Europe's top 3-year-old Auguste Rodin created a masterpiece on the Santa Anita Park turf course, winning the most prestigious grass race in North America, the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, by three-quarters of a length.
Europe's top 3-year-old Auguste Rodin created a masterpiece on the Santa Anita Park turf course, winning the most prestigious grass race in North America, the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, by three-quarters of a length. The top United States turf horse, Up to the Mark, was second, with longshot Japan-based runner Shahryar in third.
Auguste Rodin capped off a remarkable season that saw him win the Group 1 Epsom Derby, Group 1 Irish Derby, and the Group 1 Irish Champions Stakes versus older horses before shipping to California to conquer America as a bonus.
was a record-extending seventh win in the Breeders' Cup Turf for trainer Aidan O'Brien, a record-tying fifth win for jockey Ryan Moore (equaling Frankie Dettori), and a record-extending seventh win for the owners associated with Coolmore.
Moore and his partner, Auguste Rodin, arrived at the top of the Santa Anita Park stretch after an eventful 10 furlongs, variously described by the colt's connections with words like "havoc" and "nightmare."
But then, with a flourish last used by Moses to part the Red Sea, the pace setting Balladeer cornered wide under Victor Espinoza and suddenly Moore could see the distant horizon. The rider had been ready to tap the brakes, just in case. Instead, it was full speed ahead for Auguste Rodin, who shot through in the blink of an eye to secure a three-quarter length victory over Up to the Mark at the end of a mile and one-half in 2:24.30. Shahryar gave Japan's cheering section a thrill getting up for third, just ahead of the Irish ex-pat Gold Phoenix.
For his part, Up to the Mark could not have run better in noble defeat. After winning Grade 1 races this year at 8, 9, and 10 furlongs, he came agonizingly close to winning the Breeders' Cup at 12 furlongs. Trainer Todd Pletcher refused to second guess the decision to try the Turf instead of the Mile — won by a horse he just beat, Master of the Seas, in the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland, and instead pointed out the obvious.
"Take nothing away from the winner, but he gets through inside and we go around," Pletcher said. "That was the difference. That's turf racing."