11/06/2020
12 KEE BC Classic – Grade 1
$6,000.000 3yo&Up 1 1/4m Dirt 3yo 122lbs Older 126lbs
What a race!! And guess who brought their best… Charleys Latte, that’s who. The black colt, that hadn’t seen the winner’ circle since taking the Wood Mem (GII) back in April. sat well off of the pace, inched up through the far turn and then showed a relentless closing drive that took him under the finish line by a mere nose over Space Commander and gave Estero Farms a huge victory in the BC Classic (GI) here at KEE. Space Commander had the lead through the lane after pressing/setting the pace, but just couldn’t hold off the winner. Gran Z, also forwardly placed throughout, ran a huge race to take the third spot… add in a three horse dead-heat for fourth – this race was special. The final running time was 2:00.71, a new track record for the mile and a quarter distance at KEE.
The field loaded into the gate at the top of the KEE home stretch, the flag was up and the gates sprung open as we were off and running in the 2020 BC Classic!! 
Gran Z was away quickly and jumped out to a quick advantage with a wall behind him that included Crack Dub, Groovy on the rail, Class Edge and Chai Morning between that pair and Space Commander from the outside. Just behind that wall was another group that included Heretowinthisfight, Royal Assembly next to that one, Tactical from the far outside, Chrystal Believer on the rail, Charleys Latte and Jolly Rook. Another gap back to the trailing duo of Orion Nebula and Brittle.
They were now midway on the clubhouse turn with seven furlongs to run and Gran Z showed the way by two lengths. Space Commander was very wide in the turn, giving chase, back towards the inside for the trio of Class Edge, Groovy and Chair Morning, another length back to Crack Dab, another two and a half 
lengths back to Royal Assembly, Heretowinthisfight between horses, Chrystal Believer skimming the rail, another length to Charleys Latte four wide, Tactical on his outside, Orion Nebula a length behind that pair while saving ground, Jolly Rook, and Brittle continued to trail.
Making their way around the clubhouse turn and now midway down the backside, they had five furlongs to the finish and Gran Z was now joined by Space Commander as those two were slugging it out on the front end. two and a half lengths back to a foursome that included Groovy on the rail, Chai Morning next to
that one, Class Edge in the three path and Crack Dab widest of that group, a gap back to another group of four that included Royal Assembly in the three path, Chrystal Believer on the rail, Heretowinthisfight between those and Charleys Latte caught four wide. Another length and a half to Orion Nebula, then the trailing trio of Brittle, Tactical and Jolly Rook.
Through the backstretch and now midway on the far turn, they went past the five-sixteenths pole and Space Commander pushed past Gran Z to take a half length lead. A length and a half back to Groovy, Chai Morning next to that one, Class Edge and Crack Dab, as they fanned out through the turn. Another length to 
Charleys Latte moving five wide, Royal Assembly and Heretowinthisfight towards his inside, another length to Chrystal Believer along the rail, another length to Brittle, Tactical three wide and Orion Nebula between those foes and Jolly Rook trailed.
Now into the lane and past the three-sixteenths pole, Space Commander was getting away from them and led by two, Gran Z trying to go on with the leader, 
Groovy in perfect striking position, Chai Morning next to that one, Charleys Latte widest of all and responding, Class Edge with a clear path… the remainder had a lot of work to do and a very short time to get it done.
Inside the final sixteenth and to the finish, Space Commander with the lead, Charleys Latte gaining with every stride, Gran Z not going away and a herd trying to press forward, but as they neared the wire, it was a two horse battle to the finish, Space Commander with the lead, Charleys Latte closing in from the
outside and as they hit the wire, it was too close to call and the PHOTO sign went up on the tote board. After viewing the photograph, Charleys Latte led in the only spot that mattered, on the finish line as the black colt took the BC Classic by .02 of a second. Space Commander was a hard luck second with Gran Z a length back in third. It was another half length back to a three-horse dead heat for fourth with Groovy, Heretowinthisfight and Royal Assembly in that photo finish. Chai Morning was seventh, Tactical eighth, Class Edge ninth, Jolly Rock tenth, Crack Dab eleventh, Brittle twelfth, Chrystal Believer thirteenth and Orion Nebula closed this one out.
Charleys Latte is a black 3yo colt by Pinnacle West – Sweet Mama, by Chai Latte, and he was bred by Two Hearts One Love in Cal. Acquired prior to his racing career by Private Purchase for $45.000, this was his fourth win from twelve starts, and he now has earnings of $4,455.000. Three of his wins have come in his sophomore year including the Withers (GIII) and the Wood Mem (GII), both at AQU. This is Estero Farms’ sixth BC win in only four years as a conditioner… one heck of an accomplishment!
Congratulations to Charleys Latte and Estero Farms!!
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 9 – Charleys Latte | 48.90 | 27.90 | 8.40 |
| 11 – Space Commander | 17.50 | 5.80 | |
| 12 – Gran Z | 73.40 |
Track: Fast Time: :472 1:11 1:352 2:003 (New Track Record)
$1 Exacta: 9 – 11 Paid 136.70 $1 Trifecta: 9 – 11 – 12 Paid 1,598.90
Scratched: Achilles, American Phuegoah, Bellamango, Having A Blast
2020 BC Classic (GI) Chart
| Name | PP | 1st | 2nd | Str | Fin | Odds | Comments |
| Charleys Latte | 9 | 105 | 85 | 63 | 1no | 23.45 | Unhurried, improved turn, up last jump |
| Space Commander | 11 | 2no | 1hd | 13/4 | 2no | 13.35 | Speed, led, nailed on wire |
| Gran Z | 12 | 1no | 2hd | 23/4 | 31 | 18.55 | Speed, pressed, evenly late |
| Groovy | 1 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 42 | 5.30 | Up close, no excuse, DH |
| Heretowinthisfight | 6 | 84 | 95 | 84 | 42 | *4.80 | Mid pack, closed, DH |
| Royal Assembly | 8 | 74 | 74 | 94 | 42 | 9.95 | Mid pack, closed, DH |
| Chai Morning | 3 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 72 | 15.50 | Pressed pace, tired late, deactivated after race |
| Tactical | 14 | 127 | 136 | 126 | 83 | 6.30 | Not a factor |
| Class Edge | 5 | 52 | 52 | 53 | 93 | 19.00 | Position, tired |
| Jolly Rook | 4 | 137 | 149 | 148 | 104 | 5.40 | Trailed, no factor |
| Crack Drab | 7 | 83 | 63 | 73 | 114 | 7.05 | Mid pack, tired |
| Brittle | 13 | 147 | 127 | 116 | 125 | 50.00 | Outrun, deactivated after race |
| Chrystal Believer | 2 | 95 | 105 | 105 | 136 | 27.20 | Outrun |
| Orion Nebula | 10 | 116 | 117 | 137 | 148 | 90.30 | Never involved |
Charleys Latte taken in hand after the break, wide through the first turn, improved position moving through the far turn while fanning out widest of all, closed down the lane to get up in the last jump. Space Commander broke well, stalked the leader through the clubhouse turn, moved up to take the lead into the back stretch, lead to deep stretch, nailed on the wire in a game effort. Gran Z sent to the lead, headed into the back stretch, stayed with the leaded to the furlong marker, could not go on with the top pair in a brave effort. Groovy was forwardly placed throughout, clear shot at the top of the lane, one pace to the finish, no excuse. Heretowhinthisfight raced mid-pack, some late foot while no threat to the top three. Royal Assembly raced mid pack, some late interest. Chai Morning was forwardly placed, tired. Tactical lagged well back, passed tiring rivals. Class Edge close up to the far turn, tired. Jolly Rook trailed, no factor. Crack Dab tired. Brittle was outrun. Chrystal Believer was outrun. Orion Nebula was never involved.
Categories: BC 2018-20, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP
