2005 Breeders' Cup Classic

The 2005 Breeders' Cup Classic was the 22nd running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, part of the 2005 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships program. It was run on October 29, 2005 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York with a purse of $4,000,000. It was won by Saint Liam, who was subsequently named American Horse of the Year.

22nd Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
LocationBelmont Park
DateOctober 29, 2005 (2005-10-29)
Winning horseSaint Liam
Winning time2:01.29
JockeyJerry Bailey
TrainerRick Dutrow
OwnerWilliam and Suzanne Warren
ConditionsFast[1]
SurfaceDirt
Attendance54,289[2]

The Classic is run on dirt at a distance of 1+14 miles (approximately 2000 m). It is run under weight-for-age conditions, with entrants carrying the following weights:

  • Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds: 122 lb
  • Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds: 117 lb
  • Four-year-olds and up: 126 lb
  • Any fillies or mares receive a 3 lb allowance

Contenders

The Classic drew a full field although some of the most highly regarded horses of 2005 (Ghostzapper, Roses in May and Afleet Alex) were retired early due to injury.[3] The leading contenders for the Classic were:[4][5]

In the absence of Afleet Alex and Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, Flower Alley (Travers Stakes) was the most highly regarded three-year-old.[3] The New Zealand-bred horse Starcraft, who won the 2004 Australian Derby and 2005 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, was supplemented to the Classic at a cost of $800,000 as he had not been nominated as a foal.[5]

Due to the dimensions of Belmont Park, the starting gate for the Classic was located on the clubhouse turn. This placed horses who drew outside post positions (especially Saint Liam and Starcraft) at a disadvantage as they would have to run somewhat farther.[6] Rock Hard Ten drew post position one, which was also disadvantageous as he risked getting caught in traffic along the rail.[5]

Race Description

Rock Hard Ten was scratched shortly before the race due to a hoof injury.[4]

After breaking poorly, Saint Liam settled into fifth place behind a moderate early pace set by Sun King and Suave. Flower Alley stalked the early leaders then took command rounding the turn. Racing four wide, Saint Liam moved alongside Flower Alley at the top of the stretch and gradually pulled away, winning by a length. Perfect Drift closed late to finish third.[7]

Saint Liam was the first major winner for trainer Rick Dutrow, who was highly emotional after the race. "I can't explain the feeling. He gives me a feeling I've never had before. I owe him everything. He is my boy. I see him every night before I go to bed. And I'm going to miss him so much. Words just can't describe this horse."[8]

It was jockey Jerry Bailey's fifteenth win at the Breeders' Cup, then a record.[7] Bailey felt that Saint Liam had cemented Horse of the Year honors with the win, pointing out how much ground Saint Liam had lost at the start due to his outside post position and a poor break that shifted his course even further outside. "He took the worse of it today, and still was very authoritative in winning."[6]

Results

Finish Program
Number
Horse Trainer Jockey Final Odds Margin Winnings
113Saint LiamRick DutrowJerry Bailey2.401 length$2,433,600
29Flower AlleyTodd PletcherJohn Velazquez10.001 length$936,000
35Perfect DriftMurray JohnsonMark Guidry4.2012 lengths$514,800
47Super FrolicVladimir CerinEibar Coa69.252+34 lengths$266,760
58SuavePaul McGeeEdgar Prado16.403 lengths$140,400
63Choctaw NationJeff MullinsVictor Espinoza13.006+14 lengths
714Starcraft (NZ)Luca CumaniPatrick Valenzuela 8.507+12 lengths
86Sir ShackletonNick ZitoJavier Castellano36.508 lengths
92Sun KingNick ZitoRafael Bejarano30.508+14 lengths
1011BorregoC GreelyGarrett Gomez2.6010+14 lengths
114Oratorio (IRE)Aidan O'BrienKieren Fallon9.4012 lengths
1210Jake SullivanGerard ButlerLanfranco Dettori51.2518 lengths
1312A Bit O'GoldCatherine Day PhillipsJono Jones51.7518+14 lengths

Times: 14 – 0:23.98; 12 – 0:47.68; 34 – 1:12.23; mile – 1:36.87; final – 2:01.49.
Fractional Splits: (:23.98) (:23.70) (:24.55) (:24.64) (:24.62)

Source: Equibase Chart[1]

Payout

Payout Schedule:[1]

Program
Number
Horse Win Place Show
13 Saint Liam 6.80 5.10 4.20
9 Flower Alley 8.70 7.10
5 Perfect Drift 7.80

References

  1. "Charts for the 2005 Breeders' Cup". Equibase. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  2. "New York Racing Shines in Breeders' Cup". Equus Magazine. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  3. Moran, Paul (29 October 2005). "Breeders' Cup: Rock Hard Ten is scratched from Classic field". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  4. Christine, Bill (29 October 2005). "Rock Hard Ten Is Out of the Classic". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  5. "Favorites Get Tough Draw in Classic". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  6. Drape, Joe (30 October 2005). "Saint Liam Stands Out in Victory at Classic". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  7. Mitchell, Ron. "Lucky 13: Saint Liam Ends Career With Classic Victory". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  8. Haskin, Steve. "Saint Be Praised". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
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