Fort Larned’s victory in Breeders' Cup Classic, the biggest upset of the season
All eyes were glued on the greats like Mucho Macho Man and Game On Dude, as the Grade 1, Breeders' Cup Classic started at Santa Anita on November 4th. Soon after the beginning, the spectators experienced a huge shock. Fort Larned, from nowhere,
led after the first 75 yards.
The experts considered it as just a stroke of luck, and expected the 9-1 chance to give away his advantage. But their predictions proved wrong, as Ian Wilkes’ charge stayed ahead all the way through. By making all, he went two lengths clear over 3½f out.
He was challenged by Mucho Macho Man one and a half furlongs before the wire. It was a serious challenge, but the leader responded gamely in the final stages, and held on well. With the help of an impeccable run, he seized the top rank by half a length,
raising many eyebrows all across the globe.
Mucho Macho Man, who was among the favourites, broke well from a wide draw, and led first 75 yards. But it was Fort Larned’s game afterwards. Right through the contest, Kathy Ritvo’s trainee kept trying to trouble the winner, but remained unsuccessful.
Game On Dude’s defeat was the biggest blow of the evening. Bob Baffert’s charge was carrying the highest odds of 5 to 4. In the hands of R. Bejarano, he kept himself prominent in the middle, but gradually got weakened in the final one and a half furlongs.
On the other hand, Fort Larned’s camp was more than pleased. Jockey, Brian Hernandez said in the post-race press conference: “When he left the gate he knew it was business time. We let him get in his groove and going into the second turn what made him a
winner was that he was able to spurt away from that other horse and then held him off gamely down the lane."
"When you got a horse that keeps getting better and better every time you take him over there, it makes my job easier," said trainer Ian Wilkes. "Every time this horse has went to the gate he's brought his A race for us."
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