Structor wins the Juvenile Turf

Latest news, reports, replays and reaction from the 2019 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita

By Matt Brocklebank

Horse Racing

Sat November 02, 2019 · 5y ago

The European challengers drew a blank on Future Stars Friday at the Breeders' Cup - Matt Brocklebank rounds up the action from Santa Anita.

2019 Breeders' Cup: Future Stars Friday

Juvenile Turf Sprint - FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (5/2)
Juvenile Turf - STRUCTOR (11/2)
Juvenile Fillies - BRITISH IDIOM (11/4)
Juvenile Fillies Turf - SHARING (16/1)
TVG Juvenile - STORM THE COURT (50/1)

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Brown opens account through Structor

American racing's turf king Chad Brown put down an early marker as Structor won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf under Jose Ortiz.

The 11/2 shot took his unbeaten record to three as he gave New York-based handler Brown his first win in the million dollar event with a three-quarter length success.

Aidan O'Brien's Dewhurst Stakes runner-up Arizona went off the market leader in the hands of Ryan Moore but had to sit near the rear of the field through the early stages and only got going too late in the day down the wide outside.

He was best of the European challengers back in fifth, with outsiders Billy Batts and Gear Jockey (both 66/1) second and third respectively.

O'Brien said: "He was a little bit slow (from the stalls) and Ryan had to accept it, but he came home very well in the straight.

"A (good) draw is a big help here, none of mine today got lucky with that, although Fleeting and Anthony Van Dyck are drawn well (on Saturday).

"Arizona is definitely a Guineas horse for next year and he finished his race well. Half the trouble is that we teach our horses to settle and relax, but we are playing away here and they do just the opposite. But we'll take it as it comes."

The winner did very well to pick up and win from a worse than mid-pack position on the rail rounding the final bend.

His trainer said: "I could see he (Jose Ortiz) had so much horse turning for home, I was just hoping he would get through and he did."

Sharing takes it all for Motion

Daahyeh and Albigna had to settle for second and fourth place respectively behind Sharing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Trained by Roger Varian, Daahyeh lost little in defeat under William Buick, with a similar comment applying to Prix Marcel Boussac winner Albigna, who was ridden by Shane Foley.

Jessica Harrington's filly had to charge late from the rear, but it was all in vain as Sharing and the principals had flown.

Varian said: "I'm very proud of this filly, although second is always a funny feeling. I just wish they had gone quicker, then she would have been able to slide into a better position.

"Our filly took a few strides to get going, which made all the difference as the winner had already quickened away and she never really looked like pegging that one back.

"I think that she just lost a length and a half coming round the bend, when the tempo was always on the rise and she was learning to corner."

Sharing is trained by Cambridge-born Graham Motion, who said: "What a special filly, I felt good about her today. These races aren't easy to win, so it's pretty special."

Ward ace sprints to victory

Four Wheel Drive made every post a winning one in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

One of three runners in the opening race of the Breeders' Cup programme, the son of American Pharoah blitzed his rivals in the hands of Irad Ortiz Jr.

A fast start from stall nine put the heavily-backed 5/2 favourite in the box seat and there was very little doubt from halfway that he had the rest of the field in trouble.

Chimney Rock briefly threatened in the short straight but the winner had too many guns and pulled out more to score a shade cosily.

Another Miracle edged third in a photo from the fast-finishing filly Kimari, a stable companion of the winner.

The Tom Dascombe-trained filly Dr Simpson fared best of the European challengers in fifth under Richard Kingscote.

Ward said: "Chimney Rock was coming right after us and I knew he'd be tough. It's really special, it's a great feeling."

He added: "He's a very talented colt, he's done nothing wrong so far - he's three for three and he's got a big future next year as a three-year-old.

"We're all really excited about him. To get it done like this on a big stage in the Breeders' Cup with a colt from the first crop of American Pharoah is just unbelievable.

"It's well known that I try to go to Royal Ascot and this colt would certainly be one of the favourites next year to do that as we sit here today."

Dettori said of A'Ali who could never get into the thick of the action: "(Stall) Ten was a killer for us and you can't fix the draw - it is what it is. I could never really get him into a competitive spot."

Kingscote said of Dr Simpson: "She ran an absolute blinder, in a race where we knew they going to go like lightning. She stayed on well in the stretch and I'm proud we managed to be the first home of the European runners."

Jamie Spencer said of Archie Watson's Band Practice: "The ground was too firm, it's as simple as that."

Major shock in dirt feature

The 50/1 outsider Storm The Court won the TVG Juvenile for trainer Peter Eurton and jockey Flavien Prat.

There was drama at the start when the red-hot favourite Dennis’ Moment almost came down having stumbled on exiting the stalls, while his main market rival Eight Rings appeared to be moving well at halfway before eventually fading right out of it.

That left Storm The Court to grind out victory from two other unfancied runners in Anneau D’Or (25/1) and Wrecking Crew (35/1).

Eurton was interviewed on NBC by daughter Britney and said: "On the lead he never seems to give up – to fight back like that, I don't know if I can find the words.

"To do it at home in front of all my friends and family is amazing. We're going to have some fun tonight and I thought we had a chance when he was getting that bit of an easy lead.

"Eight Rings just laid off him enough to give him that extra punch down the lane. It's crazy. I don't know what to say and I'd just like to thank everybody."

British success in Juvenile Fillies...

British Idiom (11/4) won a gruelling battle for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Brad Cox's filly tackled the strong-travelling Donna Veloce - representing local trainer Simon Callaghan - after the latter had moved smoothly to the front turning for home and eventually wore down the brave runner-up.

Bob Baffert's Bast (4/1) was back in third.

Cox said: "She's very mature and I've liked everything she's done since she started her career. She was a little bit off the pace and had a lot of dirt in the face, but she got it done. I'm very proud of her.

"I think I'm blowing harder than she is. That was an intense stretch duel and I'm glad we came out on top – she's an amazing filly."