As expected, this one was a tough race in a competitive division. Even the handicappers had a hard time predicting this one. Co-favorites Fire Up The Night and American Life were only 6-1 with the second flight, six-year-old mare Natural Flower, Brumeii Bachelor, People Want To Know, Pump Action Shotgun and Engaging all at 8-1. But Brumeii Bachelor who didn’t have a single graded win this year but scored two 100+ SRF figures in that company, showed a lot of heart in hanging on to win by a nose with the entire field separated by just three lengths at the wire. In fact, the first eight finishers were within a length of the winner at the wire.

It started with a wall of horses racing down the hill. Missing In Action and American Life managed to take the lead by ¼ length over Brumeii Bachelor, Engaging, and People Want To Know. After the first quarter in 22:01, Missing In Action and Engaging ½ length apart on the lead. People Want To Know sat right behind them. A length behind him, Sweep The Event hugged the rail with Owen Wolff, American Life, and Brumeii Bachelor spread across the track.

Missing In Action moved to the rail, but Engaging and People Want To Know remained strung out in the middle of the track. After ½ mile in 43.75, the field entered the main track and the home stretch. Missing In Action held the rail and the lead. Engaging held second six wide with People Want To Know third. But American Life was less than a length back in fourth with the gray, Brumeii Bachelor just to his inside. Five lengths off the lead, Viking Tiz switched to the far outside and started his run along with Pump Action Shotgun.

With a furlong to run, it was still anybody’s race. Missing In Action struggled to keep the lead, but Brumeii Bachelor and American Life between them cut the lead with every stride. In the shadow of the wire, six horses where strung out across the track within a length of the embattled leader. Brumeii Bachelor and American Life caught Missing In Action and passed him stride for stride. People Want To Know and Viking Tiz came flying on the outside Owen Wolff tried to split the seam between the fading Missing In Action and American Life.

It was almost too close to call when Brumeii Bachelor, American Life, and Viking Tiz hit the wire together. But it was Brumeii Bachelor over American Life by a nose and over Viking Tiz by a head.

If there was any doubt, Bruneii Bachelor, purchased early this year by Eastern Equine for $75.000, certainly proved his worth today. Finished second in a three-horse tie with Discernment (who did not compete in the BC Turf Sprint) and Pump Action Shotgun in the highly contested Play The King Stakes (G2). This time, he got his revenge on both of them.

Believe it or not, this was the first BC win for Eastern Equine who joined HRP in 2004. Owner of 2015 Horse of the Year, A One (who was also awarded Champion three-year-old colt), Champion Two-Year-Colt, Champagne Supernova, and 2007 Champion Three-Year-Old Fusion, Eastern Equine has another potential champion in Brumeii Bachelor (by Dogs Bachelor Party out of Brumeii Solmios by Tollbooth Willie).

CONGRATULATIONS EASTERN EQUINE!

Complete Order of Finish:

Brumeii Bachelor – Eastern Equine

American Life – Angelos Stable

Viking Tiz – Delta Farms

Owen Wolff – Downwind Stables

Pump Action Shotgun – Maxmillion Farms

People Want To Know – Mb Stables

Sweep The Event – Maxmillion Farms

Missing In Action – John Henry

Fire Up The Night – John Henry

Natural Flower(f) – Maxmillion Farm

Quasi Normal – Night Rider Stables

Engaging – Mb Stables

Silver Bullet – Joseph Racing

Slow Jack – John Henry

Categories: BC 2015-17, THE BREEDERS CUP