12-1 shot wins Gold Cup
River Keen wins $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup
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Posted: Thursday October 14, 1999 06:52 PM
Wet River: River Keen is the latest gem in Bob Baffert's crown with a muddy victory at the Jockey Club Gold Cup. |
NEW YORK (AP) -- River Keen, a 12-1 shot, was a ray of sunshine for trainer Bob Baffert on a rainy New York Sunday, winning the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup one race after a rare defeat by Silverbulletday at Belmont Park.
River Keen, never worse than second, took the lead from Almutawakel on the turn and splashed to a 3 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup on a sloppy track.
Silverbulletday, the 4-5 favorite, finished 3 1/2 lengths behind Beautiful Pleasure, who led all the way in winning the $500,000 Beldame for fillies and mares. It was the 3-year-old Silverbulletday's debut against older fillies and only her second loss in 10 starts this year.
Baffert watched Mike Pegram's Silverbulletday lose on national television from Santa Anita, where he had 2-year-old colt Forest Camp in the Norfolk. Tonja Terranova, who helps with Baffert's horses in New York, was in the winner's circle with Hugo Reynolds' River Keen when she got a phone call from Baffert.
Bafffert told Belmont officials by phone that he had considered scratching River Keen on Saturday night when the horse showed signs of lameness. However, River Keen was fine Sunday morning.
Favored Behrens, losing for the second straight time after having won four straight stakes, finished second 10 lengths ahead of Almutawakel. Lemon Drop Kid, the winner of the Belmont Stakes and Travers, was fifth in his debut against older horses behind Stephen Got Even, another 3-year-old in the eight-horse field.
Trainer James Bond said he thought the sloppy track contributed to Behrens' loss.
"It took him too long to get untracked," he said.
Bond said Behrens, a 5-year-old horse, "will get the job done" in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Gulfstream Park, where his rivals will include River Keen and Lemon Drop Kid.
Trainer Scotty Schulhofer said before the race that an off-track would hurt Lemon Drop Kid's chances. But Terranova said River Keene had trained well over an off-track and that Baffert liked his chances Sunday.
River Keen, a 7-year-old Irish-bred horse, who won the Woodward Sept. 18 at Belmont, raced the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01 2-5, paying $26, $6.60 and $4 and earning $600,000.
Behrens, ridden by Jorge Chavez, returned $2.80 and $2.30. Almutawakel, ridden by Jerry Bailey, paid $3.30
Silverbulletday, who likes to race off the pace, simply could not do it against a quality speed horse such as Beautiful Pleasure, who opened a 6-length lead just past the half-mile pole. Silverbulletday, ridden by Jerry Bailey, began closing ground on the turn, but a serious challenge never developed and Beautiful Pleasure, ridden by Jorge Chavez, was 4 lengths ahead at the finish.
The $500,000 Beldame was Beautiful Pleasure's second straight Grade I stakes victory on a sloppy track and was worth $6.80, $2.50 and $2.10. Ridden by Jorge Chavez, she raced a half mile in 43 3-5 seconds, three quarters in 1:09 1-5 and completed the 1 1-8 miles in 1:47 3-5.
Silverbulletday, losing for the third time in 17 career races, paid $2.20 and $2.10. Catinca, a 4-year-old filly was another three-quarters length back, returned $2.10. In fourth was 4-year-old Rap and Dance, and 3-year-old Queen's Word was last.
"I'd say we're ready for six weeks from now," said winning trainer John Ward Jr., referring to the Breeders' Cup Distaff in which she will meet Silverbulletday and Banshee Breeze, another top 4-year-old filly.
In a third Grade I stakes, Surfside won the $400,000 Frizette for 2-year-old fillies. Darling My Darling took the lead from Surfside on the outside on the turf and it appeared for much of the stretch she would win. Surfside, however, fought back along the rail, took the lead about 30 yards from the wire and won by a head.
Surfside, ridden by Pat Day, won in 1:43 1-5 and paid $5.90, $2.80 and $2.70. Darling My Darling, ridden by Chris McCarron, returned $2.60 and $2.10. March Magic paid $3.50 for show in the five-horse field.
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