(Edited press release)
The Breeders’ Cup announced July 31 that Sentient Flight Group, in its first year as a Breeders’ Cup premier partner, will launch “The Perfect Trip,” a fan poll to determine which horse and jockey had the best trip around the track in the 24-year history of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Fans can log on to www.breederscup.com/perfecttrip to view footage of each trip and to vote on their favorite from 10 finalist races:
1. 1993 Juvenile Fillies--Phone Chatter
2. 2006 Juvenile--Street Sense
3. 1993 Sprint--Cardmania
4. 1986 Classic--Skywalker
5. 1988 Juvenile--Is It True
6. 1993 Classic--Arcangues
7. 1991 Classic--Black Tie Affair
8. 1998 Mile--Da Hoss
9. 2006 Distaff--Round Pond
10.1988 Distaff--Personal Ensign
The Blood-Horse magazine will feature a 10-week campaign to showcase each of the "Perfect Trips." The winner of the Perfect Trip Award will be announced at a Breeders’ Cup function Oct. 24 and during the Oct. 25 Breeders’ Cup broadcast on ESPN.
“The Perfect Trip in Thoroughbred racing represents the ultimate in diligence, passion and dedication, combined with flawless execution,” said Kevin Vaughan, chief marketing officer of Sentient. “We are honored to partner with the Breeders’ Cup to sponsor this creative and exciting campaign that will allow the racing fan to relive these incredible races and have fun selecting the one ‘Perfect Trip’ that stands above the rest.”
Sentient will also support the promotion with its first ever TV advertising campaign, which debuted July 26 on the ABC telecast of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge from Saratoga.
“Within the first few months of becoming a member of the Breeders’ Cup family, Sentient has exceeded our expectations as a creative and active marketing partner,” said Peter Land, chief marketing officer of the Breeders’ Cup. “The Perfect Trip promotion will no doubt appeal to hardcore and casual horse racing fans.”
The 10 Perfect Trip finalists were selected by a panel of industry experts that included:
• Jerry Bailey, ESPN/all-time Breeders’ Cup jockey
• Dan Liebman, The Blood-Horse editor-in-chief
• D. Wayne Lukas, trainer
• Bob Mieszerski, racing journalist
• Kevin Modesti, Los Angeles Daily News
• Randy Moss, ESPN
• Tom Pedulla, USA Today
• Jay Privman, Daily Racing Form/ESPN
