Saint Liam marches to win in Breeders’ Cup Classic

NEW YORK – Race after race, the unbeatens and defending champions stumbled Saturday. First Samurai, Lost in the Fog, Ashado, Shakespeare.

Then came the Breeders’ Cup Classic – and Saint Liam set everything right at Belmont Park, barreling to victory in America’s richest race and likely clinching Horse of the Year honors.

“We have the best horse around,” boasted winning trainer Richard Dutrow Jr., who also won the $1 million Sprint with Silver Train, with Lost in the Fog back in the pack in seventh. “Anybody left standing, they were here today and we beat them. We didn’t duck any kind of horse in any race.”

Some of racing’s top stars missed the $4.68 million Classic, including Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, Preakness and Belmont winner Afleet Alex, ‘04 Classic winner Ghostzapper and Dubai World Cup winner Roses in May.

But Saint Liam can make a strong claim for racing’s top prize – the 5-year-old son of Saint Ballado has four Grade 1 victories – the Woodward, the Stephen Foster Handicap and the Donn Handicap are the others.

Owner William K. Warren said after the race that Saint Liam had raced for the last time and would be retired to Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky. Later, though, he and Dutrow discussed whether Afleet Alex might deserve Horse of the Year.

“If he wants to run against us in 45 days, we’re ready,” Dutrow said.

A crowd of 54,289 showed up on a crisp, fall day at Belmont, and the Classic was well worth waiting for after seven Breeders’ Cup races produced plenty of upsets but little excitement.

Taking the lead at the top of the stretch, Saint Liam held off Flower Alley by a length and gave Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey his fifth win in the Classic and 15th victory in the Breeders’ Cup.

Sent off as the 2-1 favorite in a field of 13, Saint Liam bided his time behind leaders Sun King and Suave until the field reached the far turn. That’s when Bailey sent his horse four-wide to take command.

“We just got lucky,” Dutrow said. “I just couldn’t be happier.”

Saint Liam broke from post No. 13 and covered the 1 1/4 -mile Classic in 2 minutes, 1.49 seconds, becoming the second straight favorite to win the centerpiece of the eight-race, $15 million-plus Breeders’ Cup. Ghostzapper won it last year and was voted Horse of the Year.

Saint Liam returned $6.80 to win and earned $2,433,600, boosting his career bankroll to $3,696,960.

Earlier, Stevie Wonderboy handed First Samurai his first loss by winning the $1.6 million Juvenile by 1 1/4 lengths over Henny Hughes. First Samurai, 4 for 4 going in, took third.

In the Sprint, Lost in the Fog’s bid for an 11th straight win and Horse of the Year honors faded in the stretch of the 6-furlong dash.

In the $2 million Distaff, 30-1 long shot Pleasant Home won by 9 1/4 lengths over Society Selection, with Ashado third in her attempt to repeat in the final race of her stellar career.

Shakespeare, 5 for 5 entering the $2.28 million Turf, was 12th in the 13-horse field – Shirocco beat Ace by 1 3/4 lengths.

Ashado wasn’t the only defending champ to fall short: Singletary was eighth in the Mile, Ouija Board was second in the Filly & Mare Turf and Better Talk Now was seventh in the Turf.

Leroidesanimaux, riding an eight-race winning streak, finished second in the Mile.

In the winner’s circle after the Classic, family and friends of the owners, wearing Saint Liam baseball caps, swamped Bailey, and the rider was also congratulated by New York Yankees manager Joe Torre.

Bailey, 0 for 6 on the day entering the Classic, came up big in the nick of time. The jockey has been considering retirement and this could be his last Breeders’ Cup race.

“I’ll ride through Thanksgiving and think about it,” Bailey said.