BC Juvenile Turf – Grade I
1 Mile Turf Stake Purse $1,000.000 Colt & Gelding 2 Year Olds.

As they settled after a quarter mile it was Mystic Talent from wide that shaded the lead from East Indies on the rail and Ello Santa out wide and working hard. Darrow and Whiskey Law were just behind these with the three inside draws holding the next three places. Alvin Smedley and Suit And Tie went back from their wide draws in the hope of emulating some of the huge closers we had seen in past races.
By halfway Mystic Talent still led but was being worried by Ello Santa who had kept on the pace from wide and was now pretty much on terms. East Indies had backed out of the fight and now stalked on the rail with Whiskey Law and Darrow still wide but just behind the speed.
With two furlongs to run Ello Santa had now got to the lead and was kicking strongly as Mystic Talent gave way whilst in behind the stalkers were getting in the way of the closers as usual as Suit And Tie started pulling wide from the back in a familiar look.
Into the final furlong Ello Santa had set up a good break and the traffic problems in behind were causing all sorts of problems. Zion Birdie got through the middle very late and dived at Ello Santa and on my viewer looked like he had just got up, but the cameraman gave it to Ello Santa by a nose from the unlucky loser Zion Birdie. As usual, the race looked like the other two races I had covered today with the whole field separated by a few lengths but this time the late closers didn’t get to the winner who just held on. Forever Martian ran on late for third ahead of the tiring Mystic Talent.

1st Ello Santa Mb Stables Gutierrez Mario 1:33.33

This was a huge effort by the Zumba Beach winner who was only purchased five weeks ago but has now gone bang, bang for Mb Stables in both his races for the trainer. It is pretty unusual to see a wide-drawn stalker have enough left to win at the end, but I think the key here was that he stole enough of a lead entering the stretch and many of the closers were running into trouble behind. I have a feeling we may see this one back on the main track to try at the TC in the New Year as he was pretty good on that track but whatever happens now, he can boast a BC victory on his impressive resume.

2nd Zion Birdie La Canada Racehorses Bridgmohan S X 1:33.34

Tracked in behind the leaders and looked to have timed his run perfectly but just failed as the heads nodded on the line. He has now been second in three of the biggest turf juvenile races of the year and whilst the trainer will be frustrated this homebred has had a tremendous year.

3rd Forever Martian Mo Mentum Farm Conner T 1:33.58

Got lost in the Zumba Beach last time but ran much better today getting through gaps late to end up third.

4th Mystic Talent Red Fox Farms Centeno D E 1:33.63

Went to the lead as expected but once again faded late. He was brave enough to hold onto fourth, but we may see him sprinting in the future.

5th Apples To Aces Ace Racing Stable Smith M E 1:33.74
6th Whiskey Law Maxmillion Farm Jimenez A 1:33.80
7th Black Eyed Riggins Racing Hernandez R M 1:33.81
8th Aydeehdee Threshold Lezcano J 1:33.84
9th East Indies Nakamura Stables Gallardo A A 1:33.86
10th Alydar D J C Racing Stables Velazquez J R 1:33.88
11th Alvin Smedley The Sidley Stud Alvarado F T 1:34.11
12th Darrow Mb Stables Franco M 1:34.12
13th Suit And Tie Mb Stables Buick W T 1:34.16
14th Sitting Strangely Riggins Racing Lopez P 1:34.31

Categories: BC 2024, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP