Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf: O'Brien notches fifth consecutive triumph as Haffner rallies

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LEXINGTON, KY.- Trainer Aidan O’Brien continued his dominance of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and did so at the direct expense of his son Joseph, when Haffner rallied to a 1 3/4-length victory over the favorite Folsom Blues in the finale on Friday’s Breeders’ Cup program at Keeneland.

Haffner gave the elder O’Brien his fifth consecutive victory in the Juvenile Turf and a record ninth win in the event's 20-year history. It was his second win on the card, following Sun Goddess’ impressive triumph in the Juvenile Fillies Turf about 90 minutes earlier.

Haffner’s tally also put O’Brien back atop the leaderboard for career Breeders’ Cup tallies, with 23, regaining the advantage from Bob Baffert who had tied him after winning the previous event, the Juvenile, with Hughes.

Haffner was one of two horses O’Brien started in the Juvenile Turf along with Florida Bay, who finished 11th after prompting the early pace. He also had two other horses scratched from the field, Great Barrier Reef, who most considered the strongest of the original O’Brien quartet, and Agate.

O’Brien had originally named his main rider Ryan Moore on Great Barrier Reef with Christophe Soumillon given the assignment on Haffner. But he made a last-minute switch to Moore after Great Barrier Reef was declared earlier in the day.

Haffner broke a step slowly, but quickly recovered to race within easy striking distance of the pacesetting Avec Toi, while saving ground in the run down the backstretch and around the second turn. Haffner eased out to go after the leader exiting the bend, edged clear despite wandering out some through midstretch before withstanding a belated bid by Folsom Blues.

Folsom Blues, the tepid 5-2 favorite, was away slowest after ducking out a bit and colliding with Sale Shark at the break. He saved ground while advancing to closer contention down the backstretch, angled five wide to commence his rally turning for home, and finished stoutly down the center of the course to run down the tiring Avec Toi to be second best.

Oscar rallied from near the rear of the field to be fourth, the best finish by any U.S.-based horse in any of the turf races on Friday’s Breeders’ Cup card.

Haffner, a son of Justify, is owned in partnership by Coolmore along with Peter Brant, Derrick Westerberg and Brook T. Smith. The win was the fourth in seven starts at 2 and first in a Grade 1 event. He completed a mile in 1:35.19 seconds over the firm turf and paid $9.46 as the second choice in a field of 12.

“He had the one bad race, but the ground was bad and at the time our horses were running bad,” O’Brien said about Haffner’s only poor performance this season, a seventh-place finish in the Vincent O’Brien National S. at the Curragh in Ireland. “But we found they had a low-grade infection, we gave them a little time, and that changed everything.”

Haffner bounced right back to win the Group 2 Royal Lodge, going seven furlongs, at Newmarket just 13 days later as a final prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

“We were a little worried about the breezy mile here, but Ryan had him in great position and he said after the race he thinks he can even get more,” O’Brien added. “So we think he can be a proper Classic contender.”

Moore, who was also aboard Sun Goddess for her easy victory in the Juvenile Fillies, acknowledged the pace scenario was a lot different for Haffner in the Juvenile Turf.

“He broke great, was racing forwardly, the speed horse (Avec Toi) was running easily. It was pretty straightforward,” Moore said. “He started to idle a little (when he made the lead) and every time I asked him he kept finding more. And the way he galloped out, a mile and one quarter is not going to be a problem.”

O’Brien watched the race alongside Joseph and talked about what it’s like to compete against his son on the biggest stage.

“We hate beating Joseph and his lads, and I mean that,” O’Brien said. “But obviously it’s business and it’s sport. We always do our best and we don’t give them an inch in any way.”

Dylan McMonagle, who rode Folsom Blues, said he thought his horse ran great after the unfortunate start.

“He just stepped a bit left from the gates, which is never ideal around here, but he learned a lot from this experience and I’m looking forward to next season,” McMonagle said.

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