Breeders’ Cup 2014; Day 1 Winners & Photos

Breeders’ Cup 2014; Day 1 Winners & Photos: The Breeders’ Cup World Championship two-day event kicked off today, Friday, October 31, 2014 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Four of the thirteen Breeders’ Cup races worth millions of dollars dramatically revealed true champions with Untapable, Lady Eli, Goldencents, and Hootenanny in front of a crowd of 37,205.

Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Untapable & Rosie Napravnik…

Three-year-old filly Untapable, who also won the 2014 Kentucky Oaks, and jockey Rosie Napravnik sealed the deal in the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Untapable won by 1 ¼ lengths, finishing the 1 1/8 mile race in 1:48.68. Replay & Results

Trainer Steve Asmussen reported after the Distaff victory, “I can’t say enough about her and how proud I am of her. I’m proud of the whole team, Rosie (jockey Napravnik), Scott (assistant trainer Blasi) and everyone. She’s an amazing mare to put us on this stage and to perform like she did. Rosie and she are a great combination and they have had a tremendous season. Today definitely makes her a champion and that’s enough said. She’s had a great year and she’s a great filly. We had faith her. But, we’ve all been to the races, so you never know the outcome. She proved she’s a champion. I haven’t had a chance to talk to the Winchells yet, but I have every indication that she’ll stay in training.”

After winning the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Ditsaff with Untapable, 27-year-old Rosie Napravnik announced she was expecting a baby and will retire on Monday reporting, “Joe and I are absolutely overjoyed by the news of our first child together, due in June! Although I will certainly miss being in the saddle I am extremely excited to become a mom. I have been so incredibly fortunate in this business and I feel as though I have had the opportunities to experience the very best of the racing industry and for that I am so grateful! My retirement is indefinite. A comeback is something I may consider in a few years but for now the 110% that I have put into racing for the past 10 years will be focused on being a mom and supporting my husband in his new and thriving career as a trainer!”
(Photos: Breeders’ Cup Photo ©)

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Lady Eli & Irad Ortiz…

The 2-1 favorite Lady Eli, trained by Chad Brown, won the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf with jockey Irad Ortiz. The victory was the young jockey’s first Breeders’ Cup win. The two-year-old filly won the race by 2 ¾ lengths and paid $6.80. Replay & Results

Jockey Irad Ortiz reported immediately after the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf win, “From the start, she put me in a good position from the first part of the race. And I just followed what the trainers told me, throw some at her, she’s the best filly maybe in the race, just ride her with confidence. And I was just waiting, waiting. And at the three pole, I had a lot of horse. And I knew I had to wait a little bit, but the whole space was there, and I was going for it. I caught her a little early, but I believed in Chad, he told me she’s a nice filly, so I called in early, and she take off and she don’t give up. She just kept going.”

Irad Ortiz seemed extremely grateful adding, “Well, it’s a humbling feeling. I feel great. And thanks to Chad and the owners that that happened today, and thanks to God. That’s all I can say.”
(Photos: Breeders’ Cup Photo ©)

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents & Rafael Bejarano…

Goldencents defended his title and won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile for the 2nd year in a row. Despite tiring in the stretch, the colt won the $1 million mile by 1 ¼ lengths. Rafael Bejarano led Goldencents across the Santa Anita Park finish line in 1:35.16. Replay & Results

Rafael Bejarano reported after his Breeders’ Cup Mile win, “I knew I was going fast and I had to find a way to give him a little break from the three-eighths to the quarter-pole. I was able to do that. When the other horse started to come to me, I held onto him just a little bit before I turned him loose. When I turned him loose, he fired big.”

Trainer Leandro Mora stated, “This is very exciting. When I saw Tapiture coming, I started to sweat. But, Goldencents kept trying and I started to relax. I felt fine. He wasn’t going to let anyone beat him today.”

Unfortunately, Vicar’s In Trouble did not finish the race. It’s now been confirmed with radiographs that “he has an undisplaced fracture of the lateral condyle in the left front fetlock joint.”
(Photos: Breeders’ Cup Photo ©)

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf  winner Hootenanny & Lafranco Dettori…

Trainer Wesley Ward led Hootenanny and jockey Frankie Detorri to victory in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The win was Wesley Ward’s first Breeders’ Cup victory and jockey Frankie Detorri’s tenth! Hootenanny was timed in 1:34.79 over firm turf and paid $14.00 for a $2.00 win bet. Replay & Results

The fan-favorite jockey Frankie Detttori said, “It was my first time on him but I had seen him run in England, so I knew his style. He wasn’t pulling. I got him settled. When I turned him on, I knew I had the race.”

Wesley Ward’s father Dennis Ward stated after the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf win, “This is just great. Everything went according to plan. Wesley (Ward) is in Florida watching on television. Isn’t that Frankie Dettori just great?”

Michael Tabor, co-owner of Hootenanny stated, “This is what you dream about. To campaign a horse in Europe and America and then win the Breeders’ Cup, it makes the game very international. That’s what it’s all about. Wesley Ward has been around for a while and we find him easy to relate to. He’s not afraid to send horses to Europe. He obviously knows how to train. To do what this horse has done is a fantastic performance.”
(Photos: Breeders’ Cup Photo ©)

The Breeders’ Cup continues on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at Santa Anita Park. Post times, post positions, odds, and picks are available at LadyandTheTrack.com.