High Chaparral: 'Lazy' does it in the Turf

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - He has been called lazy and described as a superstar. On Saturday, in the $2.42 million , High Chaparral found time to be a little of both.

The winner of the English and Irish derbies this year, High Chaparral overcame a spot of trouble to win the richest turf race in the United States.

Along the way, jockey Michael Kinane knew he had to keep High Chaparral's attention to have any chance of winning. "He is lazy," said Kinane. "You really have to get after him."

Sent off as the favorite, High Chaparral gave trainer Aidan O'Brien and owners Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier their first win in the Breeders' Cup Turf. Earlier in the day, they suffered the loss of Landseer, who was euthanized after suffering a leg injury in the BC Mile.

In the Turf, High Chaparral prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths over With Anticipation, one of the top turf marathoners in the U.S. High Chaparral finished 1 1/2 miles on a yielding turf course in 2:30.

For most of the race, High Chaparral raced in midpack between horses. He was well off the pace of The Tin Man, who set slow fractions of 25.69 and 51.36 seconds.

High Chaparral's position gave O'Brien a few anxious moments during the race. "He got locked in and there was a slow pace," O'Brien said. "He was inside and I was worried."

The Tin Man maintained his lead after a mile in 1:41.33, but the chasing pack was threatening on the final turn. With Anticipation launched a four-wide rally, with High Chaparral emerging between horses three wide to reach contention.

"I saw [With Anticipation] come up the outside and I know it was really time to get to work on him," said Kinane. "Then he really let it go."

High Chaparral and With Anticipation caught The Tin Man before the eighth pole, with High Chaparral showing the most acceleration in the final furlong.

"He showed a lot of class to pick it up the way he did," O'Brien said.

With Anticipation ran on well to finish second, three-quarters of a length in front of Falcon Flight. For a moment on the final turn, jockey Pat Day thought he could win aboard With Anticipation.

"The horse ran a monster race," Day said. "I think what made the difference was a change in tactics. He got back there and settled nicely."

The runner-up finish by With Anticipation was met with satisfaction by trainer Jonathan Sheppard. "A superior horse beat us," he said. "What can you say?"

Falcon Flight, the winner of the Arlington Handicap here in July, closed from midpack with a wide rally to finish third.

"I thought I had a shot to get there," said jockey Pat Valenzuela said. "With Anticipation went up there at the sixteenth pole and I was right there."

The Tin Man finished fourth, followed by Denon, Golan, Ballingarry, and Perfect Soul.

High Chaparral was a leading 3-year-old in Europe over 1 1/2 miles this year. In six starts, he won five stakes, including the English and Irish derbies.

After missing training during the summer because of an illness that plagued O'Brien's barn, High Chaparral had one start in advance of the Breeders' Cup Turf, finishing third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Oct. 6.

The Breeders' Cup Turf was his first start in the U.S. He is expected to stay in training next year.