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Breeders’ Cup Friday Recap and Replays

Breeders' Cup Friday
Victoria Road won Friday's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. (Photo: John Voorhees/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup).

Future Stars Friday at the Breeders’ Cup saw five winners crowned on the first two of the two day championships at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky.

Mischief Magic Score in Juvenile Turf Sprint

Godolphin’s Mischief Magic (IRE) ($15.84) made mad dash through traffic in deep stretch to catch Dramatised (IRE) near the wire to post a 1-length victory in fifth running of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) for 2-year-olds to begin Future Stars Friday at the 39th World Championships at Keeneland.

Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Mischief Magic completed the 5 ½ furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:02.41. It is the seventh Breeders’ Cup victory for Appleby and sixth for Buick and the first for each in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. Tyler’s Tribe and Speed Boat Beach vied for the early lead as Mischief Magic was last in the run down the backstretch. On the far turn, American Apple shot through on the inside to lead the field into the stretch. Buick moved Mischief Magic off the rail nearing the eighth pole and began splitting horses
in the final sixteenth of a mile to get clear running for the victory.

Dramatised held second by a neck over Private Creed with Persian Force (IRE) another 2 lengths back in fourth. The victory was worth $520,000 for the son of Exceed And Excel out of the Elusive Quality mare Veil of Silence. Mischief Magic has earned $607,317 and improved his record to 6-4-0-1.

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Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Replay

Wonder Wheel Wins Juvenile Fillies

D. J. Stable’s Wonder Wheel rallied from far back to score an emphatic 3-length victory over Leave No Trace to win the 39th running of the $2 million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) for 2-year-olds Friday afternoon at Keeneland.

Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Wonder Wheel completed the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.90. It is the sixth Breeders’ Cup victory for Casse and the
first for Gaffalione. Grand Love opened a daylight advantage on the field of 13 while being tracked by Leave No Trace and You’re My Girl as Wonder Wheel raced near the back of the pack while getting a ground-saving trip.

On the far turn, still on the inside, Wonder Wheel began passing horses. She hit the top of the stretch in third, moved to the outside and passed Leave No Trace at the eighth pole and
cruised to victory. Leave No Trace held the second spot by a length over a fast-closing Raging Sea with Sabra Tuff another 1 ¾ lengths back in fourth.

A Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Wonder Gal, Wonder Wheel improved her record to 5-4-1-0 and increased her earnings to $1,550,725 with Friday’s $1,040,000 check.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Replay

Juvenile Fillies Turf Goes to Meditate

Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Westerberg Limited’s favored Meditate (IRE) ($6.08) rocketed past the front-runners approaching the eighth pole and drew off for a 2 ½-length victory in the 15th running of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) for 2-year-olds at Keeneland.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Meditate completed the mile on a firm turf course in 1:35.38. It was the first victory in the race for O’Brien and Moore and the 14th and 10th overall, respectively, for the duo. Spirit Gal led the field of 14 early on while being tracked by Manhattan Jungle (IRE) and Cairo Consort as Meditate raced in mid pack. Spirit Gal led a tightening pack into the stretch but Moore had angled Meditate into the clear and soon delivered the knockout
blow.

Pleasant Passage rallied from far back to get second by 2 ¼ lengths over Cairo Consort who saved third by a head over Midnight Mile (IRE). The victory was worth $520,000 to Meditate, a son of No Nay Never out of the Dalakhani mare Pembini. Now boasting a record of 7-5-2-0, Meditate has earned $862,341.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Replay

Forte Upsets Cave Rock in Juvenile

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Forte ($12.04) swept past odds-on favorite Cave Rock at the sixteenth pole and went on to post a 1 1/2- length victory in the 39th running of the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance for 2-year-olds Friday afternoon at Keeneland.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Forte completed the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.06. The victory is the 13th for Pletcher in the Breeders’ Cup and third in this race. His previous winners were Uncle Mo in 2010 and Shanghai Bobby in 2012. It is the first victory in the race for Ortiz and 15th overall in the World Championships. Longshot Hurricane J shot to the front out of the gate but was quickly confronted by Cave Rock. Cave Rock took over midway down the backstretch as Ortiz kept Forte close to the rail.

On the far turn, Forte moved off the rail and at the top of the stretch was three wide with dead aim on Cave Rock and National Treasure. Forte took over at the eighth pole and drew clear.
Cave Rock held second by 2 ¼ lengths over National Treasure who was third by 1 ½ lengths over Blazing Sevens.

Now a three-time Grade 1 winner, Forte is a Kentucky-bred son of Violence out of the Blame mare Queen Caroline. The victory was worth $1,040,000 and improved Forte’s earnings to $1,595,150.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Replay

Euros Dominate in Juvenile Turf

Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Victoria Road (IRE) ($13.14) got his nose down on the wire just ahead of favored Silver Knott (GB) to win the 16th running of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) for 2-year-olds at Keeneland.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Victoria Road completed the mile on a firm turf course in 1:35.99. It is the fifth victory in the race for O’Brien and Moore, who teamed to win with Wrote (IRE) in 2011, George Vancouver in 2012, Hit It a Bomb in 2015 and Mendelssohn in 2017.

Longshot Curly Larry and Mo led the field of 14 with an open advantage as Victoria Road raced in mid pack along the inside with Silver Knott just behind him. As the field hit the stretch in a tight pack, Victoria Road emerged four wide to grab a narrow edge at midstretch while Silver Knott was finding racing room along the rail. Silver Knott took a brief lead in deep stretch with Victoria Road battling back. It came down to a head bob with Victoria Road winning the photo.

It was another 2 ¼ lengths back to Nagirroc in third and another three-quarters of a length back to Mo Stash in fourth. The victory was worth $520,000 and increased Victoria Road’s earnings to $663,779 with a record of 8-4-2-0. Victoria Road is a son of Saxon Warrior out of the Invincible Spirit
mare Tickled Pink.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Replay