2005 Breeders' Cup Classic

Last updated
22nd Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
Location Belmont Park
DateOctober 29, 2005 (2005-10-29)
Winning horse Saint Liam
Winning time2:01.29
Jockey Jerry Bailey
Trainer Rick Dutrow
OwnerWilliam and Suzanne Warren
Conditions Fast [1]
SurfaceDirt
Attendance54,289 [2]
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2006  →

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.

Contents

The Classic is run on dirt at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles (approximately 2000 m). It is run under weight-for-age conditions, with entrants carrying the following weights:

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

FinishProgram
Number		HorseTrainerJockeyFinal OddsMarginWinnings
113Saint Liam Rick Dutrow Jerry Bailey 2.401 length$2,433,600
29Flower Alley Todd Pletcher John Velazquez 10.001 length$936,000
35Perfect Drift Murray Johnson Mark Guidry 4.201⁄2 lengths$514,800
47Super Frolic Vladimir Cerin Eibar Coa 69.252+3⁄4 lengths$266,760
58Suave Paul McGee Edgar Prado 16.403 lengths$140,400
63Choctaw Nation Jeff Mullins Victor Espinoza 13.006+1⁄4 lengths
714Starcraft (NZ) Luca Cumani Patrick Valenzuela 8.507+1⁄2 lengths
86Sir Shackleton Nick Zito Javier Castellano 36.508 lengths
92Sun King Nick Zito Rafael Bejarano 30.508+1⁄4 lengths
1011Borrego C Greely Garrett Gomez 2.6010+1⁄4 lengths
114Oratorio (IRE) Aidan O'Brien Kieren Fallon 9.401⁄2 lengths
1210Jack Sullivan Gerard Butler Lanfranco Dettori 51.2518 lengths
1312A Bit O'Gold Catherine Day Phillips Jono Jones 51.7518+1⁄4 lengths

Times:1⁄4 – 0:23.98; 1⁄2 – 0:47.68; 3⁄4 – 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		HorseWinPlaceShow
13Saint Liam6.805.104.20
9Flower Alley8.707.10
5Perfect Drift7.80

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 Moran, Paul (29 October 2005). "Breeders' Cup: Rock Hard Ten is scratched from Classic field". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  4. 1 2 Christine, Bill (29 October 2005). "Rock Hard Ten Is Out of the Classic". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 "Favorites Get Tough Draw in Classic". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  6. 1 2 Drape, Joe (30 October 2005). "Saint Liam Stands Out in Victory at Classic". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  7. 1 2 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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