Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Grade 1)

IRISH eyes were well and truly smiling on the first day of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup meeting, when Irish trainers took home the three Grade 1s run on turf.

It was no surprise that Aidan O’Brien took a giant share of the honours, but Ger Lyons also got into the limelight, when Colin Keane drove the 12.5/1 shot Magnum Force through late to grab the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, taking the first prize of $520,000 in the five-furlong contest from Adrian Murray and Amo Racing’s Arizona Blaze. It was Keane’s second win, having also won the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Tarnawa at Keeneland in 2020.

A winner at Cork in August, the Mehmas colt has only finished third when favourite for the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster last time.

Japanese runner Ecoro Sieg was sent off favourite, with Aidan O’Brien’s French Group 1 winner Whistlejacket the best fancied of the Irish ahead of the English duo, Flying Childers winner Aesterius, and second Big Mojo, who was representing last year’s winning connections. In a full field of 12, Governor Sam flew to the lead from post 10, clocking a speedy first quarter in 21.77 secs.

The O’Brien runners were a bit outpaced, as Governor Sam still had the lead after a half-mile in 44.69 secs. Keane on Magnum Force initially thought to go inside of the leader on the rail, but then he switched tactics and moved out round the final turn.

Magnum Force took the gap as others were closing from the outside. He was quicker than Arizona Blaze and Big Mojo and passed Governor Sam, as Keane drove all the way to the wire, the winner by a half-length in 56.36 secs. Arizona Blaze managed to grab second by a half-length over Governor Sam, with Big Mojo fourth, barely more than a length separating the four.

Lyons said. “My horse had just had a late start to the season. He’s a proper two-year-old. He’s thriving. He has a great temperament for the job, wants fast ground, comes off a fast pace. He’s rock-solid made for the race.”

Lyons trains Magnum Force for owner Sheikh Abdulla bin Isa Al-Khalifa.

John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1)

THE two Grade 1 turf wins for the O’Brien stable were typically characterised by excellent rides by Ryan Moore.

The Lake Victoria ride displayed plenty of patience, as she was stopped in her run early and had to be brought back on an even keel.

From stall one, Moore had to ride her to keep her place on the rail, but on the first bend, Totally Justified and Manny Franco hung in and took her ground, causing Moore to take back and she raced in about ninth place down the back, as Thought Process set a fast pace, a half-mile of 45.37 secs.

Moving up along the rail, Lake Victoria got a perfect run through, as things opened up on the bend. Into the straight, she was third with daylight in front of her. From there, she was simply too good for these as the front-runners faded and May Day Ready (Frankie Dettori) came through for second, a length and a half behind, as Gavin Cromwell’s Fiery Lucy (Gary Carroll) was just caught on the line for third by fast-finishing outsider Nitrogen 50/1.

The winning time of 1m 34.28 secs for the mile was faster than Henri Matisse in the colts’ race.

It was the Frankel/Quiet Reflection filly’s third Group 1 of the season, following the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at seven furlongs, the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at six furlongs, and this over a mile.

“Going from seven back to six and on to a mile is a bit unusual, but Ryan assured me he thought the mile was well within her scope,” O’Brien said.

Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 1)

RYAN Moore faced a different scenario in the Juvenile Turf for colts, this time drawn widest of the 12 runners. Godolphin’s Aomori City broke through the gates in 11, but was reloaded.

Henri Matisse wasn’t the fastest away and Moore was content to take his time and race around 10th of the 12.

By the half-mile mark, the field had closed up on leader Dream On and Moore was travelling well on the outside in seventh, tracking New Century. He still had six to pass up the straight, but once in the clear, Henri Matisse came with a sustained run in the centre of the track that held off Iron Man Cal by a neck. Aomori City ran on for third after running in last early.

Henri Matisse, a son of Wootton Bassett was making up for his defeats as favourite in both the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes and the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last time.

The wins of Henri Matisse and Lake Victoria put Aidan O’Brien in a 20-win tie with D Wayne Lukas for the most Breeders’ Cup wins.

“It’s incredible, obviously, and we all know what an unbelievably special man Wayne is. I’m honoured to equal his record. He’s the most special man and always been such a help to us,” O’Brien said.

FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile - Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (Grade 1)

THE Juvenile on dirt had been billed as a match between the two best colts on the east coast, the unbeaten Chancer McPatrick and East Avenue, winners of three Grade 1s between them.

Neither ever got into it, as East Avenue was compromised by a stumble as the gates opened and Chancer McPatrick never raised his game compared to his two east coast come-from-behind wins.

But the west coast king was back as Citizen Bull, a son of Into Mischief, owned by Starlight and its partners in “The Avengers” group, grabbed the lead at the start and motored to a length and a half victory over Gaming to give trainer Bob Baffert a 1-2 finish.

Once in the lead, Citizen Bull and jockey Martin Garcia were challenged only by Baffert stablemate Gaming, as they raced to comfortable fractions to a half-mile in 47.89 secs.

Adrian Murray’s Hill Road, an American-bred colt by Quality Road gets good mention for his performance, as he finished fastest down the outside to snatch third on the line, preventing a Baffert 1-2-3.

Baffert could make his first appearance at the Kentucky Derby since 2021, after Churchill Downs barred him from the 2022-24 runnings due to the drug violation that led to the disqualification of Baffert’s 2021 Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit.

Citizen Bull added the Juvenile to a victory in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita, taking the $1,040,000 first prize in a time of 1m 43.07 secs

“At the three-eighths, I said ‘These are good horses and they are not going to run them down!’

“I know the quality was there. The cream always rises to the top. I’m proud of the way they ran,” Baffert said about his trio, after winning the Juvenile for a record sixth time and it was his 19th Breeders’ Cup win.

The NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1)

THE Juvenile Fillies on dirt was the first race to go as planned as favourite, Godolphin’s unbeaten Immersive, made it four from four and took her third Grade 1 in coming clear in the final furlong to beat Vodka With A Twist by four and a half lengths for jockey Manuel Franco and trainer Brad Cox, the trainer’s second win in the race.

Cox said: “I think (of) two-year-old fillies, she’s the best we’ve had. We’ve not had one win three Grade 1s at two. Looking forward to next year.”

The race worked out perfectly for the home-bred by Darley stallion Nyquist. Bob Baffert-trained Nooni showed her customary early speed and went clear of the field, setting quick fractions of the half-mile in 44.99 secs and 1m10.03 for six furlongs.

Immersive chased as Grade 1 Frizette Stakes winner Scottish Lassie made an early move. Once jockey Manny Franco asked the question over two out, the favourite kicked into gear and she went away to win in 1m 44.36 secs.

“I knew the pace was cooking in front, so I took my time,” Franco said, winning his second Breeders’ Cup race. “I said, ‘Let’s go, this is the time.’ She was there for me.”

Her perfect 4-for-4 campaign gives her $1,622,700 in career earnings.