Breeders' Cup - 2002

October 26, 2002

Host Site: Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, IL

In the Breeders' Cup Mile, 2002 Jersey Shore Breeder's Cup winner, Boston Common, trained by Scott Lake and owned by Richard Englander, took on among others Green Fee (4th Place - John Henry Stakes at Monmouth) and the world beater Rock of Gibraltar trained by Aidan P. O'Brien for Mrs. John Mangier and Manchester United Football Club Manger, Sir Alex Ferguson. Rock of Gibraltar was also entered in the Breeders' Cup Classic but chose to run at his favorite distance in the mile. Many in the racing world considered Rock Of Gibraltar the best horse in the world going into the card.

In the Breeders' Cup Sprint, Kona Gold considered the old man in the field making his fifth Breeder's Cup Sprint start took on a very good field including the D. Wayne Lukas trainee, Orientate, and the classy filly Xtra Heat. Xtra Heat won 7 of 9 starts in 2002 and figured to be one of the post time favorites after just narrowly missing in this race last year to Squirtle Squirt. In the Breeders' Cup Turf, a couple of turf stars that ran at the Jersey Shore this summer hooked up again as With Anticipation and Denon (1-2 in the United Nations Handicap at Monmouth) competed against the best turf horses in the world over a turf course labeled as yielding. In the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf event Banks Hill was back to defend her title under new trainer Bobby Frankel.

And finally, in the Breeders' Cup Classic, three-year-old War Emblem, the Derby, Preakness and Haskell Invitational winner, took on an accomplished field including fellow three-year-old's Came Home, winner of the Pacific Classic, and Medaglia D'Oro, winner of the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. Also in the Classic was longshot Volponi, runner-up in the 2002 Meadowlands Cup to Burning Roma and winner of the 2001 Pegasus Handicap. The following chronicles the results of the entire Breeders' Cup day card at Arlington Park:

*According to The Bloodhorse Magazine, a three-year decline in television ratings for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships ended this year with the 19th running at Arlington Park, Oct. 26. Final television ratings for the $13 million, eight-race championships rose 18% to 2.0 and captured 5% of the viewing audience. The estimated number of households tuning in during NBC Sports' five-hour telecast rose 19% to 2.13 million, up from 1.79 million last year. The ratings peaked at 5:30 p.m. with a 2.7 rating and 6% market share during coverage of the $4 million Classic.

This year's final rating was the highest since 1998 when the Breeders' Cup, which was held at Churchill Downs and the Classic (gr. I) was won by Awesome Again, earned a 2.2 and 6% market share for a 4 1/2-hour telecast.

Special thanks go to Cindy Pierson for her photo contribution to the archive and please make sure you visit her new site http://www.horse-races.net.

Breeders' Cup 2002 Card:

Safely Kept Handicap

Black Tie Affair Handicap

Breeders' Cup Distaff - Grade I

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - Grade I

Breeders' Cup Mile - Grade I

Breeders' Cup Sprint - Grade I

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf - Grade I

Breeders' Cup Juvenile - Grade I

Breeders' Cup Turf - Grade I

Breeders' Cup Classic - Grade I

Steinlen Handicap

Right Here Right Now Safely Kept Handicap

$100,000

Stakes - For Thoroughbred Three Year Old and Upward Fillies and Mares 

Seven Furlongs - Main Track

Track: Muddy

Finish Wire:

Harmony Lodge put a head in front of Victory At Sea to lead the field through an opening half-mile in a rapid 43.91. Victory At Sea was a length in front of Gold Mover, who was stalking the leaders in third position. As the field moved through the turn, Gold Mover angled out and moved to the lead as the field entered the stretch. Three-quarters was run in an equally fast 1:09:14. In the stretch, Gold Mover rallied to a five length lead and drew off through the lane to win The Right Here Right Now Safely Kept Stakes by a widening seven and three-quarter lengths at the wire. Oglala Sue rallied late for a distant second as Victory At Sea, running on the lead through the early fractions, held for third. Gold Mover is a four-year-old chestnut filly owned by Edward P. Evans, trained by Mark A. Hennig and was ridden by Jerry Bailey.

  21.70, 43.91, 1:09.14, 1:22.70

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Black Tie Affair Handicap

$100,000

Stakes - For Thoroughbred Three Year Old and Upward 

One And One Eighth Miles - Main Track

Track - Good 

Finish Wire:

Balto Star led the field with a half-length lead at the three-quarter marker running the distance in 1:10:42 as Hero's Tribute stalked the leader intently in second. It was another one and one-half lengths back to Silver Zipper running in third. Entering the stretch, Hero's Tribute took the lead from early pace setter Balto Star and opened up by two and one-half lengths winning the Black Tie Affair Handicap by two lengths at the wire in a final time of 1:49.01. Balto Star finished in second as it was another seven and three-quarter lengths back to Silver Zipper in the show spot. Hero's Tribute is a four-year-old dark bay/brown colt owned by John C. Oxley, trained by John T. Ward and was ridden by Edgar Prado.

  24.01, 46.88, 1:10.42, 1:35.40, 1:49.01

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Breeders' Cup Distaff

Grade I

$2,000,000 Guaranteed

For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward

One and One Eighth Miles - Main Track

Track: Good 

Finish Wire:

Post time favorite Azeri bounced away from the gate and quickly took command of the race leading the field through quick rapid fractions of 23.47, 46.20 & 1:09.70 while maintaining a one length lead. Imperial Gesture chased the pace setter through the opening fractions but never got closer than a length as Take Charge Lady was up close and moved down to the inside to make a move as the field moved through the far turn. At the top of the lane Azeri started to open up distancing herself from the field through the stretch as her two length lead rapidly became five as she drew off in the stretch to win The Breeders' Cup Distaff by five lengths on the wire in a final time of 1:48.64. Farda Amiga, after an awkward beginning, rallied late for second while Imperial Gesture, who stalked the winner early, managed to hold on for third narrowly missing second. Azeri is a four-year-old chestnut filly owned by The Allen E. Paulson Living Trust, trained by Laura De Seroux and was ridden by Mike Smith.

  23.47, 46.20, 1:09.70, 1:35.32, 1:48.64

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Long John Silver's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Grade I

$1,000,000 Guaranteed

For Fillies Two Years Old

One and One Eighth Miles - Main Track

Track: Good

Finish Wire:

Humorous Lady led the field through the opening half mile before losing the lead to Santa Catarina at the three-quarter marker as the new leader ran the distance in 1:10.31. Storm Flag Flying was rating comfortably in third position, as the lead changed hands, and moved into second position as the field neared the stretch. In the stretch, Composure, who was never far back, emerged with the lead briefly at the top of the stretch but Storm Flag Flying moved alongside and took command, but in deep stretch Composure was resilient enough to put her head back in front of the odds on favorite and looked like a winner. But in a game effort Storm Flag Flying dug down and found another gear and reclaimed the lead and won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies by a half-length at the wire. Composure was second in a game effort as Santa Catarina settled for third. Storm Flag Flying is a two-year-old dark bay/brown filly owned by Ogden Mills Phipps, trained by Shug McGaughey and was ridden by John Velazquez.

  23.37, 46.28, 1:10.31, 1:35.86, 1:49.60 

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Net Jets Breeders' Cup Mile

Grade I

$1,000,000 Guaranteed

For Three-Year-Olds and Upward

One Mile - Turf Course

Turf: Yielding 

Finish Wire:

Good Journey led the field through an opening three-quarters in 1:12.96 as Boston Common was a head back in second position while it was another head back to Del Mar Show in third. The field was bunched up on the front end running a moderate pace on a yielding turf course. In the stretch, Good Journey tried to open his lead to a full length as Forbidden Apple, after saving ground inside, was now putting in his bid, while Domedriver split horses inside after checking early on and emerged with running room in the stretch driving towards the lead. On the far outside, Rock Of Gibraltar was driving stoutly after having to check in behind Landseer in the far turn. Rock Of Gibraltar was forced to run wide after being outrun early at the start and had much to much ground to make up. At the wire, Domedriver had held on to win the Breeders' Cup Turf by three-quarters of a length as Rock of Gibraltar closed like a rocket to finish second as Good Journey ran a respectable third after setting the early pace. Domedriver is a four-year-old dark bay/brown colt owned by A. Jurt and Flaxman Holdings, Ltd., trained by Pascal F. Bary and was ridden by Thierry Thulliez.

  23.86, 48.68, 1:12.96, 1:25.09, 1:36.92

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NAPA Breeders' Cup Sprint

Grade I

$1,000,000 Guaranteed

For Thoroughbreds Three Years Old and Upward

Six Furlongs - Main Track

Track: Fast 

Finish Wire:

Thunderello took the early lead as the field made its way down the backside. Carson Hollow went on to run with the leader early on and was a head behind in second position. Xtra Heat was another length back in third. Thunderello blazed the opening quarter mile in 21.53. In the far turn Thunderello opened up a full length on the field as Orientate was moving on the far outside into second position while Xtra Heat continued to chase the leaders down on the inside in third position. Thunderello continued on the lead and ran the half mile in an equally speedy 43.91. In the stretch, Thunderello was resilient on the lead as Orientate moved along side in deep stretch and passed the leader approaching the wire for a half-length victory in The Breeders' Cup Sprint. Thunderello after grudgingly giving way near the wire ran second as Crafty C.T. closed well for third. Orientate is a four-year-old dark bay/brown colt owned by Robert & Beverly Lewis, trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden by Jerry Bailey.

  21.53, 43.91, 56.09, 1:08.89

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Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Grade I

$1,000,000 Guaranteed

For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward

One and One Fourth Miles - Turf Course

Turf: Yielding

Finish Wire:

Kazzia led the field through the opening mile in a time of 1:38:54 as Chopinina stalked the leader two lengths back in second while Starine was well placed in third waiting for the stretch run. In the stretch, Starine charged to the lead and drew off passed Kazzia as Turtle Bow moved into third. Nearing the wire Starine extended her lead to one and one-half lengths and held off a fast closing Banks Hill at the wire to win The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Defending BC Filly & Mare Turf Champion, Banks Hill, ran second while Islington finished strong for third beaten a neck for the place spot. Starine is a five-year-old gray/roan mare owned and trained by Robert J. Frankel and was ridden by John R. Velazquez.

  24.42, 49.15, 1:13.45, 1:38.54, 2:03.57 

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Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Grade I

$1,000,000 Guaranteed

For Two Year Old Colts and Geldings

One and One Eighth Miles - Main Track

Track: Fast

Finish Wire:

Vindication led the field through the opening half-mile in 46.11 as Bull Market pressed the leader a half-length back in second. Wando ran another head back in third. As the field moved passed the three-quarter marker Bull Market put a head in front of Vindication as Most Feared moved into third position by a half-length. Bull Market ran three-quarters in a swift 1:09.98. In the stretch, Vindication regained the lead and drew off under steady urging to a two and one-half length lead as Bull Market was starting to weaken. At the wire, Vindication was the winner of The Breeders' Cup Juvenile in a final time of 1:49.61, two and three-quarter lengths in front of Kafwain, who finished second, while Hold That Tiger rallied for the show spot. Vindication is a two-year-old dark bay/brown colt owned by Padua Stables, trained by Bob Baffert and was ridden by Mike Smith.

  23.29, 46.11, 1:09.98, 1:35.80, 1:49.61

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John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf

Grade I

$2,000,000 Guaranteed

For Thoroughbreds Three Years Old and Upward

One and One Half Miles - Turf Course

Turf: Yielding

Finish Wire:

The Tin Man led the field by two lengths at the mile marker in 1:41:33. Ballingarry tracked the leader intently in second while High Chaparral ran comfortably in third position. The Tin Man continued on with a two length lead at the one and one-quarter mile marker in a moderate 2:05.00 on the yielding turf course as Ballingarry was still running second as High Chaparral continued on in third. As the field moved into the stretch High Chaparral found running room between horses and drew off on the lead as The Tin Man started to weaken. With Anticipation, after running four wide in the far turn, was driving on the outside into third position. At the wire High Chaparral had drawn off to a one and one-quarter length victory in The Breeders' Cup Turf in a final time of 2:30.14 while With Anticipation closed well on the outside for second. Falcon Flight rallied belatedly for third. High Chaparral is a three-year-old bay colt owned by Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier, trained by Aidan P. O'Brien and was ridden by Michael Kinane.

  25.69, 51.36, 1:17.01, 1:41.33, 2:05.99, 2:30.14

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Breeders' Cup Classic

Grade I

$4,000,000 Guaranteed

For Thoroughbreds Three Years Old and Upward

One and One Fourth Miles - Main Track

Track: Fast

Finish Wire:

E Dubai led the field through three-quarters of a mile in 1:10.20 as War Emblem tracked the leader a length back in second while Perfect Drift ran in third position. As the field made its way to the mile marker E Dubai relinquished the lead to Medaglia D'Oro as Volponi was running intently in second awaiting room to move on. War Emblem was starting to tire dropping back to third position as E Dubai was now dropping back in fourth position. In the stretch, Volponi had split his rivals and moved through to take the lead and opened up a two and one-half lengths lead as Medaglia D'Oro was putting in his best run in second while Milwaukee Brew was moving well in third position. At the wire Volponi had lengthened his lead to six and one-half lengths and went on to win the Breeders' Cup Classic in a final time of 2:01.39. Medaglia D'Oro was no match for the winner but was clearly second best in the place spot as Milwaukee Brew ran third. Volponi is a four-year-old bay colt owned by Amherst Stable, Kathy Johnson & Spruce Pond Stable and Edward Baier, trained by Philip G. Johnson and was ridden by Jose Santos.

  23.07, 46.63, 1:10.20, 1:35.59, 2:01.39

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Steinlen Handicap

$100,000

For Thoroughbreds Three Year Old and Upward

One And One Sixteenth Miles -Turf Course

Track: Yielding

Finish Wire:

Royal Quarters led the field through the opening three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.53 as Purplest pressed the leader a head back in second. As the leaders entered the stretch, Capsized moved to the lead, after gradually moving through the pack early on, opening up by a half-length. Royal Quarters started to weaken in second while Purplest also started to tire in third. At the wire, Capsized held on to his half-length advantage holding off One More Round's late charge in second as Al's Dearly Bred rallied belatedly for the show spot.. Capsized is a six-year-old dark bay/brown horse owned by Gold Spur Stable, Quartucci and Stonerside Stable, Ltd., trained by Lisa L. Lewis and was ridden by Jose Santos.

  24.33, 47.46, 1:12.53, 1:37.65, 1:43.87

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Arlington Park

October 26, 2002

Track Attendance: 46,118