Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: After further review, it's Further Ado

It took some time for the photo finish camera to separate them, but after review it was determined Further Ado got the bob by a nose over Owen Almighty in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Saturday at Keeneland. 

Pacesetter Full Serrano was two lengths back in third. Sent off as the even-money chalk, Further Ado completed the mile in 1:34.50. He paid $4.02, $3.04, and $2.60.

Full Serrano sailed along through a quarter in 22.67 and a half in 46.14, with Owen Almighty rating just off his heels and Further Ado biding his time in fourth. Owen Almighty got first jump and carried the field into the stretch, but Further Ado had dead aim, and the battle began as they hit the eighth pole. It looked for a time that Owen Almighty would stave off the favorite, but jockey Flavien Prat got every ounce of run from Further Ado and they prevailed by the narrowest of margins.

Unbeaten in two prior tries over the Keeneland dirt, including the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes in April, Further Ado was sent off the 5-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby. He faded to 11th that day, then bounced back with a victory in the Grade 3 Matt Winn in June. The beaten favorite in the Grade 1 Haskell, where he finished fifth, and as the runner-up in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby last month, Further Ado showed his appreciation for the drop back to the mile Friday.

The win was the 10th for trainer Brad Cox, and the sixth for owner Spendthrift Farm.

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