The two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships concluded Saturday at Santa Anita Park with nine races, including the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, in which an underdog prevailed.
Arabian Knight, the 3-1 morning line favorite, faded to fourth as White Abarrio, a 5-to-2 underdog, pulled away for a convincing victory over 25-to-1 underdog Derma Sotogake, in second.
Another longshot, Proxy, at 17-to-1, finished third.
Arabian Knight, the Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old colt, began his career with a 7 1/4-length victory in the opening race on the Saturday 2022 Breeders’ Cup program at Keeneland racetrack in Lexington, Ky. Arabian Knight won his second start, the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. by 5 1/2 lengths Jan. 28.
White Abarrio, a 4-year-old, has six wins in his 14 starts, including two Grade 1 races, the Whitney Stakes Aug. 5 at Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, New York, and the 2022 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida.
The race lost three potential starters.
Geaux Rocket Ride was euthanized Wednesday after failing to recover from surgery to repair a leg injury suffered while training at Santa Anita last weekend. He was the 14th horse to die from a racing or training injury at the track this year.
Arcangelo, the 2023 Belmont Stakes winner, dropped out Tuesday due to an issue with his left hind foot.
Kentucky Derby winner Mage had been expected to run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but never made the trip to the track.
The nine-race card began Saturday morning with the $1 million Dirt Mile, won by Cody’s Wish.
It was followed by the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf, won by Inspiral.
Following that, Goodnight Olive, a 5-year-old mare, won the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint, a race she also won at last year’s Breeders’ Cup at the Keeneland Race Course in Lexington.
Master of the Seas then won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Next up was the $2 million Distaff and $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Three horses were injured Friday at Santa Anita.
Mountain Bear, a 2-year-old colt with eight starts and two first-place finishes, injured his left front leg and was vanned off after finishing second in the $920,000 Juvenile Turf race. His trainer Aidan O’Brien said he should recover in about four weeks.
Bus Buzz, a 3-year-old dark bay gelding with eight races and three first-place finishes in his career, was ambulanced off after Friday’s 10th race at the Arcadia track, which was conducted after the day’s five Breeders’ Cup races. He was scheduled for surgery Sunday, according to a statement from track owner 1/ST Racing.
White Moonlight, a 6-year-old bay mare with 13 career races and four first-place finishes, “bled” after finishing fifth in Friday’s third race, her first in the U.S., according to the official race chart. Her condition was not immediately available Saturday.
Local animal rights advocates who frequently stage demonstration outside Santa Anita and other Southland tracks planned to be outside the facility again Saturday.
And the national nonprofit organization Horseracing Wrongs announced plans to have a mobile billboard outside Santa Anita Park for eight hours Saturday, with video and still images showing what they termed “horseracing cruelty and the killing of horses for gambling and entertainment.”
Breeders’ Cup officials insisted in a statement last weekend that they’ve taken all necessary safety precautions for the event.
“Leading up to the World Championships, the Breeders’ Cup has been working closely with Santa Anita Park, the California Horse Racing Board, and our veterinary team to ensure every Breeders’ Cup runner is fit to race,” organizers said.
– City News Service
Updated 9:35 p.m. Nov. 4, 2023
