BC Turf – Grade I
1 1/2 Mile Turf Stake Purse $5,000.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.
1st Chagrin Falls Mo Mentum Farm Curtis B
It was just a good pace in this race which meant that whoever was to win would have to knuckle down and get dirty and there aren’t many better than this one when it comes to a bare-knuckle fight. Raced perfectly just behind the speed and holding the rail Curtis held onto his head as long as he could, trying to save every ounce of energy for the inevitable fight to the line. When the gaps finally came the whips came out and this seven-year-old put up the fight of his life to get a neck win. This may be a fitting end to a great career where he has gone from rags to riches for a trainer that always believed in him, maybe there are a few more good runs but rising eight I doubt we will see him here next year.
The trainer has been hinting at a new career in breeding, and this purse may be the shot in the arm for the operation to really take off, congrats to both horse and owner.
2nd Great Vault Winning Link Stables Corrales G
His form may look a bit all over the place but this tough six-year-old can be very good and this is just the sort of race and conditions he likes. Getting through in time he just kept grinding all the way to the line and came within a neck of taking this huge prize. This was a massive comeback after an 86 SRF rating and a nine-length defeat last time and the trainer will no doubt be thrilled with the effort.
3rd Ello Santa Mb Stables Ortiz J L
The three-year-old turf horses didn’t do as well as their dirt counterparts, but nothing was stranger than seeing this on pace turf champ go back to ninth in the early running. The key to this third place was that he was ninth and five lengths back off a fairly moderate pace, either a strange AI choice or an even stranger tactical decision, but either way he was given an impossible task off that sort of pace. Now having said that he did incredibly well to find a run and get so close, in fact I would go so far to say this, considering the circumstances, his was one of the best performances by a three-year-old today. He was only a quarter length back in the end and I for one cannot wait to see him next year.
4th American Generals Riggins Racing Bridgmohan S X
Another one that flopped in the KY Turf Cup and came back he was really game in fourth after running right up close for all of the race. There was a point where I thought he would take the lead ad go away to win but his effort flattened out in the end and he had to settle for fourth. It was good to see him back to his early season form though and he may be back next year even better.
5th Grand Opening Riggins Racing Velazquez J R
6th Killer Instinct Mb Stables Franco M
7th Sioux Arrival High Voltage Bejarano R
8th Cochabamba Riggins Racing Ortiz I Jr
9th One Last Punch Line Saratoga Stud Pennington F
10th King Z Mb Stables Santana R Jr
11th Fourth Estate High Voltage Prat F
12th Martinez Spankys Barn Gaffalione T
13th King Que Niagra D J C Racing Stables Lopez P
14th Derby Dreams TwinTowersRacing Davis D
Just a footnote at the end of this race. The great King Que Niagra ran 13th today and for a moment he looked like his youthful self but in the end his old legs just couldn’t match his heart. This may well have been his last race and if it is I just wanted to say, rest well old fella, mares may not be in your paddock but I hope the grass grows green.
Categories: BC 2025, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP