The door’s open for Accelerate
The Breeders’ Cup is back in familiar surroundings at Churchill Downs, with an additional stakes race bumping the two-day program to 14 races and prize money up to a record $30 million.
As always, the marquee race in Louisville, Kentucky, is Saturday’s $6 million Cup Classic, which could help determine which thoroughbred ends up as Horse of the Year — not to mention establish the top horse in several age divisions, along with the top jockey and trainer.
One notable absence from the Classic is Triple Crown winner Justify, whom trainer Bob Baffert retired in July because of an ankle ailment. That leaves the Classic without horse racing’s biggest name, but also a bunch of horses poised to make their presence known — and bettors happy.
Accelerate aims to make it six wins in seven starts this year as the 5-2 favorite in the 1OE-mile headliner.
“He’s had a really beautiful year,” trainer John Sadler said this week. “He’s a really healthy, strong guy. As a 5-year-old, he’s come out of those Classic races in good shape physically and continued right on.”
Churchill Downs is hosting the season-ending world championships for a record-tying ninth time and the first time since 2011. Santa Anita has also hosted nine times.
Game Winner recovers in Juvenile
Race favorite Game Winner overcame an early bump to surge down the stretch, then pulled away from long shot Knicks Go after another nudge to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by 2OE lengths Friday. That gave trainer Bob Baffert an early Kentucky Derby favorite just five months after winning his second Triple Crown with Justify.
But the victory, which kept Game Winner a perfect 4-0 lifetime, wasn’t without some anxious moments for the Hall of Fame trainer and co-owners Gary and Mary West.
“This is a huge win for me,” Baffert said. “Any other horse, he would’ve been done. That’s how good a horse he is.”
The 2-year-old was bumped after breaking from the No. 9 post and lagged in the middle of the 13-horse field before pushing forward on the outside and into contention at the top of the stretch. Game Winner and Knicks Go brushed before Game Winner broke away.
Signalman was a length back in third place.