2008 Breeders' Cup

Thoroughbred horse racing event The 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 25th edition of the premier event of the North American Thoroughbred horse racing year. It took place on October 24 and 25 during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The 2008 Breeders' Cup results were influential in the Eclipse Award divisional championship voting. The Friday racecard featured five Breeders' Cup races for fillies and mares, culminating in Zenyatta's win in the Ladies Classic. On Saturday, the European contingent won five races, capped by an upset by English-based Raven's Pass over heavy favorite Curlin in the Classic. Lead-up Santa Anita racetrack hosted the Breeders' Cup for the fourth time in 2008. It was the first time that the event had been held on a synthetic dirt surface instead of natural dirt, as Santa Anita had changed to a Pro Ride surface in 2007 in response to a state mandate aimed at increasing the safety of the sport for both horses and jockeys. The change was of concern to both horsemen and bettors as it was difficult to predict which horses would respond well to the new surface and which would struggle. However, the change was expected to increase interest from European trainers, many of whom had access to similar all weather tracks.Norwood Robyn Breeders' Cup returning to Santa Anita in 2008 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-apr-20-sp-horse20-story.html Los Angeles Times 31 October 2016 20 April 20072008 Breeders' Cup - All-Ways Newsletter http://www.brisnet.com/library/software/allnews/oct08brs.pdf brisnet.com 31 October 2016 For the second year in a row, three races were added to the Breeders' Cup roster, bringing the total up to 14. In 2007, the Dirt Mile, Juvenile Turf and Filly & Mare Sprint had been added while in 2008, the Marathon, Juvenile Fillies Turf and Turf Sprint were added. The new races were intended to help fill out the Friday card and increase the range of options available to horsemen, particularly those from overseas. By rule, the new races could not be graded until their third renewal.Stewart Larry Breeders' Cup to add three races https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-10-sp-breeders10-story.html Los Angeles Times 31 October 2016 10 December 2007 Breeders' Cup officials decided to rearrange the racecards so that all five races for fillies and mares were held on Friday. "By shifting some of our traditional Saturday races to Friday, we ensure that Friday stands on its own as an international competition of the highest level", said Breeders Cup President and CEO Greg Avioli. "This new format provides a great stage to showcase the talents of the best female Thoroughbreds in the world."Fillies and mares take center stage on Breeders' Cup Friday - Handicappers' Edge http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=10656 www.brisnet.com 31 October 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161031153939/http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=10656 31 October 2016 dead They also renamed the Distaff as the Ladies' Classic and instituted a ban on steroids.Harris Beth Curlin to face full field of 14 in BC Classic http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2008-10-16-1591523175_x.htm usatoday30.usatoday.com 31 October 2016 Because of the synthetic dirt surface, some horsemen from the East Coast hesitated to attend the event. In particular, Curlin, the defending Horse of the Year and winner of the 2007 Classic, did not commit to entering until after a strong workout at Santa Anita 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 31 October 2016 In part because of the three new races, a record 180 horses were pre-entered, including a record 35 from Europe. The Friday races were broadcast on ESPN2. The Saturday card was broadcast on ESPN and ABC.Beyer Andrew Filly Zenyatta Sweeps Past All Comers https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/24/AR2008102403641.html The Washington Post 31 October 2016 25 October 2008 Attendance was up slightly compared to 2007, with the excellent weather being credited. The two-day handle also increased by 5.5% to $155.5 million. However, attendance on Saturday was lower than on previous renewals held at Santa Anita, with high ticket prices cited as the major cause. The Saturday on-track handle was also the lowest since 1999, which was not unexpected given the 2008 economic downturn.Measuring Breeders' Cup Success http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/measuring-breeders-cup-success/ www.paulickreport.com 31 October 2016 Results 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic The highlight of the Friday card was Zenyatta's dominant win in the Ladies Classic. The four-year-old filly came into the race undefeated but was facing the best field of her career, with four Grade I winning fillies shipping in from New York alone. Zenyatta broke last and continued to trail the field for the first 3 4 of a mile before beginning her drive on the far turn. She quickly made up ground while circling wide and swept to the lead down the stretch, winning comfortably by 1 1 2 lengths. She received a standing ovation from the crowd on returning to the winner's circle.Wood Greg The Breeders' Cup - as it happened https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/oct/24/breeders-cup The Guardian 31 October 2016 24 October 2008 Ventura was also a stand-out winner in the Filly & Mare Sprint, winning by the largest margin of the day while finishing just 0.01 second behind the track record. Stardom Bound won the Juvenile Fillies impressively while Maram just held off Heart Shaped by a nose in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. In the Classic, the favorite was Curlin, who raced near the back of the field then made his move on the turn, striking the lead at the top of the stretch. Raven's Pass and Henrythenavigator, outstanding milers from Europe, accelerated past Curlin and finished first and second respectively. Tiago closed late to finish third.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 1 November 2016 25 October 2008 In the Turf, Conduit was the second favorite because of his earlier win in the St Leger. Jockey Ryan Moore placed Conduit in the middle of the pack, then released him in the stretch where he out-kicked the others. It was Moore's first win at the Breeders' Cup but he was not available for comment after the race. "He's rushing off to the airport as he has to ride in France tomorrow," explained Conduit's trainer Sir Michael Stoute. "He's a big talent with a great racing brain and you'll be hearing a lot more of him."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 1 November 2016 25 October 2008 Other highlights included the French filly Goldikova taking on male horses and winning in the Mile. Her trainer Freddie Head compared her favorably to champion Miesque, who he had ridden to victory in the Mile in 1987 and 1988. Midnight Lute won the Sprint for the second year in a row, which also gave Garrett Gomez his third win of the day and fourth over the two days – a record. Midshipman won the Juvenile to establish himself as the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby. All told, European-based horses won a record five races at the Breeders' Cup: Raven's Pass in the Classic, Goldikova in the Mile, Donativum in the Juvenile Turf, Muhannak in the Marathon and Conduit in the Turf. Although this was partially credited to the artificial dirt surface, because of the increase in the number of races, it was proportional to their previous highs of three wins out of seven races in 1993 at Santa Anita and three wins in eight races in 2001 at Belmont, where they also finished second in the Classic.Wood Greg Europe has so much more to celebrate than five Cup wins https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/oct/27/horseracing1 The Guardian 1 November 2016 26 October 2008 In the 2008 Eclipse Award voting, five of the eleven flat racing categories were awarded to horses who won at the Breeders' Cup: Stardom Bound (Champion Two-Year-Old Female), Midshipman (Champion Two-Year-Old Male), Zenyatta (Champion Older Female), Conduit (Champion Male Turf Horse) and Forever Together (Champion Female Turf Horse). In addition, Curlin was voted Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male despite his fourth-place finish in the Classic.2008 Eclipse Award Winners http://www1.drf.com/newsletter/eclpastperformances.pdf drf.com 2 November 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20170305002949/http://www1.drf.com/newsletter/eclpastperformances.pdf 5 March 2017 dead Female Championship Friday The attendance was 31,257Breeders' Cup reports Friday attendance of 40,677 Tom Law Thoroughbred Times November 4, 2011 November 5, 2011 http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/11/04/breeders-cup-reports-friday-attendance-of-40677.aspx November 6, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111106231152/http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/11/04/breeders-cup-reports-friday-attendance-of-40677.aspx dead Race name Sponsor Distance Restrictions Purse Winner Odds Margin Filly & Mare SprintSentient Flight7 furlongsFillies & Mares$1 millionVentura2.804 lengthsJuvenile Fillies TurfGrey Goose1 mile – turf2-year-old fillies$1 millionMaram11.10NoseJuvenile FilliesBessemer Trust1 1/16 miles2-year-old fillies$2 millionStardom Bound1.601 1 2 lengthsFilly & Mare TurfEmirates1 1 4 miles3yrs+ fillies & mares$2 millionForever Together4.901 3 4 lengthsLadies' Classic1 1 8 miles3yrs+ fillies & mares$2 millionZenyatta0.501 1 2 lengths Source: EquibaseCharts for Breeders' Cup 2008 - Friday card http://www.equibase.com/premium/chartEmb.cfm?track=OSA&raceDate=10/24/08&cy=USA equibase.com 31 October 2016 Saturday: Day 2 Race name Sponsor Distance Restrictions Purse Winner Odds Margin Marathon1 1 2 miles3 yrs+$500,000Muhannak (IRE)12.40HeadTurf Sprintab. 6 1 2 furlongs – turf3 yrs+$1 millionDesert Code36.501 2 lengthDirt MileTVG Network1 mile3 yrs+$1 millionAlbertus Maximus6.301 1 4 lengthsMile1 mile – turf3 yrs+$2 millionGoldikova1.801 1 4 lengthsJuvenileBessemer Trust1 1/16 miles 2-year-old colts & geldings$2 millionMidshipman3.601 1 4 lengthsJuvenile TurfGrey Goose1 mile – turf2-year-old colts & geldings$1 millionDonativum5.801 1 2 lengthsSprintSentient Flight6 furlongs 3 yrs+$2 millionMidnight Lute2.701 3 4 lengthsTurfEmirates1 1 2 miles – turf3 yrs+$3 millionConduit5.801 1 2 lengthsClassic1 1 4 miles3 yrs+$5 millionRaven's Pass13.501 3 4 lengths Source: EquibaseCharts for Breeders' Cup 2008 - Saturday card http://www.equibase.com/premium/chartEmb.cfm?track=OSA&raceDate=10/25/08&cy=USA equibase.com 31 October 2016 References Breeders' Cup Category:Breeders' Cup Breeders' Cup Category:Santa Anita Park