2012 Breeders' Cup Classic

Last updated
29th Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
Location Santa Anita Park
DateNovember 3, 2012 (2012-11-03)
Winning horse Fort Larned
Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.
Trainer Ian Wilkes
OwnerJanis R. Witham
Conditions fast [1]
SurfaceDirt
Attendance55,123
←  2011
2013  →

The 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic was the 29th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, part of the 2012 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships program. It was run on November 3, 2012 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California with a purse of $5,000,000.

Contents

Fort Larned, a 9-1 longshot, won the race in frontrunning fashion, holding off a closing drive by Mucho Macho Man.

The Classic is run on dirt at one mile and one-quarter (approximately 2000 m). It is run under weight-for-age conditions, with entrants carrying the following weights: [1]

Contenders

Game On Dude was the favorite for the Classic after winning the Hollywood Gold Cup and Awesome Again. Second in the 2011 Classic held at Churchill Downs, Game on Dude was expected to improve at Santa Anita, a track over which he was undefeated at the time. His frontrunning style was expected to give him a tactical advantage in a field that lacked other speed horses. [2]

He faced a deep field that lacked star power, in part due to the injury and subsequent retirement of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner I'll Have Another and Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags. The 12-horse field also included: [2]

Race Description

Game on Dude, who had been expected to set the pace, broke poorly and then experienced traffic problems that took him out of contention. Fort Larned went to the lead and set a brisk pace, trailed by Mucho Macho Man. Fort Larned opened up a lead of nearly three lengths moving into the far turn, then Mucho Macho Man started to close ground. With an eighth of a mile to go, Fort Larned's lead was down to a half length and his jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. went to the whip. Fort Larned responded and maintained his lead to the finish line, completing the 1+1⁄4 miles in a solid time of 2:00.11. Flat Out was well back in third. [1] [3]

It was the first Breeders' Cup win for trainer Ian Wilkes, who had previously been an assistant to Hall of Famer Carl Nafzger. [4] "We had to be there near the front and he was ready today", said Wilkes. "He had galloped great over the track. I knew we were good when he broke sharp. That's where Brian (Hernandez) won the race. We broke sharp and Game On Dude broke bad. I trust Brian because the horse trusts Brian." [5]

On his 27th birthday, Hernandez also celebrated his first Breeders' Cup win. "It's the greatest birthday ever", said Hernandez. "I always had a lot of confidence in him. Ian (Wilkes) and I talked about the race and he told me don't take him out of his game and let him do whatever he wants to do. He has a good cruising speed and I just let him go." [5]

Owner Janis Whitham was also Fort Larned's breeder. She and her late husband had owned the Champion race mare Bayakoa, two-time winner of the Distaff. Bayakoa was Fort Larned's grand-dam. [4]

Results

FinishProgram
Number		Margin
(lengths)		HorseJockeyTrainerFinal
Odds		Winnings
1st41⁄2 length Fort Larned Brian Hernandez, Jr.Ian Wilkes9.402,700,000
2nd116+1⁄2 lengthsMucho Macho ManMike SmithKathy Ritvo6.30900,000
3rd23⁄4Flat OutJoel RosarioWilliam Mott6.20495,000
4th10NeckRon the GreekJose LezcanoWilliam Mott8.80300,000
5th92+3⁄4Richard's KidGarrett GomezDoug O'Neill16.10150,000
6th84+1⁄4NoniosMartin PedrozaJerry Hollendorfer21.00
7th52+1⁄2Game On DudeRafael BejaranoBob Baffert1.30
8th13+1⁄4Pool PlayMiguel MenaMark Casse38.70
9th714+1⁄2Handsome MikeMario GutierrezDoug O'Neill25.10
10th122+1⁄4To Honor and ServeJohn VelazquezWilliam Mott16.10
11th67+1⁄4Brilliant SpeedJunior AlvaradoThomas Albertrani45.40
12th3AlphaRamon DominguezKiaran McLaughlin23.50

Source: Equibase [1]

Times:1⁄4 – 0:23.20; 1⁄2 – 0:46.50; 3⁄4 – 1:10.12; mile – 1:34.66; final – 2:00.11.
Fractional Splits: (:23.20) (:23.30) (:23.62) (:24.54) (:25.45)

Payout

Payout Schedule: [1]

Program
Number		HorseWinPlaceShow
4Fort Larned20.809.806.80
11Mucho Macho Man6.804.60
2Flat Out5.20

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chart of the 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic". equibase.com. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  2. 1 2 Martin, Kevin. "A Solid Field Against 'The Dude' In The 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic". boston.cbslocal.com. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  3. ↑ Drape, Joe (3 November 2012). "Fort Larned and Hernandez Jr. Upset Favorite at Breeders' Cup". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  4. 1 2 Privman, Jay. "Breeders' Cup Classic: Fort Larned holds off Mucho Macho Man after stretch-long duel". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  5. 1 2 Mitchell, Ron. "Fort Larned Wins Thrilling BC Classic". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
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