Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (1m 0.5f, dirt)

THE track was probably riding slower early on the card until it was worked for the feature events later. The time of 1m 45.05sec was 1.26sec slower than Good Magic recorded in the later event for colts, but this is misleading.

The fractions were 22.79, 23.93, 24.66, 26.92 and 6.75 (pro-rated 27.00), so it is easy to see this was too fast early.

Caledonia Road made a sustained, wide move to win by more than three lengths; she will be suited by extra distance as a three-year-old. The first four were racing 13-3-12-11 away from the stalls, so the race was run to suit. Runner-up Alluring Star, trained by Bob Baffert, did best of the front runners.

Breeders’ Cup Turf

Sprint (5f, turf)

THE turf races with full fields were a lottery; Del Mar is arguably too tight to be staging championship races on grass with 14 runners. Lady Aurelia handled the track but was bitterly disappointing in 10th, after being ridden more patiently.

Her Nunthorpe conqueror Marsha (sixth) had no chance after getting back in the run and being forced wide, finishing well in the middle of the track. Washington DC (8th) and Cotai Glory (9th) were never in it off the 21.98, 22.59, 11.55 splits.

The 30/1 winner Stormy Liberal sparked a double for trainer Peter Miller, a locally based journeyman trainer who also won the Sprint on dirt. He can improve horses sharply.

Breeders’ Cup Filly

And Mare Sprint

(7f, dirt)

BY this stage, virtually everyone paying attention thought the inside rail on the dirt track was slower. So, when red-hot favourite Unique Bella managed to find it from stall 11 and run the half-mile in 21.84 and 22.51, it was not a shock she should return well-beaten. It is hard to imagine jockey Mike Smith could have given her a tougher trip.

Not surprisingly, the pace collapsed dramatically.

The field finished off in 25.21 and 13.07 (pro-rated 26.14) and the first four were racing 12-7-8-9 early. 66/1 poke Bar Of Gold was the lucky horse, in front when the music stopped. This race was equine bingo and did not showcase the Breeders’ Cup as a “World Championship” or anything resembling it.