European horsemen harbor no secrets about how much they prefer the Breeders' Cup to be run at a cool-weather site. Although there have been notable exceptions to the rule, the European horses generally have fared better at tracks such as Churchill Downs, Belmont, or Woodbine than they have in Florida or California.
Aidan O'Brien has become such a dominant force in Europe that racing fans are accustomed to the youthful trainer dramatically altering the complexion of major races simply by deciding which of his star horses to run and which to keep in the barn.
North American fans, get ready for more of the same. One month before the Breeders' Cup Mile is run at Arlington, O'Brien and his Euro superstars are the most critical variables in the $1 million Mile.
Astra is gone, retired to a career as a broodmare this week, and losing one of the top-rated female turf horses in the country is a blow to any stable. But trainer Laura de Seroux has a cushion, and her name is Dublino.
Lightly raced with only four career starts, and still only a 3-year-old, Dublino is a major West Coast talent from a barn that has had an incredible year hitting spots with top-class stock. And the spot now at hand is the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championship Filly and Mare Turf.
Before running Sky Mesa in last month's Grade 1 Hopeful, trainer John Ward said he felt the race would be more of a stepping-stone than a defining moment in the 2-year-old colt's career.
When Sky Mesa defeated the highly regarded Zavata in the seven-furlong race, it established him as one of the favorites for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Ward said he and his wife and assistant, Donna, were more satisfied than surprised.
Since winning the Juvenile Fillies with My Flag and running one-two in the Distaff with Inside Information and Heavenly Prize in 1995, the Phipps family has had only five starters in the Breeders' Cup.
But the Phipps family is back this year and will be well represented in the Juvenile Fillies with Storm Flag Flying, whose family has accounted for two Breeders' Cup victories. Storm Flag Flying is out of My Flag, whose mother, Personal Ensign, won the 1988 Distaff.
It took Orientate eight months to climb to the top of the sprint division. Now, only one obstacle stands between him and being crowned the 2002 sprint champion and Eclipse Award winner: a victory in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
"Everybody puts so much emphasis on the Breeders' Cup these days," says D. Wayne Lukas, who trains Orientate for owners Bob and Beverly Lewis. "It's really great if you can put that one on the r?sum?. He's had an awfully good year, but in this business you have to keep proving yourself until the year is over."
ELMONT, N.Y. - The same stubbornness that Tiznow had been showing recently in his morning exercise served him at the most opportune time Saturday afternoon, when he outdueled Arc de Triomphe winner Sakhee in a thrilling stretch drive to win the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic, the highlight of the World Thoroughbred Championships at Belmont Park.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Europe's domination of the Breeders' Cup Turf shows no signs of relenting. On Saturday, Fantastic Light, a three-time Group 1 winner in England and Ireland this year, won the $2 million Turf at Belmont Park, holding off a furious rally from fellow European invader Milan.
Fantastic Light became the third consecutive European import to win the Turf and the fourth in the last six years.
Timboroa, who ran third, had the best finish of the American-based horses.
ELMONT, N.Y. - He had never been on dirt, had not raced beyond six furlongs and was facing possibly the deepest field in the history of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Johannesburg overcame those obstacles with a furious closing kick in the stretch that swept him past North America's best 2-year-olds and into the Belmont Park winner's circle, a 1 1/4-length victor in the $1 million Juvenile. Repent, a 42-1 shot, rallied for second 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Siphonic. Publication finished fourth, two lengths ahead of 3-5 favorite Officer.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Eight years ago, trainer Andre Fabre shocked the world when his unheralded longshot Arcangues upset the 1993 Breeders' Cup Classic. On Saturday, Fabre sent out a similar unknown, his 3-year-old filly Banks Hill, to top 11 of the best female turf horses from two continents with a devastating performance that resulted in a 5 1/2-length victory in the third running of the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Belmont Park.