leveled out as only the really good horses do and thrusted himself forward to pass Chrome for an astonishing ½ length victory. The magnitude of the performance of the top two finishers was exemplified in that third finishing Keen Ice checked in 10¾ lengths further back.

 

Arrogate winning the 2017 Dubai World Cup
(forbes.com)

Arrogate joined the others who completed the Breeders’ Cup – World Cup duet in different years. Prior to that in January of 2017, the lanky gray son of Unbridled’s Song had a rematch with California Chrome in a newly inaugurated race, the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park. The latter in his final race before retirement was below form as the Juddmonte Stable color bearer won decisively setting a new track record for the 9 furlong distance. Racing next in Dubai against what would be a formidable opponent in Gun Runner, the Bob Baffert trainee overcame a poor start to rally from last place to win going away from his new rival by 2½ lengths.

Hailed as the 21^st century Man o’ War, there seemed no challengers to Arrogate’s supremacy. Since August 2016, he had, in the Travers, Breeders’ Cup Classic, Pegasus World Cup, and the Dubai World Cup put together a string of performances that were comparable to the best of any other thoroughbred’s achievements. Rather than retire him, his connections set sights on a repeat try in the Breeder’s Cup Classic. It was the sporting thing to do, but, as we will see, it will sully his legacy. 

Following a pattern set by other West Coast based Dubai World Cup victors, Arrogate was rested until late July and then resurfaced in the San Diego Handicap. He shocked the racing world with a listless performance finishing fourth between over 15 lengths to Accelerate. Running next in the Pacific Classic he failed by a ½ length to catch his barn mate Collector. A hypothesis posed for these losses was that the son of Unbridled’s Song did not take to the Del Mar surface. In the aftermath, Baffert resolved to press on to the Breeders’ Cup Classic despite it being held at Del Mar in 2017.

In the Classic, Arrogate would face again Gun Runner, who since his loss in Dubai had become a racing machine. The sculpted son of Candy Ride had pulverized his fields in the Stephen Foster Handicap, the Whitney and the Woodward Stakes winning by an aggregate of over 22 lengths. His blowout victories coupled with Arrogate’s shocking defeats at Del Mar, led people to believe what was unthinkable after the Dubai World Cup, that Gun Runner was now the best horse in training in the U. S.

Bob Baffert was by no means single handed in the Classic as he saddled Collected and three-year-old West Coast who had scored impressive victories in the Travers Stakes and the Pennsylvania Derby. To add an international flavor to the race, the English and Irish 2000 Guineas winner, Churchill, was also entered.

For Arrogate, things went awry quickly as he ducked in from his no. 1 post and had to be steadied near the rear of the field. Jockey Florent Geroux took the same approach he used during Gun Runner’s winning streak in that he would let his mount run freely and see if anyone could out sprint them. By the stands the first time, Gun Runner had a narrow lead over Collected with Churchill saving ground in third positon and West Coast to his outside. Down the backstretch, Gun Runner was a ½ length in front of Collected, setting fast fractions with West Coast and Churchill a few lengths behind. Mike Smith had Arrogate settled between horses in eighth place, hoping for a Dubai-like rally. As they headed around the far turn, the two leaders separated themselves from the rest of the field as the Classic turned into a match race. At the top of the stretch, it appeared that Collected had a slight advantage, but when Geroux roused Gun Runner, he slowly edged away. At the finish, Gun Runner was 2¼ lengths in front of Collected who held second by 1¼ lengths over West Coast. Arrogate, who made a tepid move in the stretch, finished in a dead heat for fifth place.

Thunder Snow winning the 2018 Dubai World Cup
(forbes.com)

The last horse to date who has tried to complete the double in the same year had a completely different profile than the previous six I have discussed. Thunder Snow, owned by Godolphin Stable and trained by Saeed bin Suroor, was bred in Ireland and had his early racing in England and France. The son of Australia stallion Helmet won a major race in France to end his juvenile season in 2016. He came to the fore in Dubai as a three-year-old winning both UAE 2000 Guineas and Derby. Thunder Snow’s reputation took a nose dive after he bucked and unseated his rider just after the start in the 2017 Kentucky Derby.

After a successful sophomore season in Europe, the now four-year-old chestnut colt returned to the Middle East and in his fourth start of the Dubai World Cup Carnival led all the way to win the 2018 World Cup by 5¼ lengths.

Off a second place finish in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Thunder Snow returned to Churchill Downs, the scene of his disastrous Derby performance the year before for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Providing a much more credible performance, he contended for the lead in mid-stretch only to finish third to Accelerate, beaten a total of 1¾ lengths.

Thunder Snow in 2019 was able to repeat in the Dubai World Cup (the only one so far), but after finishing third in the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, an injury precluded another try at the Classic.

We see from Parts I. and II., the difficulty in achieving this idiosyncratic double. This year’s Dubai World Cup hero, Country Grammar, has the right connections in Bob Baffert (four time Classic winning trainer) and has just finished second in the Pacific Classic. However, the greatest impediment to Country Grammar breaking precedent is not the past, but the present, in the form of the unworldly Flightline.

The Dubai World Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic - Part I

 

The Dubai World Cup and the Breeders’ Cup Classic - Part I.

Joseph Di Rienzi

The Dubai World Cup (inaugurated in 1996) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (initial running in 1984) share similar conditions in that they are both now run on a dirt surface at 1¼ miles for three year-olds and older. With the enormous purse each offer and the prestige received in winning, these races have attracted over the years the world’s best dirt runners. Five horses have been able to win both, but never in the same year. The route taken by these five dual winners (Cigar, Pleasantly Perfect, Invasor, Curlin and Arrogate) were to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (run in early November) and then in late March the following year triumph in the Dubai World Cup. To this date, no horse has been able to reverse the order, namely win in the desert in late spring and then travel to the U. S. to win in the fall the Breeders’ Cup Classic. There have been seven runners who have tried, but all were not successful. At this date, there is a eighth, Country Grammar, who was victorious in the Dubai World Cup on March 26 that is being prepared for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 5, held this year at Keeneland Racecourse. This piece (of two) will look at the efforts of the first four who had been unable to complete this transcontinental double in the same year. 

 

Cigar winning the 1996 Dubai World Cup
(arabnews.com)

The inaugural edition of the Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba Racetrack featured Allen Paulson’s Cigar who had capped a perfect 1995 campaign winning 10 for 10 races with a triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Belmont Park. The Bill Mott trained six-year-old began 1996 with a decisive victory in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park. A foot abscess prevented a start in the Santa Anita Handicap, but the bay son of Palace Music recovered in time for his date in the desert. Gaining the lead at the top of the stretch under jockey Jerry Bailey, he withstood a fierce charge by Soul of the Matter to hold sway by ¾ of a length.

Returned to the in the U. S., Cigar had his win streak stopped at 16 by Dare and Go in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar Racetrack. Coming into the Breeders’ Cup Classic which was held in 1996, Cigar had returned to winning form in the Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park, but suffered a narrow defeat in his penultimate race before the Breeders’ Cup Classic to three-year-old Skip Away.

The Breeders’ Cup Championships in 1996 were held at Woodbine Racecourse in Toronto, Canada, the first (and only) time outside the U. S. The Classic featured the closing chapter in the storied race career of Cigar. He was the odds-on favorite, but in that he had been beaten in two of his last three races there were questions as to whether he was quite as dominant. Skip Away, who had defeated Cigar in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, was not among the entries, but his Pacific Classic conqueror, Dare and Go, was in the thirteen horse field. Included also were sophomores Louis Quatorze, Editor’s Note, Will’s Way and Formal Gold. Among older entrants were sturdy campaigners Dramatic Gold and Alphabet Soup. There was even a horse from Japan, an American bred son of Seattle Slew named Taiki Blizzard.

As the field left the starting gate for the 1¼ mile race, Atticus, stablemate of Dare and Go, bounded to the lead and set a rapid pace. In second place was Louis Quatorze with Alphabet Soup a tracking fourth. Cigar settled in mid-pack down the backstretch on the outside for a clear run. Around the far turn Louis Quatorze narrowed the gap separating him from the front runner, and Alphabet Soup ranged up to his outside. Suddenly, 100-1 shot, Mt. Sassafras, who had been laying close early, came along the inside to seize the lead. Cigar made his characteristic move around the stretch turn but was carried very wide. Down the stretch it was a four horse battle with Mt. Sassafras, hanging gamely on the rail, and Louis Quatorze, Alphabet Soup and Cigar in that order across the track. Cigar was trying, but he did not seem to have that closing thrust that had carried him to so many victories in the past. At the 1/16 pole, Alphabet Soup held a slight lead, but just before the finish the margin narrowed even further, and he prevailed by just a nose over Louis Quatorze with Cigar, a head back in third and Mt. Sassafras, running the race of his life, only ½ length further back in fourth place. 

 

Silver Charm (on right) winning the 1998 Dubai World Cup
(bloodhorse.com)

Silver Charm, owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis and trained by Bob Baffert, in 1997 came within a ½ length of winning the Triple Crown losing the Belmont Stakes to Touch Gold. The gray son of Silver Buck began his four-year-old campaign in 1998 with a victories at Santa Anita Park in both the San Fernando and Strub Stakes. Recovering from a minor injury, the Baffert trainee ran in the third running of the Dubai World Cup, and under a desperate ride from jockey Gary Stevens held on to win by a nose over the charging Swain. 

Returning state side, Silver Charm lost his first two starts before rebounding to win both the Kentucky Cup Classic and Goodwood Handicaps in his final preps before the Breeders’ Cup Classic run in 1998 at Churchill Downs.

In the nine horse star-laden field Silver Charm was accorded second favoritism to the previous year’s winner, Skip Away. Shortly after the star, Travers Stakes winner Coronado’s Quest, forged to the front over Arch with Skip Away and Silver Charm side by side in third and fourth position. Swain and Gentlemen were not far back in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Down the backstretch, Coronado’s Quest continued to lead with the others close behind. Skip Away made a move along the inside but was repelled as Silver Charm came up the outside. At the top of the stretch, Coronado’s Quest was still in front but strongly challenged by Silver Charm. Swain made his move along the outside but, in doing so drifted far right. The outcome seemed to be between Coronado’s Quest, Silver Charm and Swain who were spread out across the racetrack when suddenly Awesome Again and then Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop charged through the large gap created. At the finish, Awesome Again was ¾ of a length in front of Silver Charm who had a neck advantage over Swain. Swain held third by a nose over Victory Gallop who was 1 length in front of Coronado’s Quest.

 

Pleasantly Perfect winning the 2004 Dubai World Cup
(gettyimages.com)

Pleasantly Perfect, as indicated above won both races, each time defeating Medaglia d’Oro, the first time in 2003 in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita and then again in the Dubai World Cup in 2004. The Richard Mandella trained, Diamond A Racing Corporation owned son of Pleasant Colony tried in 2004 for a repeat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic run for the only time so far at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. Now six years-old, Pleasantly Perfect had finished a surprising second in his first race back from the Middle East in the San Diego Handicap but returned to his winning ways in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar Racetrack.

Pleasantly Perfect was nearly co-favored to repeat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, as slight favoritism went to Ghostzapper. Also in the field was multiple champion mare Azeri, former Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone and streaking Roses in May. Visions of a speed duel between Azeri, Ghostzapper and Roses in May seemed to favor closers such as Pleasantly Perfect and Birdstone. However, that was not how the Classic transpired due to some pre-arranged race tactics. Ghostzapper was guided to the lead by jockey Javier Castellano. Azeri, broke a little slowly, but secured an inside position behind Ghostzapper. Roses in May cruised to be second down the backstretch tracking Ghostzapper’s moderate pace. Around the far turn, Castellano called on Ghostzapper, and he slowly drew away from Roses in May. Pleasantly Perfect had launched a bid from tenth place but had to come very wide in the stretch losing considerable ground. At the finish, Ghostzapper was 3 lengths in front of Roses in May who had 4 lengths on Pleasantly Perfect.

Curlin winning the 2008 Dubai World Cup
(bloodhorse.com)

The next horse who tried to complete the Dubai World Cup – Breeders’ Cup Classic double in the same year was Curlin. Just as with Cigar and Pleasantly Perfect, the robust chestnut son of Smart Strike had won the Classic the previous year (2007). He began his four-year-old season in late February with a victory in a prep race at Nad Al Sheba Racetrack where the Dubai World Cup would be held the following month. On the night of the World Cup, Curlin was completely dominant winning by 7¾ lengths. Returned the U. S., his connections (owner Stonestreet Stables and Midnight Cry Stables and trainer Steve Asmussen) campaigned their champion aggressively winning the Stephen Foster Stakes, Woodward Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup and finishing second in his only try on turf in the Man o’ War Stakes.

The Breeders’ Cup Championship races were held in 2008 at Santa Anita which had just installed a synthetic surface called Pro-Ride replacing the traditional dirt track. Curlin’s majority owner Jess Jackson expressed some reservations about racing Curlin on the artificial surface, but nevertheless entered his champion in the Classic.

Curlin ruled the odds-on favorite, but there was some uneasiness in assessing his chances. This was the end of a long campaign that saw the son of Smart Strike race in Dubai in the early part of the year. There were some formidable European entries hoping to transfer their grass form to the Pro-Ride surface. Duke of Marmalade had won five major stakes races in 2008, whereas stablemate Henrythenavigator had won four such races including the English and Irish 2000 Guineas. Henrythenavigator’s persistent rival, Her Royal Highness Haya of Jordan and Darley Stable’s Raven’s Pass, was also in the field. The Kentucky bred son of Elusive Quality, trained by John Gosden, had recently gotten the better of Henrythenavigator in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

The early pace in the Classic was carved out by Casino Drive. Duke of Marmalade was close up in fourth with Curlin settled back in eighth place. The two European rivals, Henrythenavigator and Raven’s Pass, where in seventh and tenth place, respectively. Curlin made a sweeping move around the far turn to gain the lead at the top of the stretch. Frankie Dettori riding Raven’s Pass, followed Curlin, and though coming wide around the final bend, ran down Curlin in the stretch. Both Henrythenavigator and Tiago passed Curlin in deep stretch, who although finishing fourth was only beaten a total of 2¾ lengths on a surface that was not conducive to his style of running.

(To be continued in Part II.)