2008 Breeders' Cup Classic

Thoroughbred horse race Synthetic dirt 25th Breeders' Cup Classic Breeders' Cup Classic Santa Anita Park 2008 10 25 Raven's Pass Frankie Dettori John Gosden Princess Haya of Jordan and Darley Stable FastChart of the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic http://www.equibase.com/premium/chartEmb.cfm?track=OSA&raceDate=10/25/2008&cy=USA&rn=9 Equibase 29 October 2016 51,331Drape Joe Raven's Pass Leaves Curlin Behind in the Breeders' Cup Classic https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/sports/othersports/26racing.html The New York Times 30 October 2016 25 October 2008 2007 2009 The 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic was the 25th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, part of the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships program. It was run on October 25, 2008, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California over a synthetic dirt surface. Defending Horse of the Year Curlin was the odds-on favourite after winning several major races including the Dubai World Cup. However, he did not handle the track well and finished fourth, behind the American-bred but English-trained longshot Raven's Pass. The Classic is run at a distance of one mile and one-quarter (approximately 2000 m) with a purse of $5,000,000. It is normally run on a dirt surface but in 2008 was run over synthetic dirt. It is run under weight-for-age conditions, with entrants carrying the following weights: Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds: 122 lb Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds: 117 lb Four-year-olds and up: 126 lb Contenders Curlin won the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic on his way to Horse of the Year honors and started his 2008 campaign by taking the Dubai World Cup, followed by wins in Stephen Foster, Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup. His only loss in 2008 came in his first attempt on the turf in the Man o' War Stakes, at a time when his owner was considering an attempt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Despite his excellent form throughout the year, Curlin had never raced on a synthetic dirt surface and was only entered in the race after a successful workout on October 14.Privman Jay Curlin to run in Breeders' Cup Classic http://www.drf.com/news/curlin-run-breeders-cup-classic Daily Racing Form 30 October 2016 The field for the Classic was weakened when Big Brown, winner of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Haskell, was retired shortly before entries were taken due to injury. That left Colonel John, winner of the Santa Anita Derby, as the leading three-year-old contender from North America in the race. In part because of the synthetic dirt surface, a large European contingent shipped to California for the Breeders' Cup events, including three entries in the Classic. With five Group I wins, Duke of Marmalade was the most highly regarded by the North American bettors at odds of 9-1, followed by Raven's Pass at 13-1. Henrythenavigator had defeated Raven's Pass in three of their four meetings, all at a mile, but was largely dismissed at 19-1 in the U.S. In England though, his odds were as short as 4-1.Curlin to face full field of 14 in BC Classic - USATODAY.com http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2008-10-16-1591523175_x.htm usatoday30.usatoday.com 30 October 2016Farley Dan Henry cut for Classic after Big Brown retires Racing Post http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/henrythenavigator-henry-cut-for-classic-after-big-brown-retires/27769/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews https://web.archive.org/web/20161030140742/http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/henrythenavigator-henry-cut-for-classic-after-big-brown-retires/27769/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews dead 30 October 2016 30 October 2016 Raven's Pass had been regularly ridden by Jimmy Fortune in his European races but Fortune gave up the mount for the Breeders' Cup after incurring a suspension which prevented him riding for 11 days before the race. After discussing the ride with trainer Gosden, Fortune stepped down and Frankie Dettori took over.Fortune foregoes Breeder's Cup duty http://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/uk/2008/1018/239751-ravenspass/ rte.ie 30 October 2016 Race Description Casino Drive set the early pace, with Curlin racing near the back of the pack behind Henrythenavigator and Raven's Pass tracking a few lengths further behind. Going into the final turn, the three started making up ground, with Henrythenavigator on the inside and Raven's Pass racing wide on the outside. Curlin kicked as they turned into the stretch and passed the early leaders with a furlong to go. Raven's Pass then made his run and accelerated by Curlin. Henrythenavigator maneuvered around horses to find racing room and closed well to finish second, beaten by 3 4 of a length. Tiago also made a late run to finish third with Curlin holding on for fourth. The time was 1:59.27, a new track record. Curlin's trainer Steve Asmussen blamed the loss on the synthetic dirt surface, saying "It was a turf race." The biggest mystery was why Curlin, a horse of proven stamina, faded late, while two European horses who specialized at a distance of a mile were able to outrun him in the stretch. Curlin may have made his move too soon, as the track appeared to favor horses who made late runs.Beyer Andrew Raven's Pass Upsets Curlin in Breeders' Cup Horse Race https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/25/AR2008102502198.html The Washington Post 30 October 2016 26 October 2008Pedulla Tom Raven's Pass wins Breeders' Cup Classic in upset - USATODAY.com http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/horses/breeders/2008-10-25-breeders-cup_N.htm usatoday30.usatoday.com 30 October 2016 Frankie Dettori, the jockey of Raven's Pass, was commended for an excellent ride.Witz Billy Raven's Pass Stuns Curlin in Breeders' Cup Classic https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/sports/othersports/26undercard.html The New York Times 30 October 2016 25 October 2008 "The last furlong was a pretty long run," he said, "but I could feel [Raven's Pass] was still galloping strongly. When I crossed the line, I didn't know if it was true or a dream, but I realised straight away that it was true and I'm delighted."Wood Greg Breeders' Cup: day two - as it happened https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2008/oct/25/breeders-cup-racing-horse-blog The Guardian 30 October 2016 25 October 2008 Raven's Pass became the first British-based horse to win the Classic, although it was something of a homecoming for his trainer John Gosden, who had spent 11 years in Southern California before returning to England. "It doesn't get any better than this", he said. "All our great friends are here, from the guys that are raking up in the shed areas to the owners, trainers, and jockeys. If you think it's going to get better than that, you're really a greedy so-and-so. To me, this is a dream come true and a day I'll cherish the rest of my life."Haskin Steve Classic Recap: Pass the Torch http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/151489/classic-recap-pass-the-torch BloodHorse.com 30 October 2016 "I had no doubts that the horse could get a mile and an eighth", he said later. "I didn't know about the last eighth of a mile, but I suspected it with Lord at War as his broodmare sire. There is good stamina on the dam side. And the way he trained – he's so relaxed now – that I was actually quite confident that he would get it well and he certainly did."Sunday Notes: Trainer's Comments http://www.bloodhorse.com/pdf/BCSunday_TrainersNotes.pdf BloodHorse.com 30 October 2016 Results FinishProgramNumberMargin(lengths)HorseJockeyTrainerFinal OddsWinnings1st 8 1 3 4 Raven's PassFrankie DettoriJohn Gosden13.502,700,000 2nd 5 3 4 Henrythenavigator John R. Velazquez Aidan O'Brien 19.00 1,000,000 3rd 3 Neck Tiago Mike E. Smith John Shirreffs 15.20 500,000 4th 9 1 3 4 Curlin Robby Albarado Steve Asmussen 0.90 255,000 5th 1 1 2 Go Between Garrett Gomez William I. Mott 8.00 125,000 6th 11 Neck Colonel John Edgar Prado Eoin Hary 10.30 7th 6 Nose Smooth Air Rafael Bejarano Bennie Stutts Jr. 49.50 8th 12 3 4 Champs Elysees (GB) Alan Garcia Robert J. Frankel 23.20 9th 4 7 Duke of Marmalade (IRE) Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien 9.50 10th 10 1 3 4 Fairbanks Richard Migliore Todd Pletcher 40.10 11th 7 6 1 4 Student Council Shaun Bridgmohan Steven Asmussen 44.10 12th 2 Casino Drive Victor Espinoza Yamamoto Hidetoshi 9.90 Source: Equibase Times: 1 4 – 0:23.77; 1 2 – 0:47.60; 3 4 – 1:11.64; mile – 1:35.48; final – 1:59.27. Fractional Splits: (:23.77) (:23.83) (:24.04) (:23.84) (:23.79) Payout Payout Schedule: ProgramNumberHorseWinPlaceShow8Raven's Pass29.0015.808.005Henrythenavigator22.0011.203Tiago7.00 $1 Exacta (8-5) Paid $159.50 $1 Trifecta (8-5-3) Paid $2,395.00 $1 Superfecta (8-5-3-9) Paid $10,236.00 References 30em Category:Breeders' Cup Classic Breeders' Cup Classic Breeders' Cup Classic Breeders' Cup Classic, 2008