Tiznow outlasted Giant`s Causeway in a thrilling stretch battle at Churchill Downs to win the Breeders` Cup Classic by a neck at 9-1and upset 6-5 favourite Fusaichi Pegasus today.
Fusaichi Pegasus will now enter retirement without the defining score his connections were hoping for. He joined other heavy favourites Riboletta, Petrushka and A P Valentine in defeat on a day when upsets ruled the Breeders Cup.
Tiz Now and Giant`s Causeway argued the pace all the way around the track but in the final drive Chris McCarron just managed to keep his mount running ahead of the determined Giant`s Causeway and Michael Kinane.
Giant`s Causeway had balked at being loaded into the starting gate and had to be blindfolded to be placed in the gate, but once the race got underway he was full of run.
McCarron decided to take matters into his own hands, however, and dictated the fractions with Tiznow, finishing the 1 1-4 miles in 2:00 3-5.
'I thought there would be more speedin the race,' said McCarron. 'When I didn`t see two or three other horses up there I decided to let him go.'
Owners Michael Cooper and Cecilia Straub-Rubens paid a $360,000 supplemental fee to enter Tiznow in the Classic.
'The decision was easy,' said Cooper, 'because the horse had already won the money ($960,000 lifetime).
Fusaichi Pegasus never entered contention, finishing sixth.
Kalanisi turned in a powerful late run to snatch victory at the wire in the 1 1-2 mile Breeders` Cup Turf.
Turning for home the field was well bunched and Quiet Resolve appeared to have made a winning move but Murtaugh set his mount to the task and Kalanisi surged by in the final yards, finishing in 2:26 4-5. John`s Call was right there in third.
'He`s a great battler,' jockey John Murtaugh said of Kalanisi. 'He really dug deep when I asked him.'
Kona Gold ran the fastest six furlongs in the history of Churchill Downs to win the Breeders` Cup Sprint in 1:07 3-5,shaving a full second off of the record set in 1986 by Big Pistol.
The race, which attracts the world`s fastest horses, featured a blistering pace set by Caller One, who ripped off the first quarter mile in 20 4-5 seconds. Kona Gold was well off this pace but jockey Alex Solis set him to the task and he gradually wore down Honest Lady for the victory.
Bet On Sunshine rallied for third and Caller One held for forth after setting the fractions.
'I knew they were going fast,' said Solis. 'I didn`t know how fast. I knew I couldn`t give up an inch.'
War Chant caught North East Bound in the final strides of the Breeders` Cup Mile after rallying from last place. The placing judges took several minutes to sort out the order of finish in the day`s closest race. War Chant finished a neck in front of North East Bound, who nipped Dansili by a nose, with Affirmed Success another nose behind in fourth. War Chant covered the mile in 1:34 3-5.
The combination of jockey Jerry Bailey, trainer Joseph Orseno and Stronach stables accounted for two Breeders` Cup victories.
Bailey turned in a strong ride on Macho Uno in the Juvenile, finishing just ahead of Point Given, who rallied wide to miss by a nose.
Street Cry finished third after being bumped in midstretch by Macho Uno as he came out for the drive. A P Valentine, the 2-1 favourite, finished last.
Macho Uno needed strong handling to keep running in a straight line, but Orseno is already looking forward to running him in the Kentucky Derby next year.
'He`s full of ability but he`s just a young colt,' said Orseno. 'He has a lot more to learn and hopefully he`ll get it together before May.'
The victory was Bailey`s 11th in the Breeders` Cup, tying him for the all-time lead with Pat Day. Bailey guided Perfect Sting to win the Filly & Mare Turf in a mild upset over Petrushka, who was off the board as the 7-5 favourite.
Spain posted a stunning upset in the Distaff, wearing down stablemate Surfside through the stretch at 56-1 to win by 1 1-2 lengths. Riboletta, the 2-5 favourite in the race, finished far back in seventh after racing wide most of the way.
Spain gave trainer D. Wayne Lukas his record 16th Breeders` Cup victory. It was the fourth time Lukas has saddled the Distaff winner.
Surfside sprinted to a clear early lead under Pat Day, with Spain tracking her along the inside and Beautiful Pleasure chasing outside. Chris McCarron took Riboletta five wide into the first turn in what turned out to be an overconfident ride.
Spain covered the 1 1-8th miles in 1:47 3-5 seconds. Surfside finished 1 1-2 lengths ahead of Heritage of Gold, who was in turn 3-4 of a length ahead of Crimplene.
Riboletta`s six-race winning streak was snapped in the defeat. Owner Aaron Jones had supplemented the mare to the Distaff for $400,000.
Caressing continued the run of longshots with a victory at 45-1 in the Juvenile Fillies race. Caressing was the first Breeders` Cup starter saddled by trainer David Vance.
Platinum Tiara finished 1 3-4 lengths in front of She`s A Devil Due, who in turn was 1 1-4 lengths ahead of Cindy`s Hero.
