Bayern narrowly won the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic Saturday, edging out Toast of New York, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome, the previously undefeated Shared Belief and 10 other horses take the two-day Breeders’ Cup’s marquee event.
The 3-year-old colt won by a nose over Toast of New York and by less than a length over Los Alamitos-based California Chrome at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia.
Northern California-based Shared Belief — the pre-race favorite unbeaten in seven races prior to the Classic — finished 3 1/2 lengths behind in fourth place.
Bayern led wire-to-wire, winning the 1 1/4-mile race in 1:59:88 and surviving a steward’s inquiry involving the start of the race.
Bayern paid $14.20 to win, $8 to place and $5.20 to show.
Despite facing older horses, 3-year-olds took the top six spots in this year’s contest, with Belmont winner Tonalist and Candy Boy rounding out the list.
The best performance by an older horse in the field was the lightly raced 5-year-old Cigar Street, who finished seventh.
“The 3-year-olds were just standouts this year,” Bayern trainer Bob Baffert said.
It was the first Classic win for Baffert, a Hall of Fame trainer.
“I loved everything that was going down,” Baffert said. “I said, ‘This has been so long waiting, please Lord, you can’t take it away from me now.’ I don’t think I was breathing the last 20 yards of this race.
“This horse, he’s just brilliant and he showed it today,” Baffert said. “This field was just unbelievable.”
The race was considered by many to be an important factor in determining Horse of the Year, following a recent injury to two-time Horse of the Year, Wise Dan.
The second day of the Breeders’ Cup featured nine races and drew more than 61,000 people, bringing the weekend attendance total to almost 100,000.
Other Saturday winners included:
–Take Charge Brandy, a 61-1 longshot that won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies race for 79-year-old training legend D. Wayne Lukas, the oldest winning trainer in Breeders’ Cup history.
–Dayatthespa, winner of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf race.
–Bobby’s Kitten, who won the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
–Judy the Beauty, first in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
–Main Sequence, winner of the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf race.
–Work All Week, tops in the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
–Karakontie, who won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile as a 30-1 shot.
–Texas Red, top finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
— City News Service