Breeders’ Cup Friday: A Controversial Finish in the Juvenile Turf

Future Stars Friday at the Breeders’ Cup was full of value. However, most people will be talking about CHR 1974. The rule had to be enacted at the gate prior to the last race at Del Mar.

Breeders’ Cup Friday Trends

Dirt Races

While dirt can often be heavily biased toward front runners, Del Mar presented something a bit different on Friday. The most successful trip was sitting off the lead and swinging wide in the lane to roll passed the leaders late.

Echo Zulu and Corniche both bucked this trend, but were also much the best in their respective races. In fact, watching the replays both jockeys made conscious decisions to finish off the rail which has proven to be a tough place to run lately.

Turf

Overall the turf seemed to play pretty fair. The early races made it appear as though there might be a front running advantage, but several impressive late runs in the Breeder’s Cup races suggest otherwise.

Jose Ortiz took Pizza Bianca up the rail while Modern Game made an off the pace move in the middle of the track.

Breeders’ Cup Controversy

Frankly the last race from Del Mar was an absolute disaster. As the horses went to the gate, two Charlie Appleby runners went to the post as the top betting interests. After pundits made note of the equipment used to keep the #2 Albahr calm before the race, the horse was loaded.

Moments later before the race could begin the horse reared and threw his fronts over the gate. Jockey Frankie Dettori dismounted as the horse fell backwards in the gate and got stuck underneath. The outrider in stall 2 was contacted by the horse and needed medical attention.

The gate crew quickly backed out the #3 and opened the front gate to allow the #1 to break out to avoid injury.

Scratching of the Appleby Runners

Under Breeders’ Cup rules which follow California Horse Racing laws the #2 was an obvious scratch as any horse must be scratched when they go to ground at any point pre race.

Immediately the neighboring horses were checked and confusion ensued. With the 2nd choice in the betting already out, the stewards radioed in that the #1 would also be scratched based on the advice of the track vet. The favorite was scratched and removed from betting pools.

However, it was quickly relayed that this was done in error and that the #1 was in fact sound to run.

CHR Rule 1974

The Breeders’ Cup had no choice to invoke California Horse Racing Rule which reads as follows:

1974. Wagering Interest

(a) A wagering interest is any one horse in a race.

(b) If a horse is removed from the wagering pool due to a totalizator error, or due to any other error, and neither the trainer nor the owner is at fault, the horse shall start in the race as a non-wagering interest for the purse only and shall be disregarded for pari-mutuel purposes.

(c) If a horse is removed from the wagering pool to start in a race as a non-wagering interest for purse only and is disregarded for pari-mutuel purposes, the circumstances shall be announced over the public address system at the time the action is taken and thereafter to adequately inform the public. The racing association shall also inform off-track wagering outlets at the time such action is taken.

Impact on the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

The ruling meant that the #1 would be allowed to run for purse money only. This effectively scratched the horse for wagering purposes. For players who were involved in single race wagers, they were issued refunds and able to place new wagers.

However, those who used either the #1 or the #2 in larger pick sequences were awarded the post time favorite. In the case of the race it was #3 Dakota Gold.

Race Result

#1 Modern Games won the race fairly convincingly, followed by longshot #4 Tiz the Bomb. This meant that players who were alive to Modern Games had the correct opinion but held losing tickets leaving many fans with a bad taste in their mouth at the end of day 1.

Friday Breeders’ Cup Results

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

• #6 Twilight Gleaming (IRE) Win: $12.40 Place: $5.80 Show: $4.60
• #3 Go Bears Go (IRE) Place: $10.60 Show: $7.20
• #2 Kaufymaker Show: $11.20

Exotics

• $2 Exacta: $135.00
• $1 Trifecta: $844.70
• $1 Superfecta: $7,403.70
• $1 Pentafecta: $26,490.50
• $2 Daily Double: $61.00
• $1 Pick 3: $240.40

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

• #6 Echo Zulu Win: $3.60 Place: $2.60 Show: $2.10
• #5 Juju's Map Place: $3.20 Show: $2.40
• #4 Tarabi Show: $3.40

Exotics

• $2 Exacta: $9.80
• $1 Trifecta: $16.40
• $1 Superfecta: $35.30
• $2 Daily Double: $31.60
• $1 Pick 3: $63.70
• $1 Pick 4: $502.40

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

• #1 Pizza Bianca Win: $21.80 Place: $10.40 Show: $6.60
• #12 Malavath (IRE) Place: $19.00 Show: $12.00
• #11 Haughty Show: $5.00

Exotics

• $2 Exacta: $394.00
• $1 Trifecta: $1,756.20
• $1 Superfecta: $20,929.60
• $2 Daily Double: $44.40
• $1 Pick 3: $108.60

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

• #12 Corniche Win: $4.80 Place: $4.00 Show: $3.40
• #4 Pappacap Place: $9.00 Show: $6.20
• #7 Giant Game Show: $7.60

Exotics

• $2 Exacta: $50.20
• $1 Trifecta: $538.70
• $1 Superfecta: $2,622.10
• $1 Pentafecta: $8,248.80
• $1 Pentafecta: $8,929.30
• $2 Daily Double: $64.40
• $1 Pick 3: $49.00

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

• #4 Tiz the Bomb Win: $17.60 Place: $7.40 Show: $5.20
• #6 Mackinnon Place: $6.60 Show: $5.40
• #11 Grafton Street Show: $9.40

Exotics

• $2 Exacta: $93.60
• $1 Trifecta: $958.70
• $1 Superfecta: $5,014.90
• $1 Pentafecta: $21,800.20
• $2 Daily Double: $5.40
• $2 Daily Double: $5.40 (Consolation Double)
• $2 Daily Double: $65.40
• $1 Pick 3: $26.80 (Consolation Pick 3)
• $1 Pick 3: $341.60
• $1 Pick 4: $838.50
• $1 Pick 5: $4,980.30
• $2 Pick 6: $33,038.00
• $2 Pick 6: $134.80 (Consolation Pick 6)

Full results charts for all races can be found on the Equibase website.