Game of Silks – Reflections, Breeders’ Cup 2023 Special Edition

Just F Y I takes the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)

By 2YO EdgeMan

What an amazing first Breeders’ Cup weekend for the Game of Silks!  As fantastic as it was, I can’t even begin to imagine what this past weekend will be like in 2024 when today’s two-year-olds turn three years of age and a new crop of 2YOs are minted in Silks.  But let’s not get too far ahead of ourself, let’s savor and reflect on the five fantastic races for two-year-olds that were featured this past Friday at the Breeders’ Cup.  

Below I’ve listed the Silks horses that were minted and finished in the Top 4 in each of the five races and were paid out huge rewards.  As you can see, at least 13.367 ETHs were paid out, just for the Breeders’ Cup races alone – that is some big-time rewards.  There were several other races last week that came with their own excitement and significant rewards.  Also, please note that Charbo owned two horses that finished in the Top 4 (2^nd and 4^th) in the Juvenile Turf Sprint – well done, Charbo! 

As we like to do each week, let’s focus on one race from this past Friday.  Santa Anita’s Race 6 was the Juvenile Fillies and was contested on the main dirt track over the distance of one and 1/16 miles with a massive purse of $2,000,000.  As expected, the odds-on favorite at off odds of 0.80/1 – Tamara – took the lead under Mike Smith shortly after leaving the gate.  However, Just F Y I and jockey Junior Alvarado tracked that one closely with Jody’s Pride in third most of the way.  Tamara led through fractions of 22.47 and 46.60 seconds, but near the top of the stretch, Just F Y I, sired by Justify, powered past Tamara and opened up about two lengths on the field as Tamara started to fade.  However, Flavien Prat and Jody’s Pride were not done and fought on only to come up a neck short of Just F Y I at the wire.  The winner is trained by the Hall of Fame conditioner, Bill Mott and she paid an even $16.00 for $2 win tickets and her final time came in at 1:44.58, which equated to a sparkling 94 Equibase Speed Figure.  Third place, only ½ length further back, went to Candied (GermanDrunk Stables) and Life Talk (Cowboy Stables) ended in fourth.  

The owner of the winner of this race in the Game of Silks is Jeffsp1965 Stables.  And for this amazing victory, along with the 5.6742 ETH that was paid out to him by Silks, I am awarding this fine owner my coveted ‘Game of Silks’ Owner of the Week’ award.  A big congrats!!

Note:  Current value of 1 ETH = approximately $1,897.42