Straight No Chaser captures the Sprint (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Breeders’ Cup Press Release
DEL MAR, Calif.— MyRacehorse’s Straight No Chaser ($14.20) rallied from just off the pace to take command in deep stretch and post a half-length victory over Bentornato to win the 41st running of the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at Del Mar Saturday afternoon.
Trained by Dan Blacker and ridden by John Velazquez, Straight No Chaser covered the 6 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:08.62. It is the first Breeders’ Cup victory for Blacker and the 21st for Velazquez and second in the Sprint. His first Sprint victory came 20 years ago at Lone Star Park with Speightstown.
Federal Judge set the pace with fractions of :21.74 and :44.12 with Bentornado in closest pursuit and Straight No Chaser stalking in third. In the upper stretch, Bentornado took over, but was immediately challenged by Straight No Chaser who gradually pulled away.
Favored Mullikin finished another 2 ½ lengths back in third with stablemate Federal Judge fourth.
The victory, the first Grade 1 for Straight No Chaser, was worth $1,040,000 and improved his earnings to $1,416,300 with a record of 10-6-0-1.
Straight No Chaser is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Speightster out of the Johannesburg mare Margarita Friday.
Quotes:
Winning trainer Dan Blacker, Straight No Chaser – “He’s just a really talented horse. I’m just really thankful to MyRacehorse for having me. They’ve been such great patient owners. It means a lot to me, obviously, but it’s the horse. Ultimately, he’s just a really talented horse. All the other horses see in the race are great, super talented horse, too, I’m just lucky to have the best one today.”
Winning jockey John Velazquez, Straight No Chaser – “He ran great. The pace was really fast up front and I was hoping that they would back up to me as we turned for home. I asked him for run and he responded and found another gear late. I was very proud of him.”
Trainer Jose D’Angelo, second with Bentornato – “I thought for one moment that we got it. This horse ran huge. He put his heart on the on the track today. I’m so happy. I’m proud of him. I thought that we got the race, but it was close.”
“I knew that the race had so much speed, but always in this kind of races, the people are afraid to get the lead. So, I said to Luis (Saez), ‘the horse is ready. If he breaks good and you can go, go. If you see like two or three horses there, try to sit and wait and make our own move.’ But he raced good and we went from the gate.”
Jockey Luis Saez, second with Bentornato – “Perfect trip. That was the spot we were looking for. We knew he had a lot of speed. He broke fairly well and we take the second position. Man, at the top of the stretch, he was bottling and he never stopped. The winner just came and got us. He tried pretty hard.”
Trainer Rodolphe Brisset, third with beaten favorite Mullikin — “He broke very well, and, like Flavien (jockey Prat) said, he is not really a 6-furlong horse, so he kind of let him find his legs. We may have been a little further than we wanted. I think he ran his race. Next year, can we change the distance to seven-eighths? He is a Grade 1 winner and I am sure the owners will talk and see if we bring him back next year or not. I have to watch the replay, but my guess would be 6 furlongs is a little short. If we do bring him back, maybe I will change the program a little bit and teach him to be more of a 6-furlong horse.”
Jockey Flavien Prat, third with beaten favorite Mullikin – “He ran well and I think he’s better at 7 furlongs. That’s the perfect distance. I think since you find some horses that are a bit faster than you and it’s hard to get a good position. He made a good run I think we just ran out of ground.”
