The closing stakes on the opening Breeders’ Cup card Nov. 2, the $150,000 Twilight Derby (gr. IIT), went to the Irish-bred Grandeur on the grass at Santa Anita Park.
The winner, a 3-year-old son of Verglas out of the Desert Sun mare Misskinta, went off at 5-1 despite being the 5-2 second choice on the morning line (VIDEO). Grandeur completed the 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds in a time of 1:46.78 over firm ground.
After stumbling from the gate, Grandeur angled to the inside and settled in last in the nine-horse field. Grandeur came from between rivals to top 5-2 favorite and fellow Irish-bred Speaking of Which by a half-length. It was another one length back to Smart Ellis in third.
Trained by Jeremy Noseda, Grandeur was ridden by English rider William Buick in the Twilight Derby, previously run as the Oak Tree Derby.
Grandeur, bred by Mrs. Cherry Faeste and owned by Yvonne Jacques, paid $12.60, $6, and $3.60. Speaking of Which returned $4.40 and $3.40, while Smart Ellis paid $4.20. The $1 7-2 exacta paid $17.80.
All Squared Away finished fourth and was followed by My Best Brother, Power Foot, Old Time Hockey, Huntsville, and Hoist.
Grandeur, a sophomore gelding won for the fifth time in 10 starts. He made his U. S. debut off a win, under Buick, in the Dubai Duty Free Conditions Stakes at Newbury Sept. 21 as the 3-2 favorite. In two stakes appearances he had one placing, a third-place effort Aug. 25 in the Totepool.com Winter Hill Stakes (Eng-III) at Windsor.
