Patience paid off for Juddmonte, Bill Mott and Irad Ortiz Jr., as the light race Elite power burst into the house to win the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) in 1/4 time on his first try at tier 1 company.
Favorite Odds-on Jackie’s Warrior never accelerated in time and finished a third even in the beginning of his last career.
Elite Power broke through strongly but was still held by Ortiz. Jackie’s Warrior won’t easily take the lead with a long shot Super Ocho . As Super Ocho sped through fractions: 22.12 and: 44.99, Jackie’s Warrior and Joel Rosario stalked from the outside, very clear compared to the rest of the field. Elite Power, meanwhile, gradually improves its position while three wide at turns.
“I let him sit and he relaxed well,” Ortiz said. “There was a strong pace in front of me. I skipped my time and then, in the first leg, I split the horse in and went clear. He deserves all the credit. “
Rosario has kept Jackie’s Warriors clear – his primary concern is keeping the champion out of trouble. But when asked for more, it wasn’t there, or at least not in the way Rosario had felt in the past.
“He did everything that I asked him to do,” Rosario said. “That horse (Super Ocho) took the lead and I sat right away from him. It ran its race.”
Instead, those looking for Jackie’s Warrior to blow away by Super Ocho were attracted by a large white flame that was shooting down his exterior. Ortiz was able to cut the corner into a large hole at the 1/4 pole that somehow no one else could confirm.
“When I took him out, he was there for me,” Ortiz said. “He kept going forward. He gave me a very good kick from the pole to the rope.”
By the time Jackie’s Warrior briefly took a lead near the eighth pole, it was clear that the Essence Power would take him down, which happened inside the sixteenth pole. Missile CZ placed second in this race the last time it was in Keeneland two years ago, made a bid from the rails at the same time Jackie’s Warrior did and also briefly attacked the front.
“I thought for a second that we were going to win it, just for a second; then I saw (Elite Power) coming,” said CZ Rocket coach Peter Miller. “I knew we were overpowered by those in front of us, but (The Power of Essence) ran super fast and knocked us out.”
Ortiz rode the Elite Power for the first time, and Mott warned him about the pony’s tendency to wait when he took the lead.
“I think you might know, Irad took him away from everyone and brought him down the middle of the track,” Mott said. “And he ran well.”
Elite Power finished six extra runs in 1:09.11, the slowest of the three laps of this race at Keeneland and the slowest Breeders’ Cup Sprint in over 10 years (Amazombie, 1:09.17, Churchill Downs, 2011). Timing doesn’t matter that much when you win a Breeders’ Cup race with a stacked field of tier 1 winners led by a champion like Jackie’s Warrior.
(LR): Bill Mott, Sheikh Fahad bin Abdullah Al-Thani, Garrett O’Rourke, and the winners enjoy the title presentation for Breeders’ Cup Sprint
It was the second Breeders’ Cup win of the day for Mott, who had also scored previously with Cody’s Wish in the Breeders’ Big Ass Fan Cup (G1), and his 12th career win at the World Championship.
Juddmonte has won eight Breeders’ Cup races. Because most of their top runners are crossbreeds, it’s remarkable that they shell out the top dollar for a horse at auction, as they did with the Arrogate ($560,000 dollars) and now Elite Power, a $900,000 purchase is expected at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2019.
“Back when Prince Khalid was with us, he wanted to start buying some horses at the sale,” said Juddmonte general manager Garrett O’Rourke of the late owner of Juddmonte. “Obviously we got off to a good start with Arrogate and followed by horses like this guy, just a nice horse from the start.”
Via Curlin get out The proof mare Broadway’s Alibi, Elite Power never started as a 2 year old and finished the board on two occasions starting at 3 years old before he put everything together.
“He had a baby problem,” Mott said. “And we didn’t get him until he was 3 years old. But he has the typical things like shins that many horses have. And just wait for him to get it right.”
Bill Mott Won Two Breeders ‘Cup Races On Saturday Cards
O’Rourke added: “He’s a high-energy horse that always seems to manage to get himself in trouble. We went through his whole 2-year-old, never making him leave. ranch. Much credit goes to Scott Walker and his team in our training stock, who have been endlessly patient with him. He’s a tough horse to handle.”
Mott announced, jokingly but optimistic that Elite Power will return next year, while O’Rourke offered a more diplomatic word, “Our CEO and family need to have a strong voice. .”
The winner pays $13.10 as the third choice in the bet.
For fan favorite, as well as betting favorite Jackie’s Warrior, here is another disappointing Breeders’ Cup, making it difficult for the third year in a row.
Coach Steve Asmussen said: “It’s amazing that a horse as great as it has never won a Breeders’ Cup race. “He’s a very special horse – physically, mentally and in his ability. It’s a disappointment. I’m happy with his position (during the race). could do it again, obviously, I didn’t hang out where he did. I don’t like the result, but congrats to the winner.”
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