Breeders' Cup Future Strategic Plans

In its 26th year, the Board of the Breeders' Cup approved a change in direction with four major goals for their long-term strategic plan.

1)  Explore the feasibility of a single permanent host site location for the Breeders' Cup World Championships;

2)  Establish a new Breeders' Cup Racing Series in partnership with North American and European racetracks to better define and market the road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships;

3)  Expand brand marketing and commercial develpment programs, with an emphasis on digital marketing and social media;

4)  Take a new approach to nominations to significantly expand the number of Breeders' Cup eligible horses.

The management team has been tasked with developing specific business plans for approval at the April 2010 Board meeting.


Breeders' Cup Championships 2009

Zenyatta won the 26th annual Breeders' Cup Classic shown with
her adoring jockey Mike Smith and groom Mario Espinoza. 
Racingfotos Limited

UPDATE:  Latest World Thoroughbred Rankings list 3yo colt Sea The Stars as the world's highest-ranked horse at 135; he was trained in Ireland on Turf.

Goldikova, 4yo filly trained in France on Turf, is the second highest at 130 and the highest-ranked female in the world.

Ballydoyle of Ireland take third and fourth with two 3yo Turf colts:  Rip Van Winkle (129) and Fame And Glory (128). 

Zenyatta, the USA's highest ranked horse and All-Weather specialist, shares fourth with FAG at 128, but is listed fifth.

The following all share sixth place 125:  Cavalryman, French Turf colt, Conduit and Youmzain British Turf colts, Gio Ponti, second to Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic, and 3yo filly Rachel Alexandra who is the sole USA Dirt horse in the world's top ten rankings. 

Though most of us racegoers would rate Sea The Stars, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta higher, officials rate them on the horses they beat.

As STS's trainer John Oxx said, "It's hard to illustrate his ability with just a number." 

Californians are so proud of their mare Zenyatta that they have prevailed on her connections to postpone her trip to KY until she parades before the races at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita.  SA, the venue of her BCC triumph, wants to showcase her on their opening day December 26th. 

For now, she will remain stabled with trainer John Shirreff at Hollywood.

Doubtful about which filly, Zenyatta or Rachel Alexandra, should be named Eclipse Horse of the Year, you can review their respective races and career stats on http://www.paceadvantage.com.
 
Sea The Stars is a shoo-in for the Cartier Horse of the Year in the UK.

Posted November 14, 2009


Out of hard economic times and wars, some of the America's greatest thoroughbred race horses on record have emerged like Man o' War (20 wins out of 21), his grandson Seabiscuit (Depression) and Secretariat. 

To this day, these horses have made Dirt records unmatched by others. 

This year was no exception.  Racegoers sought their equine heroes and heroines to escape; they got them in spades in the 26th annual Breeders' Cup Championships from five races on Friday and eight on Saturday.

Despite outstanding victories in all 13 exciting races, no winner at the BC could compare to 5yo Zenyatta USA (Street Cry IRE) who won her 14th race of 14 career outings. 

The world adored her and the crowd, carrying "Zenyatta" and pink "Girl Power" signs to encourage her, cheered her on from the moment she pranced out to the paddock on her fabulous Sylvie Guillaume legs.

Zenyatta was the first filly or mare to win the Breeders' Cup Classic in its 26 years and only the third female to run in the 1m 2f race.

She won her race with the kind of Sea The Stars authority from dead last to first leaving the best colts of Europe and the U.S. shocked and in the dust. 

Only STS could have matched her and that is the match that should have been.

STS' trainer John Oxx watched Zenyatta win the BC Classic and compared her triumph to STS in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.  No higher compliment from a better authority could be made.

Sadly, like STS, her final ratings will not assess her true talent as she will be rated only on the horses she has beaten. 

The 17.2-hand beauty Zenyatta will retire to stud in KY and STS to the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in Ireland. 

We are minus two of our greatest racing heroes.  Fortunately, we still have Rachel Alexandra and Goldikova. 

And America is left with the dreadful decision of choosing only one of the two great U.S. females for Eclipse Horse of the Year. 

Many of us would like to see Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra share the award, but the rules preclude such an outcome unless there is a voting dead heat. 

Proof that star horses draw is that attendance was up both days by 20% and the betting pools produced staggering numbers. 

The first two races were good for the bookies as neither favourite won.

Dancing In Silks (USA) (Black Minnaloushe USA) was a 25.1 winner of the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (Grade 1) for 2yo+, 6f, on Pro-Ride.

His relentless jockey Joel Rosario helped him take out the favourites: Bob Baffert's Zensational USA (Unbridled's Song USA), sixth, and Godolphin's Gayego USA (Gilded Time USA) fourth.

Dancing In Silks appears to be a horse on the rise and his trainer Carla Gaines is taking him to Dubai for the $2 Million Golden Shaheen in March and is planning for him to defend his BC Sprint title on Dirt at Churchill Downs next November.

British filly Fleeting Spirit IRE (Invincible Spirit IRE) could only manage seventh amongst the speedball males in her first race on Pro-Ride.

Zensational has been retired to stud.

Shocker of the night was Godolphin's 35.1 winner of the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Grade 1) for 2yo males, 1-1/16m, on Pro-Ride. 

In a driving finish, Vale Of York IRE (Invincible Spirit IRE out of a Halling mare) defeated unlucky Lookin At Lucky USA (Smart Strike CAN) by a head giving trainer Bob Baffert his second serious disappointment out of two races. 

Lookin At Lucky, considered the best 2yo colt in the USA, was lumbered with an outside stall and ran at least 12 more lengths than the others to challenge leader Piscitelli USA and Noble Promise USA when several-times impeded Vale Of York crashed through the threesome to win.

Experts disputed whether Lookin At Lucky should have won given the extra distance he travelled.  He had every chance, but just could not close down VOY.

The second LAL is still favourite for the 2010 Kentucky Derby.  Racing Manager Simon Crisford of Godolphin has confirmed Vale Of York is also likely to compete.

Ahmed Ajtebi's stunning jockeyship on VOY was rated as one of the two finest performances of the weekend.  The other was Tom Queally's on Henry Cecil's filly Midday (below). 


Lookin At Lucky with Garrett Gomez on board just could not make up the head to beat surprise winner for Godolphin's Vale Of York given a brilliant ride by Ahmed Aitebi.  Racingfotos Limited

The familiar team of jockey Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori and trainer John Gosden united again for the handsome 2yo colt Pounced USA (Rahy USA) to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 2), 1m, for Europe and Lady Rothschild.

Pounced defeated Canada's Bridgetown USA (Speightstown USA) by 3/4 lengths and Interactif USA (Broken Vow USA) by a head.

England also has a quandry in the Cartier Awards for 2yos in that the final vote closed November 9 and Pounced was not on the list.  He deserves to be considered.

California Flag USA (Avenue Of Flags USA) was one of the most-deserved winners in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, 3yo+, 6-1/2 furlongs.

The grey-roan showed his typical California Quarter-Horse style of racing in his sixth win of eight starts.  He took off and never looked back at Gotta Have Her USA (Royal Academy USA) and Cannonball USA (Catienus USA) of Ascot fame.  Winning margins were 1-1/2 and 3/4 lengths.

French-born jockey Julian Leparoux sealed his status as leading rider at the Breeders' Cup with his third victory in the Grade 1 BC Dirt Mile which was run on Pro-Ride with 3yo+.

His mount Furtherest Land USA (Smart Strike USA), a 20.1 shot, stunned punters by winning and defeating another longshot Ready's Echo USA (More Than Ready USA) and Godolphin's Midshipman USA (Unbridled's Song USA).

Ballydoyle's Mastercraftsman IRE (Danehill Dancer IRE), who was 7.5 favourite, came in fourth and was retired to Coolmore's Stud in Ireland. 

Goldikova and Conduit were quick to the rescue of Europe's awesome reputation in the Breeders' Cup by winning their races for the second year running.

The magnificent 4yo French miler Goldikova IRE (Anabaa USA) seemed much calmer than she was in Deauville perhaps helped by her new friendship with Gladiatorus USA (Silic FR) who walked with her to the gates and gallantly set the pace for the pack which she stalked from the rear.

Getting to the front from second last seemed impossible, but Goldikova showed her versatility and speed by shooting through the ranks to pass Courageous Cat USA (Storm Cat USA) and Justenuffhumor USA (Distorted Humor USA) in the Breeders' Cup Mile on Turf in 1.32.26, 2/5th of a second off record time.

Her trainer Freddie Head never doubted her and thinks it likely that she will stay in training at five.



Goldikova after brilliant Deauville win--better than ever at Breeders' Cup.

Conduit IRE (Dalakani IRE) won his second successive Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (Grade 1), 1m 4f, for 3yo+ by a 1/2 length in 2.23.08 on firm ground.

This race of 1-1/2 miles is the English Derby and Arc de Triomphe distance.

The striking-looking chestnut ran his last race for trainer Sir Michael Stoute who prepared him to perfection as he did for the King George VI at Ascot.

The 4yo Conduit has been sold by Ballymacoll Stud to stand at Shigeyuki Stud in Japan.

Second was was impressive Precious Passion USA (Royal Anthem USA) and British filly Dar Re Mi (Singspiel IRE) third.



Conduit winning Ascot's 2009 King George VI.

Then came the piece de resistance won by Zenyatta--the Breeders' Cup Classic (Grade 1), 1m 2f or 1-1/4 miles (the distance of the Kentucky Derby), on Pro-Ride.

Modest trainer John Shirreffs of his "Queen" and his Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic "Princess" Life is Sweet USA (Storm Cat USA) is likely to be named Eclipse Trainer of the Year thanks to his Ladies.  

Even winning the Kentucky Derby with Giacomo could not equal Zenyatta's feat for Shirreffs.

"That was the biggest moment for me.  The (winning) streak was on the line, the fans were there to see her run.  A chance for Horse of the Year was on the line.  She was running against one of the best Breeders' Cup Classic fields ever assembled.  As they say in poker, we were all in."

Take it from John Oxx, Shirreffs always had the cards.

Breeders’ Cup Ladies' Day

For the second successful year, the Friday of Breeders' Cup weekend is Ladies' Day for racegoers.  Included are five BC championship races for fillies and mares and the 3yo+ Breeders' Cup Marathon (Pro-Ride), 1m6f.

So popular were the Friday races in perfect weather this year that the Post 4 Pool was well over $1,500,000.

Neither the 10 male marathoners nor the 49 fillies and mares disappointed their worldwide audience.

Millions of viewers had access to the races through ESPN in the States, other racing channels worldwide and the Breeders' Cup website where the races were shown online.

In a landmark agreement, Breeders' Cup Limited announced simulcasting and licensing agreements with Betfair Group Limited and which will permit common-pool wagering on the BC at Santa Anita, Los Angeles, CA, on November 6 and 7.

This agreement commingles the BC pools with Betfair's worldwide customer base of over 2.5 million providing access to common-pool betting on the Championships.

Europe, represented by England, France and Ireland, appeared to have very strong victory claims over the USA for the entire weekend; however, no favourites won any of the six races.

An Aidan O'Brien-Ballydoyle 3yo 'sleeper' Man Of Iron USA (Giant's Causeway USA) took the Marathon over an impressive 9yo Cloudy's Knight USA (Lord Avie USA) by a nose on the line after some serious whipping of MOI.

Cloudy's Knight had to fight off challenges on both sides without inappropriate whipping by Rosemary B Homeister Jr and almost made it.

Favourite Mastery (Sulamani) came in third for Godolphin seeming to have had one too many races this season and was treated kindly by Frankie Dettori.

Cloudy's Knight trainer Johnathan Sheppard, born in the UK, later racked up one win and several places to lead winnings for the day. 

O'Brien won his first Breeders' Cup with MOI and connections sold him on to new Dubai owners unconnected with the Al Maktoum family.

Even major racing and stud operations are feeling the financial pinch.  Ballydoyle-Coolmore have been quietly culling and selling off extraneous horses. 

The 1m BC Juvenile Fillies Turf race was a thriller with favourite Lillie Langtry IRE (Danehill Dancer IRE) tanking for the Marathon victor's former owners and trainer.  She is another who just had too many races and was injured.

Tapitsfly USA (Tapit USA), trained by Dale Romans of KY, kept up with early leader and second Rose Catherine USA (Speightstown USA) until the final furlong when the little grey cut RC down for a 1/2 length win.

US racing experts attribute Tapitsfly's improvement in her back-to-back route races as opposed to the sprints of the other fillies.

Seeing the toughness of this Arab-looking filly and later her less-lucky sister Careless Jewel USA, one can understand why their young sire Tapit USA (Pulpit USA) was leading first crop sire in 2008.
 
The third was House of Grace USA and fourth Hatheer USA. 

Trainer Todd Pletcher for Rose Catherine still remains a Breeders' Cup maiden.

The winner of the Grey Goose BC Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1) (Pro-Ride), 1m1/2f, will likely be the Eclipse 2yo of the Year.

How fitting that She Be Wild USA (Offlee Wild USA) with her Chicago trainer Wayne Catalano and Alcibiades second should give Julian Leparoux his first win of the day.

There were no European entries for this premier end-of-year 2yo fillies' race.

SBW beat out old rivals Beautician USA and Blind Luck USA.  The real pity has to be for the fourth and seventh Biofuel USA and Zilva USA.  They came from last to close and met with multiple interferences.  They never had a chance to challenge SBW.

Personally, I am very impressed with the USA's 2yo fillies.



Midday won the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in pelting rain and on heavy ground.

The crowning glory to Henry R A Cecil's diadem, British filly specialist extraordinaire, was his first victory in the Breeders' Cup after sending over horses for 25 years.

Beautiful little 3yo Midday (Oasis Dream), who was done out of the Oaks by a dirty deed, showed her stuff to win the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Grade 1), 1m2f, by an authoratative 1-1/2 lengths.

Midday is only the third 3yo to ever win the F&M Turf and joins fellow European star fillies Ouija Board (Sea The Stars' sister by Cape Cross) and Bank's Hill.

The alleged experts downed her with questions about her speed and ability to accelerate off the pace.

Well, in a staggeringly brilliant move, jockey Tom Queally took her forward early and let all the other horses challenge her.  Pure Clan USA came the closest.

M did not have to worry about acceleration; she created the speed clocking in at 1.59.14.

Queally, in his first US and BC race, won his fifth Group/Grade 1 this year and leads all British jockeys in Groups this year.

Both Cecil, who has not been well, and Midday's owner Prince Khalid Abdullah of Juddmonte Farms were in tears and so were a lot of Brits.

Julian Leparoux showed his jockey skills in bringing Informed Decision USA (Monarchos USA) to her seventh All Weather victory in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Grade 1) (Pro-Ride), 7f.

The 4yo grey/roan was the 1-1/4 furlong winner for Jonathan Sheppard in 1.21.66 or 12 sec for the final 1/8 mile.

She beat favourite Ventura USA (Chester House USA) who was almost everyone's banker.

Sheppard's Forever Together USA came in third in Midday's race.

Godolphin's Sara Louise USA (Malibu Moon USA) could do no beter than fourth and Seventh Street USA (Street Cry USA) was last.

France's Only Green IRE (Green Desert IRE) was fifth.

Godolphin's Music Note USA (A.P. Indy USA) was second favourite in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (Grade 1) (Fillies &Mares), (Pro-Ride), 1m1f.

This is the race so dominated by Zenyatta USA (Street Cry USA) for the last two years.

Tapit filly Careless Jewel USA dominated the betting and showed incredible speeds for 3/4 of a mile when she faded badly.

Life Is Sweet USA (Storm Cat USA) was not rated as experts thought she was battered into failure over her four years by her superior stablemate Zenyatta.

Neither bullish trainer John Shirreffs nor LIS rated the experts.

From dead last, out wide and with gut-rattling style, LIS mowed down her seven opponents in 1.48.58 by 2-1/2 lengths.

Mushka USA managed second and Music Note third.  Bobbie Frankel could not win today as his Proviso made fourth and John Gosden's Rainbow View USA fifth (another with one race too many).

Life is Sweet came into her own, lived up to her sire Storm Cat and franked Zenyatta's form.

She also kept the trophy in California with her breeders Pam and Marty Wygood.

Now can Zenyatta intimidate the boys in the BC Classic?


Breeders’ Cup Races