Bayern wins $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bayern won the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by a nose, surviving a stewards’ inquiry prompted by multiple horses bumping near the start of Saturday’s race.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert had to wait, along with a crowd of 61,114 at Santa Anita, to confirm that he had finally won North America’s richest race after failing in 12 previous tries.

“It’s been so long waiting, I was like, ‘Lord, you can’t take it away from me now,”’ said Baffert, who has won just about every other big race in the sport, including three Kentucky Derbies. “I couldn’t breathe the last 20 yards.”

The two-day world championships concluded with trainer Chad Brown claiming three victories, while trainer Wesley Ward had two. European horses earned just one victory, with 30-1 shot Karakontie in the $2 million Mile.

“To be here and enjoy the week like we did and walk away with three winners is a dream come true,” said Brown, who is based in New York.

The Mile surprise was one of four upsets Saturday. The biggest came in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies, with Take Charge Brandi kicking off the nine Cup races with a 61-1 upset for 79-year-old Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith extended his record for Cup victories to 21 with a win in the Filly & Mare Sprint with Judy the Beauty — the only favorite to win Saturday.

Three of four favorites won on opening day Friday.

In the Classic, Bayern ran 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.88 and paid $14.20, $8 and $5.20 at 6-1 odds.

Toast of New York returned $18 and $10.80. Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome was another neck back in third and paid $5.40 to show.

Shared Belief, the 5-2 favorite co-owned by sports talk host Jim Rome, was knocked off his game at the start and finished fourth, ending his undefeated streak at seven.

“I think it cost me the race,” Smith said of the early tangle. “I was never able to get comfortable after getting hit at the break.”