Upsets reign at rainy Breeders’ Cup
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Trainer Doug O’Neill led a wild winner’s celebration after Maryfield splashed to victory Friday on the first day of the Breeders’ Cup, where upsets ruled and a trainer on the verge of suspension was in the spotlight.
Far back turning for home, Maryfield found an outside path to the finish line and won the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint.
Corinthian raced to a commanding upset in the $1 million Dirt Mile, and Nownownow edged wagering favorite Achill Island by a half-length in the $1 million Juvenile Turf.
Rain pelted Monmouth Park throughout the day, keeping hundreds of trackside seats and stands empty on the first Friday in Breeders’ Cup history.
The dirt surface, sloppy from rain earlier in the week, was a quagmire.
But that wasn’t the only messiness.
Nownownow was one of seven Breeders’ Cup horses that trainer Patrick Biancone turned over to assistant Francois Parisel as the result of a one-year ban for violating medication rules in Kentucky.
Biancone’s suspension begins Thursday, but in a settlement with Kentucky racing officials, he agreed to step aside early for the Breeders’ Cup. The Frenchman showed up in the barn area the day before the Cup and was asked to leave by New Jersey racing authorities.
Nownownow and Julien Leparoux covered 1 mile in 1:40.48. The 2-year-old colt paid $27.20, $8.60 and $6.
Irish-bred Achill Island returned $5.20 and $4.20. Cannonball paid $7.80 to show.
Biancone had two horses in the Filly & Mare Sprint. Baroness Thatcher was fourth and wagering favorite La Traviata was sixth.
Corinthian defeated Gottcha Gold by 6 1/2 lengths in the last of three Breeders’ Cup races on the card. The other eight will be run today.
Kent Desormeaux improved to 3 for 55 on racing’s richest two days, guiding Corinthian over the mile in 1:39.06. The winner paid $9.40, $4.40 and $3.
Corinthian is trained by Jimmy Jerkens, son of Hall of Famer Allen Jerkins.
Today’s forecast calls for a half-inch of rain and highs in the 60s for the eight Breeders’ Cup races.