2008 Breeders' Cup Stories
Gomez, Smith, Dettori Lead Jockeys; Dancing Forever Has Best Story
Oct 30, 2008
With 13 rides in the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships, jockey Garrett Gomez brought home an outstanding four winners, three in the male races October 25, and one on "Filly Friday" October 24 in the first race of the Santa Anita Park Oak Tree meet. Mike Smith brought in star power winners in the Juvenile Fillies event with Stardom Bound and in the Ladies Classic on the back of the unstoppable giant, Zenyatta. Frankie Dettori, who spends most of his time on mounts from stables in countries outside the United States, won twice, including on the biggest upset winner of the two-day meet, Raven's Pass.
Best Background Story Award
It was perhaps, however, the five-year-old horse entered in the Emirates Airlines Breeders' Cup Turf named Dancing Forever who may have had the best background story of the two-day BC event. Dancing Forever finished third in the BC Turf, unable to catch winner Conduit, but staying well to fend off betting favorite Soldier of Fortune.
The dam of Dancing Forever, Dancinginmydreams suffered a catastrophic fracture, a Barbaro-like breakdown, in which she shattered bones in her leg into as many as 50 bits and pieces. After surviving 13 months of incredible healing that followed six operations, Dancinginmydreams eventually came into foal by the great Rahy. Three years from the time of her last surgery, Dancingismydream gave birth to Dancing Forever.
Gomez's String of Winners in BC
Riding to several career and BC records, Gomez won the BC's first race on October 24 aboard Ventura in the Filly and Mare Sprint. There were five BC races on Friday.
On Saturday, Gomez completed an unbelievable run, getting three winners and a third place finish in the day's nine contests. His winners were Albertus Maximus in the Dirt Mile; Midshipman, the new male Juvenile champ; and the repeat winning sprinter Midnight Lute. In the Mile, he brought Whatsthescript (IRE) home third.
Gomez became the first rider in BC history -- 25 years -- to garner more than two wins on BC weekend. The races used to be a one-day affair of seven races, but in recent years, the BC card has expanded all the way to 14 events in two days.
Gomez tied Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens with eight career BC wins. Jerry Bailey holds the all-time BC record in wins with 15.
Smith Gets Two Winners
While Mike Smith didn't have as many winners as Gomez, he rode for his lucky owners, Jerry and Ann Moss, and trainer John Shirreffs, and celebrated in the winner's circle with two huge scores on the best female contenders of "Filly Friday". He and his connections had previously teamed for a 50 to one longshot win in the 2005 Kentucky Derby with Giacomo; then a half-brother of Giacomo's, Tiago, won the prestigiious Goodwood Stakes in 2007. Smith rode them both.
In his BC weekend, Smith won impressively aboard the great-looking filly Stardom Bound in the Juvenile Fillies contest, and came home emphatically on Zenyatta in the Ladies Classic, which was renamed this season from the former Distaff.
In addition, Smith got Tiago to a nip and tuck nose third place finish in Saturday's premier event, the much anticipated Classic, edging out champion Curlin, who was attempting an event repeat.
Dettori Scores Double and Biggest BC Win
Flying Frankie Dettori got two chances to fly off his winning mount on Saturday's BC card. Standing up in the saddle and jumping off his winner is Dettori's signature move.
He jumped off Donativum, winner of the Juvenile Turf and off the biggest winner of the BC meet, Classic victor Raven's Pass, who upset fan favorite Curlin in the two-day event finale.
