Tiznow Wins Breeders' Cup Classic

L O U I S V I L L E, Ky., Nov 4, 2000 -- The Breeders’ Cup Classic was supposed tobe a farewell party for Kentucky Derby hero Fusaichi Pegasus, whowill now stand at stud. But in the end, it looked as if he hadn’t evenbeen invited.

Tiznow was the horse of the moment for jockey Chris McCarron inthe $4.77 million Classic today at Churchill Downs, while FusaichiPegasus was never in contention and finished sixth.

The Classic was the highlight of an eight-race Breeders’ Cup card featuring 106 of the world’s besthorses.

Tiznow led a four-horse parade of 3-year-olds home,finishing a neck ahead of England-based Giant’s Causeway, who was 31/4 lengths in front of Captain Steve. Albert the Great finishedfourth ahead of 4-year-old Lemon Drop Kid. Cat Thief, last year’supset Classic winner, was seventh in the 13-horse field.

“I thought he was as good as a horse could be,” said winningtrainer Jay Robbins.

Macho Uno was numero uno in the Juvenile and faces the jinx ofthis race’s winner—never winning the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus runsfor the final time when he starts in the Classic, the highlight ofan eight-race Breeders’ Cup card featuring 106 of the world’s best horses.

Shocking Opener

The Breeders’ Cup program opened with a shock when trainer D.Wayne Lukas finished 1-2 with Spain and Surfside in the Distaff. Riboletta, the odds-on favorite who had won six straight stakes and was supplemented to the race for $400,000, finished seventh in nine-horse. Last year’s winner, Beautiful Pleasure, finished sixth.

There also was a big upset in the Juvenile Fillies whenCaressing won.

The next three winners were War Chant, who won a four-horseblanket finish in the Mile on the grass; Kona Gold, who wonthe six-furlong Sprint in a sizzling 1:07 3/5; and Perfect Sting.

Tiznow’s Triumph

Tiznow led for the first half mile of the Classic, but was second, a lengthbehind Albert the Great, with a half mile remaining. He was back infront at the quarterpole. Then Giant’s Causeway, making his dirttrack debut with Michael Kinane aboard, looked as if he was goingto pass Tiznow. In fact, he might have stuck his nose in frontnearing the finish, but Tiznow would not be denied.

“He kicked in,” said McCarron, winning his fourth Classic.“If he has enough energy left, you’re not going to get by him.What a fighter.”

A crowd of 76,043 watched Tiznow win in 2:00 3/5 and earn$2,480,400 for his fifth victory in nine starts this year.

Small Redemption

The day wasn’t a complete loss for Fusaichi Pegasus’ trainerNeil Drysdale. He won the Mile with War Chant.

In giving trainer Joe Orseno and jockey Jerry Bailey theirsecond wins on the Breeders’ Cup card, Macho Uno took the lead frompace-setting Arabian Light with about a sixteenth mile left andheld off Point Given for a nose victory at Churchill Downs.

In the previous race, Orseno and Bailey won the Filly & MareTurf with Perfect Sting.

Macho Uno raced the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.

Point Given finished of Street Cry, with Burning Roma fourth inthe 14-horse field. He is trained by Bob Baffert, who saddledArabian (fifth) and Flame Thrower (eighth).

“I don’t have to look any further for my Derby horse,” said Gary Stevens, Point Given’s rider.

Favored A P Valentine finished dead last.

“We brought two good fillies and I thought that they were veryclose,” Lukas said after Spain ($1,227,220) and Surfside($472,000) picked up $1,699,200 from the $2.36 million purse. Itwas Lukas’ fourth Distaff victory and his 16th victory in aBreeders’ Cup race.

‘Power Wasn’t There’

Surfside, ridden by Pat Day, broke on top and led until Spainpassed her on the outside approaching the eighth pole. Spain won by1 1/2 lengths, with Heritage of Gold another 1 1/2 lengths back inthe nine-horse field. The winning time was 1:47 3/5 for the 1 1/8miles.

Asked if he knew it was the other Lukas horse that he passed,winning jockey Victor Espinoza, said, “Yes, but I had to do it. Iwanted to win the race.”

“I’m shocked,” said Chris McCarron, Riboletta’s rider. “I have felt the power under me. That power was not there today.”

“She did exactly what he (trainer David Vance) said she woulddo,” said John Velazquez after riding Caressing to a half-lengthwin over Platinum Tiara. She’s a Devil Due was third in the12-horse Juvenile Fillies field. Favored Raging Fever finishedsixth.

Caressing raced fifth until the turn for home, moved to thirdwith an eighth-mile remaining then stormed into lead to win in 1:424/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Dream Come True

“Neil Drysdale gave me a heck of an opportunity,” Stevens saidafter winning the Mile aboard War Chant. Until last month, Stevenshad not ridden for nine months because of arthritic knees. “I’mecstatic. I’m in shock just being here today. It’s a dream cometrue.”

War Chant got up in the final strides for a neck win over NorthEast Bound, with France-based Dansili third and Affirmed Successfourth in the 14-horse field. The first four finishers wereseparated by a neck and two noses. The winning time was 1:34 3/5.

Kona Gold finally got the job done. He finished third in the1998 Sprint and second in the race last year. The 6-year-oldgelding passed pace-setting Caller One in the deep stretch and thenheld off 4-year-old filly Honest Lady. Bet On Sunshine, an8-year-old gelding, finished third in the 14-horse field.

Jockey Alex Solis got his first Breeders’ Cup victory aboardKona Gold.

Perfect Sting closed to win the 1 3/8 Filly & Mare Turf for athree-quarter-length win over Tout Charmant, with German-basedCatella another three-quarter length back in the 14-horse field.The winner was timed in 2:13.

“With that win today, she should be the champion mare inAmerica this year,” said Bailey, referring to the 4-year-oldPerfect Sting, winner of six starts in 2000.

Spanish Fern, ridden by Victor Espinoza and trained by BobbyFrankel, was pulled up shortly after the start.

Kalanisi, based in England and owned by Aga Khan, charged fromseventh place with a quarter mile left in the 1 1/2-mile turf andedged Quiet Resolve by a nose. John’s Call, a 9-year-old geldingand oldest Breeders’ Cup starter ever, finished another nose back,a head in front of Mutamam in the 13-horse field.

Kalanisi, ridden by John Murtagh, won in 2:26 4/5.