Despite the three year olds looking very strong it was the older horses that ended up to the fore as a blistering early pace set up a race that was won by the perfect trip and left many reputations licking their wounds. Here is how the BC Dirt Mile panned out with the significance of the draw evident in all the big races today.

1^st Hardline, trained by Downwind Stable

This was a masterful ride from the veteran Gary Stevens as the jockey quickly recognised the fast early pace and allowed Hardline to take his time as the leaders cut each other’s throat. The danger when doing that from the one draw is that all runs can be blocked when the race gets on in earnest but the rail opened up like a dream and it was all over pretty quickly. Sinking back into midfield the horse always looked to be going well and was full of running coming round the home turn but needed the gaps. Sure enough as everything drifted wide Hardline snuck though and as soon as that gap opened the result never looked in doubt. He won by a length in the end which was about as clear cut as a win gets on HRP.

Bred by Kopites he has now topped the $3000 earnings mark and was rewarded for yet another tough and consistent season.

2^nd Cape Canaveral, trained by Sanny Village

The links to Charley Farley wont have been missed as another grandson of the great sire made it a one two for the bloodline. This tough three year old was taken back from an awkward draw and was eight lengths back after three furlongs but the fast early pace was to later play right into his hands. By halfway he still had plenty to do but the leaders were beginning to show signs of flagging and he was beginning to come onto the bit nicely. With two and a half furlongs to run he was still seven lengths behind but was finding his stride and trying to find a position to launch an attack from. As they reached the short straight he had worked wide and was making good ground but the winner had got first run and try as he might he had to settle for second.

3^rd Masquerade City, trained by Mb Stables

A good break saw him placed into the stalk through the early stages but he was sensibly kept out of the fight for early position and drifted back to sit ninth and seven lengths off the lead at half way. Alongside the eventual winner at the two and a half furlong to run mark he had seven horses right in his way whilst Hardline was looking at clean air. He had to keep pushing wider and wider to get clean air whilst the winner was getting an easy ride and though he ran on with gusto he couldn’t make the lost ground back up in the short straight.

4^th Royal prodigy, trained by Mb Stables

An average start saw him taken quickly into midfield in the early exchanges but when he found the rail he was shuffled back and found himself in a horrible spot at half way. He tried to push himself out of trouble rounding the home turn but cut back inside to find a wall of horses in front of him. He jinked and pushed and managed a very creditable fourth considering his run.

5^th Conquest

Started well and was right in the race to the first bend continuing to track the two leaders and fast early pace throughout the first part of the race. As they rounded the home turn he had to push wide to get round the tiring leaders but had two horses outside him that were keeping him in. Got the run entering the short straight but was swallowed up by the closers.

6^th Generals Companion

His start let him down a bit and he was hung out wide in a broad looking line as they race to the first turn. Keeping closer order than normal he had a handy spot as they rounded the home turn with a little over two to run but the early effort was beginning to tell. Eventually getting going the short straight and wall of horses in front were all against him and he finished a good sixth without ever being truly extended.

7^th Orange Skeleton

Was caught out on the quick run to the first bend caught wide and a bit in no man’s land. He found a half decent position by the back straight but was still wide and working hard as they rounded the home turn giving himself a chance but making it tough. He was only a length off the lead with a furlong and a half to run but could not muster anymore and whacked away for seventh.

8^th Spotted Cat

His running style was always going to be dangerous in a big field and he was quickly taken way back to trail the field. He stayed there for much of the race and then hit the traffic as he tried to come with his customary late run. He got going far too late and finished well but wouldn’t have blown a candle out in the end and didn’t really have any race at all.

9^th Prince Of Monaco

Was taken back early and found himself four wide throughout the first three furlongs and nine lengths off the leaders. Nothing got any better for the three year old and he had the toughest run of all.

10^th You Big Freak

Pushed hard from his mid field gate he was made to work overtime to get a position going through the first bend. Even off the fast pace he may have been expected to keep on a little better but he faded badly into the final quarter.

11^th Phelps

Got back early and was nine lengths in arrears by the three furlong pole. He stared at the back of others throughout the race and never really got into it.

12^th Secret King

Pushed hard early and settled on the rail and behind the two fired up leaders. He was in a fairly good place for much of the race but was almost flattened by the weakening leaders in the final quarter and was the unluckiest horse in the race by far,

13^th Whatever Man

Had little choice but to get fired up early but he was still hung wide going to the quick first bend despite a fast start. Not surprisingly the pressure told in the final quarter and he faded badly.

14^th Flashee Time

Taken back and still hung out wide through turn one the writing was on the wall early. The jockey made the decision to try and go forward but he had to work very hard and wide to get as close as sixth through the first half of the race. All the effort told in the end and he faded badly.

SUMMARY

Two things stood out for me in which the replay of this race several times. Firstly that though Hardline really did get a ‘Red Sea’ type gap at the right time and that was a huge plus in him winning he also produced an impressive finish and would’ve been very close to winning without that fortuitous gap.

The second thing was the fact that every runner from Mb Stables seem to get a bad trip. I remember watching last year and wondering how on earth this trainer that can produce miracles throughout the season can have such bad luck in the BC.

Cape Canaveral was huge in second and the old warrior Masquerade City ran a cracker in third but whilst those horses all deserve their slice of glory there were plenty in behind that will be licking their wounds after a rough race.

Categories: BC 2015-17, THE BREEDERS CUP