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Godolphin Racing's Outstrip roared to the front in the stretch to post an upset half-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 1 (VIDEO).
The victory by the gray 2-year-old son of Exceed And Excel produced from the grade I winner Asi Siempre, by El Prado, was the second in a row on the first of the two World Championships days at the Southern California oval. Smith, who won the Marathon (gr. II) with London Bridge, extended his record for Breeders' Cup victories among jockeys to 19. Trainer Charlie Appleby won his first Breeders' Cup race with his first starter.
Bred in Ireland by Darley, Outstrip has won three of five starts, with two placings and earnings of $731,034 for trainer Charlie Appleby.
Completing the mile on turf in 1:33.20 on a fast course, the winner paid $14.00, $6.80, $3.60. Giovanni Boldini, who had taken a brief lead in mid-stretch, paid $6.40 and $3.40. Bobby's Kitten, who set the pace throughout, finished 1 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up and was worth $2.40. The $1 exacta paid $23.10 with the $1 trifecta worth $71.90.
Bobby's Kitten, Ken and Sarah Ramsey's 7-5 favorite, jumped out to the early lead and set fast early fractions of :22.27, :45.70, and 1:09.53 for the first half-mile while stalked early by longshot All Cash, before Giovanni Boldini gave chase rounding the second turn in the mile grass test.
Outstrip was far back early in the 13-horse field and had traffic problems before moving to the outside and securing a position in fourth rounding the second turn. Smith and his mount made up ground as the field entered the stretch and showed an impressive turn of foot to just catch Giovanni Boldini and Bobby's Kitten.
Bon Accord was fourth, followed by Got Shades, Bashart, Aotearoa, Poker Player, Wilshire Boulevard, Ontology, Shamshon, Home School, and All Cash.
"The trip was really good. I managed to get covered up, just make my way, and follow the right horses," Smith said.
"I was following two of the greatest turf riders here in America—Gary Stevens (aboard Got Shades, fifth) and Corey Nakatani (Aotearoa, seventh). They showed me a great way to go, and it really worked out for me."
Outstrip broke his maiden in his first start at Newmarket in June while trained by Saeed bin Suroor. Turned over to Appleby, the colt finished second in the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes (Eng-II) in July at Goodwood and followed with a win in the At The Races Champagne Stakes (Eng-II) Sept. 14 at Doncaster.
"He's not a bad little horse, is he?" asked Appleby, winning his first Breeders' Cup race with his first starter. "I was so pleased to see Mike Smith win the last race (the Marathon on London Bridge). There's no better jock around here. I'm grateful to Godolphin for giving me the chance to train horses like this."
Ryan Moore, rider of Giovanni Boldini, said he was aware of the move being made by Outstrip.
"We had a great trip," Moore said. "We were able to save ground. He ran a little green. Maybe a little more experience would have helped today. I saw the other horse (Outstrip) coming for a long way, I didn't think I had the race won after I put the five (Bobby's Kitten) away."
"He's run a great race," said Aidan O'Brien, Giovanni Boldini's trainer. "I have no complaints. He was just run out of it again."
Trainer Chad Brown was noticeably unhappy with Javiar Castellano's ride aboard Bobby's Kitten.
"I'm very disappointed," he said. "He's only two (years old) going out in 1:09 and change. That's ridiculous."
"He broke sharp out of the gate, he felt good," Castellano said. "Unfortunately, he ran off a little bit and he never settled."
