Bayern wins contentious US$5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic
ARCADIA, California (AP) — Bayern won the US$5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by a nose, surviving a stewards’ inquiry prompted by multiple horses bumping near the start of Saturday’s race.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert had to wait, along with a crowd of 61,114 at Santa Anita, to confirm that he had finally won North America’s richest race after failing in 12 previous tries.
“It’s been so long waiting, I was like, ‘Lord, you can’t take it away from me now,'” said Baffert, who has won just about every other big race in the sport, including three Kentucky Derbies. “I couldn’t breathe the last 20 yards.”
Bayern ran 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.88. Toast of New York finished second with Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome was another neck back in third. Shared Belief, the 5-2 favourite was knocked off his game at the start and finished fourth, ending his undefeated streak at seven.
The inquiry involved the first four finishers.
The start of the race was a wild one, with some of the horses in the full field of 14 bouncing into each other like bumper cars at the county fair.
Bayern, with Martin Garcia aboard, came over sharply on Shared Belief out of the starting gate. That forced Shared Belief into Moreno, with Travers winner V E Day getting squeezed. Several strides later, as the horses were scrambling to settle in for the run past the grandstand, UAE Derby winner Toast of New York smacked Whitney winner Moreno.
Out of the chaos, Bayern emerged with the lead, appropriate since he is usually the fastest horse away from the gate.
Bayern’s victory likely denies California Chrome champion three-year-old honours, and places him squarely in the running for Horse of the Year.
