BC Turf (Grade 1)- $4,000.000 Purse
SA- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Turf
November 5, 2016

It has been a fantastic season for Admirals Aces, and now he is able to finish it off the best way possible, by winning in the BC.  He didn’t race much as a two year old, but it was always clear that Grimley thought very highly of him.  In the spring, he appeared in the FL Derby, which boasted the most stacked field of any of the KYD preps.  Admirals Aces looked as though he would be overmatched in the race if you went by the past performances, but he would finish a competitive fourth.  At that point, we knew he was something special, but his races on the main track in 2016 simply lead to more finishes like that: close, but no wins.  In July, Grimley moved him to the grass, and it would be just the second time he ran on the turf in his career, but the only other race was when he broke his maiden as a two year old.  It was in an optional claimer at SAR, and he ran a great race to score the victory.  After that, it was back to graded competition, this time on the grass, and he would just miss in the Saranac, running second.  Perhaps he just needed a little more distance, and last month he ran this twelve furlongs on the turf and won the Hirsch Turf Classic.  Admirals Aces was on the upswing, but could he win the BC Turf?   We got our answer on Saturday.  At odds of about 15/1, Admirals Aces patiently stalked the leaders and took over the race late to pick up the win!  Congratulations! It is the second BC win overall for Grimley, who won the BC Sprint last year with Trench Admiral.   Jockey M Franco wins the race for the first time as well.  The time of victory was 2:23.78, which is similar to the last BC Turf run here at SA.  Let’s see how it was won!

1st- 10- Admirals Aces (15/1)- Our new BC Turf champion broke alertly out of the gate for Grimley, and he would emerge to be in the third position as the field moved into the frontstretch, running three lengths from the ambitious Curious Kierrnan up front.  Inched his way a bit closer to the leader in response to the pushes forward of Sir Tom and Cju, and would run with them going around the turn.  As the field moved into the backstretch, they were four wide up front for the lead with Admirals Aces in the outer lane amongst the group.  After about a mile, he would push a head in front and would never be passed again.   Moving into the turn, and while rounding the final turn, there was simply no one better as he began to put some distance on second place Cju and with no other threat emerging from the pack, he seemed to be in great shape.   At the top of the stretch, he was clear by about a length and a half, and there were no closers coming.  All that was left at this point was to watch him run to the wire and pick up the big win for Grimley!  The time of the race was 2:23.78.  Admirals Aces is a three year old gelding by Trip Aces (autogen) and out of Soul Admiral (HRP-War Admiral in blood).   He was bred in New York by Grimley as a third quarter two year old and they have been together throughout! Congratulations to all the connections!

2nd- 2- Cju (66/1)- The longest shot on the board was part of good day for Maxmillion Farm in this race.  He was unhurried out of the gate, however, and ran between Steel Kelp and Grande Sournoise over the downhill portion.  When Sir Tom made an aggressive frontstretch move, Cju followed him through to gain some ground.  By the time they hit the top of the backstretch and was within a length of the leaders and would look to take that lead at this point.  Admirals Aces had been one to get by at this point in what would ultimately be the pass for the win, but Cju still kept close by around the turn.  By the top of the stretch, Admirals Aces had pulled away, but he was still a length ahead of third, and Sir Tom was dropping.   Second was essentially in the bag for the trainer here, as he may not have minded that the only threat to Cju here was Exactly As Planned.

3rd- 11- Exactly As Planned (35/1)- Our pre-race selection from Maxmillion Farm went off at surprisingly high odds but turned in a great performance.  He was actually the quickest out of the gate initially, but would soon back off that pursuit.  Eventually, he settled in to be about four lengths from the leaders in the frontstretch.  Maintained a steady cruising speed around the turn leading to the backstretch, making slight progress in cutting his deficit to the leaders.  He was making gradual progress on those in front, and was able to stay out of trouble when Curious Kierrnan and Spanish Showboat each hit the brakes.  In the stretch, his progress was gradual, and while he was in good stride, it would not be enough to get closer to the front, but at the same time, holding off Steel Kelp was not easy.

4th- 1- Steel Kelp (14/1)- The entry from Serenity Stables was not interested in the early pace and would be content to run near the back of the field early.  This was unexpected, as the last two races saw him go out to the lead.  He would advance in the frontstretch, though not quite with the same enthusiasm as Cju.  Tucked himself in behind Spanish Showboat in what would have seemed to be a good striking position, but it would backfire as Spanish Showboat lost interest in the backstretch, and Steel Kelp would have to alter his course going into the turn.  The alternative path would be looking to the outside of Exactly As Planned, even though it is not exactly what F Prat planned.  Good in stretch, but could not get by the top three.

5th- 6- Sir Tom (48/1)- The defending BC Mile champion from Brave did not have many believing in him for this race.  He would break well, and at first seemed like he was going to settle for a midpack position on the track.  Then, in the front stretch, he showed the kind of kick that the trainer would’ve preferred to see a lap later and rocketed to the front.  At the top of the backstretch, he would be the one with the advantage.  Passed by the eventual top two in the backstretch but still looked as though he could hang with them.  Gradually lost touch over the turn and during the stretch.

6th- 4- Lunar Blaze (3/2)- Not surprisingly, the large purchase from Australia Wide was a heavy favorite for the race.  He would be slow out of the gate, and saw them all in front of him as they moved downhill.  Hung around back there around the turn and into the backstretch as well, concerning many, as he is not known to be a closer.  Still last as they began the move into the turn.  At the top of the stretch, he had some room to run along the rail and tried to make the most of it, but it was pretty clear that this was just going to be to improve a running order finish as he never was a concern to those up front.

7th- 8- Chrystal Pip (6/1)- The second choice of the betting public, Chrystal Pip seemed to be in fine shape from the gate, and would sit just off the lead as the race moved to the front stretch.  Once in the frontstretch, however, he seemed to lose some of that early interest and dropped towards the rear of the field.  Had to alter his path when Curious Kierrnan threw in the towel, but had time to recover and a clear lane in front of him before reaching the exit of the turn.  Came up a bit flat in the stretch.

8th- 9- Rare Coincidence (13/1)- The second entry from Mb Stables found himself in the middle of the field early, running between Sir Tom and Spotted Cat during the opening segment.     Held his ground around the front stretch and the turn and remained about four and a half off the pace as they moved to the backstretch.  Maintained his position around the turn, and that didn’t seem like a bad thing at first as there was a lot of movement to his inside.  Rode it out to the wire in uneventful fashion.

9th- 7- Gallivant (11/1)- Did not start too well out of the gate for Australia Wide, and would run near the back of the field during the downhill portion of the race.  He’d make a couple passes prior to reaching the frontstretch, but still not look to move forward when a couple behind him would.  Hoped to find room behind Rare Coincidence as they approached the stretch, but that one wasn’t moving forward.  Would not be able to make much progress.

10th- 5- Grand Sournoise (18/1)- Started decently out of the gate for Drabfantasy, but it would not take long for him to eventually find himself at the back of the field, and we see them all in front of him as they made their way down the frontstretch the first time.  Remained near the back all the way into the backstretch.  Tried to make his move at about the same time as every one else, and got squeezed down in the final turn somewhat.  Didn’t show much in the stretch, considering Gallivant got by him.

11th- 13- Tucson (33/1)- The Aer Stables entry went at higher odds then anticipated, though only proved his doubters correct.  He began the race towards the back, six lengths off the lead at a half mile.  Ran well around the clubhouse turn, though five wide, to advance to the middle of the field.  The backstretch was not kind to him as he lost position on the track, though was still in his outside lane.  As they fanned out at the top of the stretch, he may have had some wondering if he was likely closer to the grandstand then to the rail, and never recovered.

12th- 14- Spotted Cat (10/1)- From his outside post position, the Blushing Meadows entry was in the middle of the pack heading down the frontstretch.  Maintained his position in the thick of the pack as a couple others started to move up in the lead up to the backstretch.  As others looked to position themselves for a run, Spotted Cat started to be left behind as he didn’t have the same interest.  This led to him behind shoved way outside in the stretch, and there was no run coming.  At least things would be better for the trainer later in the day.

13th- 3- Spanish Showboat (9/1)- Got off to a good start for Mb Stables and was able to get to the inside for the first run down the backstretch.  He would be second early, a length or so back at a half mile.  As a few began to apply pressure from behind him, Spanish Showboat backed off a bit but still tried to maintain his stalking position into the backstretch.  Lost considerable ground in the backstretch, which essentially ended his day.

14th- 12- Curious Kierrnan (45/1)- Enthusiastic out of the gate and handled the downhill section well, leading the way at a half mile in :47.20 for Canadian Racing.  Continued to lead around the clubhouse turn, running six furlongs 1:11.59, though would concede the lead to Sir Tom just as they moved into the backstretch.  He would call it a race midway through the backstretch.

Track: Firm
Time: :47¹  1:11²  1:59²  2:23³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 10 – 2 Paid 143.50
$1 Trifecta: 10 – 2 – 11 Paid 1,872.70

Scratched: Kenny Wisconsin, Pink Devil, T S Crystal, Sandor Clegane

— NS

Categories: BC 2015-17, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP