BC Classic (Grade 1)- $6,000.000 Purse
CD- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Quarter on the Dirt
November 3, 2018
There were not many out there that thought Splash Mountain had a chance to win the BC Classic. He received just 1.9% of the selections made in the pick ‘em, as most people looked towards Pretty Ferro or State Police. That would not matter for this John Henry trained gelding, as he would win for just the second time in 2018, but that win would come at the right time. He spent most of the year running for Smokey Stover, but as that one looked to downsize his stable, he was sold to John Henry in what seemed to be an agreed upon trade involving Mortality, based on forum posts. Well, Mortality has higher expectations on her now to live up to her end of the deal, because now Splash Mountain is a BC Classic champion. Congratulations to John Henry on this monumental achievement! Aboard the winner was K J Desormeaux, who also wins the race for the first time. The time of the victory was 2:00.78. Let’s take a look at it!
(½ Mile- :48.00)- We’re off in the BC Classic, and Out On A Limb is sent to the front for Estero Farms, and initially takes a length advantage over Stranger (D J C Racing Stables) and Air Show (Mb Stables). However, while Out On A Limb let for a little bit, on the outside, Edwin Drood comes flying on by for Night Rider Stables and it would be he assuming the early lead. He would not just be content with a slim lead either, as by the time they made their way around the turn, he opened up a two length gap over the second place State Police, from Smokey Stover. State Police had also started well, and looked like he might chase Edwin Drood momentarily but wanted no part of him as he opened up. Stranger, Out On A Limb, and Air Show were all on the inside of State Police, and within half a length of the second position. On Deck ran five wide, and in the sixth position. The middle of the pack seemed a little congested with Zombie City (Eastern Equine) and Combat Wombat (Maxmillion Farm) running just ahead of the eventual winner Splash Mountain from John Henry, who rode the rail, and trailed the front runners by five at this point. Centerpiece (Mb Stables) was in the four wide position here. The favorite Pretty Ferro, from Estero Farms was next, running with Simple Request (Saratoga Stud). Laffin Parrot (Mo Mentum Farm) and Indistinguishable (Mb Stables) were the trailers.
(3/4 Mile- 1:11.60)- The backstretch trip does not see much change in the action. At the front, it is still Edwin Drood all by himself, by two lengths over the rest of the field. After those lengths there two separate walls of horses all in close proximity. Our first wall of four remains what it was before with, from inside to outside, Air Show, Out On A Limb, Stranger and State Police all having nothing between them right now. They were stalked by a threesome which had Splash Mountain join in while running on the rail. K J Desormeaux did well to keep him in this position in the hopes that something would open up, possibly in the turn. To his outside were Zombie City and Combat Wombat. On Deck was with this group to a point, but running four wide. Simple Request and Pretty Ferro were next, and Pretty Ferro supporters had to be concerned about traffic trouble at this point with On Deck holding that fourth lane and now Centerpiece beginning to join this crowd. Indistinguishable and Laffin Parrot were still not showing much as of yet.
(Top of stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Moving into the turn, and as we make our way around, Edwin Drood begins to see his lead disappear. Air Show was the first to make a move on him, as it began at the top of the turn, and by the time they reached the exit of it, he had poked a head in front to assume the lead. Stranger was also making a move, and did not seem to mind that he needed to be four wide to do it. He was less then a length back at this point. State Police was in the fifth lane, and running fourth. As all this was going on, there was a good sized gap that had opened up between Air Show and Stranger, and three of them who were in the secondary wall of horses previously: Splash Mountain, Zombie City and Combat Wombat were all in a great spot to take advantage of this. All of them had shrunk their deficit to the leader down to a length and a half. Out On A Limb was trying to hang on to this group. Further back, Pretty Ferro wanted to make a move on exit of the turn, he just had no where to go. Simple Request was directly to his inside and it didn’t help that the fading Out On A Limb was directly in front of him. He tried to come down on On Deck, and this would be his only hope. Centerpiece moved down a lane to allow this to happen. Indistinguishable, meanwhile, has no excuses, he had a wide open rail staring directly right at him at this point, but could not capitalize on it. Laffin Parrot trailed and did not look like he was about to make a push forward.
(Finish- 2:00.78)- Down the stretch they come in the BC Classic, and Air Show looks to be running quite well initially, holding the advantage until a furlong was left in the race. Stranger was running hard to the wire, too, but in the end that gap that had sit there between them proved to very beneficial. Splash Mountain had plenty left in the tank, and K J Desormeaux instructed his gelding to move to the outside of Air Show, and there was no time to waste. As that was going on, Combat Wombat pulled out about six wide and was making a strong run of his own. Zombie City was close to Splash Mountain’s outside, so the winner of this race would be all about who wanted it more. That would be Splash Mountain, running very in the final strides to get up in time and get the win! It ends up being a half length advantage over the second place Combat Wombat on the outside, and he was a neck in front of the third place Stranger. Zombie City’s steady run gets him fourth. Air Show did look like he may have begun to tire in the last half furlong or so, and has to settle for a tough luck fifth place position, and no check. Simple Request moved into the picture late for sixth. Next comes Edwin Drood and Pretty Ferro, the latter of which never really had the room to show his powerful stretch stride. Very late, it looked like he was finally beginning to hit it, but he ran out of time. State Police, the second choice of the bettors is ninth, one spot ahead of Centerpiece. Laffin Parrot, Out On A Limb, and Indistinguishable would be next. On Deck couldn’t continue his Awesome Again magic, and brings up the rear.
About The Winner- Splash Mountain, trained by John Henry, and ridden to victory by K J Desormeaux, is a three year old gelding by Ned Isakoff, and is out Sneaky Alessandra. He was bred in New Jersey by Smokey Stover as a second quarter two year old, and acquired by John Henry via private sales this June for $20.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fifth in 16 starts, and just his second graded win. His career earnings are now $4,421.660.
Track: Fast
Time: :48 1:113 1:354 2:003
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 6 – 4 Paid 27.10
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 4 – 9 Paid 531.80
Scratched: Motor City, Rumble
— NS
Categories: BC 2018-20, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP
