An epic tempo meltdown produced the largest upset of Breeders’ Cup weekend Nov. 6, as Japan-based Marche Lorraine held off Dunbar Road by the slightest of noses to win the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
It was the second win on the day for Japan-bred and Japan-based horses, just three races after Loves Only You became the first Japanese-based horse ever to win a Breeders’ Cup event in the Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1T). Both are trained by conditioner Yoshito Yahagi.
U. Carrot Farm’s Marche Lorraine paid $101.80 for a $2 win wager, the second-largest mutuel in Distaff historical past behind the $113.80 that Spain paid in 2000.
Followers comply with the end of Marche Lorraine within the Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Japan has turn out to be more and more formidable and aggressive within the greatest worldwide occasions. Deirdre’s shock win within the 2019 Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1) at Goodwood was a popping out occasion of kinds, the nation’s first group 1 in 19 years. That set off a brand new wave of curiosity in transport for the game’s greatest prizes, such because the Dubai World Cup Carnival, the place Loves Solely You was an in depth third within the $5 million Longines Dubai Sheema Basic (G1) in March. The nation has lengthy focused the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), with Triple Crown winners Deep Influence in 2006 and Orfevre , sire of Marche Lorraine, in 2012 being the biggest chances that came up short.
At the moment’s two-bagger for Japan goes down because the nation’s best day in opposition to one of the best from throughout the globe. British champion jockey Oisin Murphy rode Marche Lorraine and in addition rode Deirdre to her Nassau win. He grew to become a booster of Japanese horses after using there for 2 winters in 2018 and 2019.
“I did not know a complete lot about Marche Lorraine,” admitted Murphy, who secured his first Breeders’ Cup win. “I journey rather a lot for Mr. Yahagi in Japan and a good bit abroad. I’ve ridden for him in Dubai and Hong Kong. And he would not journey except they’ve an opportunity.”
Marche Lorraine with Oisin Murphy earlier than the Distaff
Marche Lorraine had gained thrice in 2021 however with out leaving her dwelling nation. She gained the $477,000 Breeders’ Gold Cup by a half-length at Mombetsu in August to go along with two different wealthy stakes, the $556,000 Empress Hai and the $360,000 TCK JO O Hai. Whether or not that type would translate to America’s most vital race for older females was anybody’s guess, and most bettors guessed unsuitable.
“I attempted to disregard her odds and simply give her each likelihood within the run and hopefully she might end off,” Murphy stated. “And to be trustworthy, we had been clearly a hostage to fortune. I sat out the again, they usually went fairly fast. We would have liked them to do this, however it was an excellent efficiency.”
The preponderance of pace within the race resulted in an unattainable scenario for the early leaders. Non-public Mission ran the opening quarter-mile in :21.84, eliciting an audible, collective gasp from the Del Mar crowd. A second, even louder refrain of gasps and guffaws adopted when the half-mile time of :44.97 flashed on the tote board.
Favored Letruska , a Horse of the Year candidate off four grade 1 wins this season, raced in second through the backstretch run but keeping up with Private Mission was never going to end well.
“They went too fast,” jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said. “They didn’t want her to be on the lead. They went after her. She wants to run and I tried to slow her down as much as possible, but it didn’t work out.”
Trainer Fausto Gutierrez concurred: “When it’s :21 and :44, it’s very difficult. It’s impossible to run with these fractions.”
Private Mission held on through three-quarters in 1:09.70 Around the three-eighths pole Private Mission backed out first but when Letruska assumed the lead it was already clear her hopes had also been cooked. Those two would finish last (Private Mission, 11th) and second-last (Letruska, 10th).
At the top of the stretch, the race was wide open, with the more patient runners closing from every direction. Marche Lorraine had intentionally settled behind Dunbar Road early on.
“Jose Ortiz (jockey of Dunbar Road) is someone I look up to, and he knows the dirt a lot better than I do,” Murphy said. “He wasn’t going and I thought, well, best probably to follow him, and I just took my time behind him. I tried to be up close to him as possible to get less kickback, and she traveled nicely. And maybe I moved a little bit too early. I thought if I didn’t move early, I would get pushed wide around the turn and I had a choice to make whether to go wide or make a move.”
Marche Lorraine surged to the lead past the three-eighths pole but would have to hold off a slew of challengers, including 2021 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Malathaat coming from eighth and Cotillion Stakes (G1) winner Clairiere from last.
Marche Lorraine heads into the winner’s circle
Dunbar Road could have gotten the win if not for a tough trip under Ortiz. She got shuffled back trying to find her way through the chaos on the far turn and bumped with Malathaat straightening into the lane. Malathaat and Dunbar Road matched strides to the wire, and the photo was too close to call both live and on slow-motion replays.
“It’s probably the toughest loss I’ve ever had,” trainer Chad Brown said after. “It’s just a shame because it’s two years in a row where she really should have won the Distaff. She got a bad trip last time too. No one can convince me otherwise. She had some trouble down the backside, and she ended up on the inside where I really didn’t want her. The track is better outside. It just happened that way. Jose did the best he could, and she gave a valiant effort. I’m really proud of her. It’s a shame her career ended this way. I thought she was a deserving winner of this race.”
Malathaat was attempting to cap off a year that already included grade 1 wins in the Kentucky Oaks and the Alabama (G1). Malathaat’s trainer Todd Pletcher had decided to train up to the Distaff from the Alabama, a 77-day gap between starts.
“We got a great pace setup,” said Pletcher of Malathaat’s third-place finish, a half-length behind the win photo. “She was getting a smooth trip. At the top of the stretch, she kind of got squeezed in between horses and had to fight her way through and looked like she was just a little intimidated and kind of cocked her head a little bit. Once she got clear she was closing back again and gaining ground. It was a huge effort. I’m very proud of her. I just hate to ever see her lose. She’s a superstar and she lost nothing in defeat.”
Clairiere raced wide while trailing around both turns, including a seven-wide run into the stretch that didn’t help her cause.
“It’s about three-quarters of a length from where we wanted to be,” said Steve Asmussen, trainer of Clairiere. “She was farther back than I was hoping early, but Ricardo (Santana Jr.) said she wasn’t running into this dirt right away. When he got her out, she made a good run. It looked like she got fanned out in the stretch.”
The race had been up for grabs in the final quarter-mile, but the day belonged to Japan and to Marche Lorraine’s 400 shareholders.
Yoshito Yahagi after winning the Distaff
Video: Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1)
