Silver Train Stops Lost in the Fog's Streak in Sprint

The biggest favorite on the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships day program faltered, Lost in the Fog going down at 3-5 odds and finishing off the board in the $1.06 million TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).

The winner was Silver Train, whose trainer Rick Dutrow will saddle Saint Liam in the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I). It was the first loss for Lost in the Fog after 10 straight wins.

Edgar Prado had entered the day 0-41 in Breeders' Cup mounts but won two of the first four races, taking the VO5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) with Folklore.

There was a claim of foul against the winner following the finish, but it was disallowed. Runner-up Taste of Paradise, who closed powerfully only to miss by a head, lacked room to get through horses but was not fouled, the stewards ruled.

Attila's Storm took the lead out of the gate and was followed by Battle Won, Wildcat Heir, and Lost in the Fog. But Lost in the Fog, used to being on the lead, was wide and sat there under Russell Baze.

They went the opening quarter in :22.01 and, in the turn, Lost in the Fog moved to the lead as they went the half in :44.56. Prado had Silver Train ready to pounce, and he shot to the lead as they went five furlongs in :56.05. Taste of Paradise, under Garrett Gomez, could not get running room as Silver Train took the lead. Taste of Paradise angled to the outside and came running but came up short by a head. Lion Tamer, John Velazquez aboard, was third, another three lengths back.

Baze eased up on the 3-year-old Lost in the Fog in the stretch when it became apparent it was not his day, and the son of Lost Soldier finished seventh.

"Just inside the eighth pole, he had nothing," a disappointed Baze said.

Lost in the Fog had been brilliant in rolling to a perfect record, winning by an average of nearly seven lengths and traveling cross-country six times to perform at seven tracks in eight races this year. The 85-year-old owner Harry Aleo and 57-year-old trainer Greg Gilchrist will return to Northern California without the victory they hoped would earn 3-year-old and Horse of the Year honors.

The final time was 1:08.86.

After the horses hit the wire, Wildcat Heir stumbled and dumped jockey Stewart Elliott. Wildcat Heir was examined by veterinarians following the race and had some superficial cuts and bruising, Dr. Wayne McIlwraith said.

The 3-year-old Silver Train, by Old Trieste out of the Cormorant mare Ridden in Theatres, was bred in Kentucky by Joe Mulholland Sr. and Joe Mulholland Jr. A $140,000 sale yearling, he races for Mahmoud Fustock's Buckram Oak Farm.

With Dutrow's string at Aqueduct, Silver Train had been working solidly for the Sprint since winning the mile Jerome Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Sept. 11. The victory was his fourth in 11 tries and worth $551,200, pushing the dark bay colt's earnings to $756,145.

It was the first Breeders' Cup win for Dutrow.

Silver Train paid $25.80, $10.40, and $8.10 while Taste of Paradise paid $10.60 and $7.20. Lion Tamer was worth $7.60 to show.

Attila's Storm, Elusive Jazz, Lifestyle, Lost in the Fog, Imperialism, Gygistar, Wildcat Heir, and Battle Won rounded out the order.

(Chart, Equibase)