Kip Deville split horses at the top of the stretch and overtook a host of rivals with a strong move to win the $2-million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Monmouth Park Oct. 27.
A 4-year-old son of Kipling, out of the Encino mare Klondike Kaytie, Kip Deville hugged the rail along the backstretch and through the final turn under jockey Cornelio Velasquez, then squeezed between Cosmonaut and Remarkable News when the field hit the stretch.
Kip Deville held off charging 2-1 favorite Excellent Art in the final strides to post a length victory, clocking 1:39.78 on a soft turf course. Cosmonaut, who finished another length back, set the early pace with times of :24.26, :49.45, and 1:14.65.
Bred in Oklahoma by Center Hills Farm, Kip Deville is owned in a partnership that includes Michael Iavarone and Richard J. Schiavo’s IEAH Stables, Andrew Cohen, Steve Cohen, Roy Cobb, Doug Robertson, and John Roberts. The partnership paid the $300,000 supplemental fee to enter the colt in the Breeders’ Cup.
Kip Deville, who won his ninth race in 21 lifetime starts, paid $18.40, $7.20, and $5.20. Excellent Art paid $4.20, and $3 while Cosmonaut paid $6.60. The exacta paid $70.80, a $1 trifecta was worth $376.90, and the $1 Pick-3 netted $574.90.
Velasquez earned his second Breeders’ Cup victory of the day. “He broke very fast but I didn’t want to go to the lead, so I covered him up. At the quarter pole I had a lot of horse, and when I was able to get clear, he took off. He absolutely loved (the soft going).”
Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. hit the Breeders’ Cup winner’s circle for the third time. In 2005 he won with Silver Train (Sprint) and Saint Liam (Classic).
“I couldn’t be more excited,” Dutrow said. “I knew he was doing very good going into this race. My only concern was him liking the track. I was under the impression that he was going to get a good trip. We just couldn’t be happier.
“The owners made that decision (to supplement) based on how good the horse had run and how he was coming into this race. The key was for him to like the track. It looks like he did. Cornelio gave him an unbelievable ride.”
Kip Deville entered the Breeders’ Cup off of four consecutive defeats, but his second-place finish in his most recent start, the Woodbine Mile (Can-IT), was very encouraging. Earlier this year he won a pair of graded stakes, the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita and the Maker's Mark Mile (gr. IIT) at Keeneland.
Second betting choice, Nobiz Like Shobiz, who made a strong four-wide bid approaching the turn and briefly challenged, flattened out for fourth. Next were Host, Trippi's Storm, Remarkable News, Rebellion, Icy Atlantic, Jeremy, Purim, Silent Name, and My Typhoon.
(Chart, Equibase)
