2011 Breeders' Cup Classic

Last updated
28th Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
Location Churchill Downs
DateNovember 5, 2011 (2011-11-05)
Winning horse Drosselmeyer
Jockey Mike E. Smith
Trainer William I. Mott
Owner WinStar Farm
Conditions fast [1]
SurfaceDirt
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The 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic was the 28th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, part of the 2011 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships program. It was run on November 5, 2011 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky with a purse of $5,000,000.

Contents

Drosselmeyer, a 15-1 longshot who was in tenth place with a quarter mile left in the race, closed rapidly and won by a length and a half over another longshot, Game On Dude. With none of the favorites finishing in the top three, the superfecta paid $41,631.80.

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

The field for the Classic lacked in star power, especially when compared to the 2010 running featuring Zenyatta and Blame. However, the field was very deep with most of the entries given a legitimate chance of winning. The leading contenders included: [2] [3]

Race Description

Game On Dude went to the lead but was challenged by Uncle Mo. The two set moderate early fractions, followed closely by a large pack of challengers. Turning into the stretch, Uncle Mo hit the lead but then faded, eventually finishing tenth. Game On Dude then repelled challenges from To Honor and Serve and So You Think, opening up a one length lead in mid-stretch. Meanwhile, Drosselmeyer had raced near the back of the field, over ten lengths behind the leaders. He started to make up ground around the far turn but was still in tenth place with a quarter of a mile remaining. Swinging wide, he put in a burst of speed and swept past Game On Dude in the final strides, winning by a length and a half. [1] [4]

One of the biggest stories after the race centered on the fact that Drosselmeyer's jockey Mike Smith had once been engaged to Sutherland on Game On Dude. Sutherland had thought she would win, only to see Smith move past her near the finish line. "I'm very proud of my horse, very proud of myself. I had an amazing time," she said after the race. "And I'm happy for Mike. But really? Really? Of all people." [4]

For Smith, it was a "redemption" of sorts after the defeat of Zenyatta the year before. "Compared to last year, this is incredible. Last year still hurts like nothing ever before in my life," he said. "The key to this horse is you gotta' keep him moving, gotta' keep pedaling. He can run all day." [5] It was Smith's fifteenth Breeders' Cup win, tying him for the all-time lead with Jerry Bailey. [4]

Drosselmeyer's trainer, Bill Mott, had previously won the Classic with Cigar in 1995. He also won the Ladies' Classic with Royal Delta on the Friday card. [5]

Results

FinishProgram
Number		Margin
(lengths)		HorseJockeyTrainerFinal
Odds		Winnings
1st3​1 1⁄2 lengths Drosselmeyer Mike SmithBill Mott14.802,700,000
2nd81 length Game On Dude Chantal SutherlandBob Baffert14.20900,000
3rd4​1⁄2Ruler On IceGarrett GomezKelly Breen17.20495,000
4th10Head Havre de Grace Ramon DominguezJ. Larry Jones4.10300,000
5th2Neck Flat Out Alex SolisCharles Dickey3.60150,000
6th5Neck So You Think (NZ)Ryan MooreAidan O'Brien5.30
7th13​1⁄2To Honor and ServeJose LezcanoWilliam Mott9.90
8th6​1 1⁄4 Ice Box Corey NakataniNicholas Zito30.60
9th7​1 1⁄2Rattlesnake BridgeCalvin BorelKiaran McLaughlin21.10
10th12Nose Uncle Mo John VelazquezTodd Pletcher5.40
11th9​3⁄4Stay ThirstyJavier CastellanoTodd Pletcher11.80
12th11HeadachePaco LopezMichael Maker24.90

Source: Equibase [1]

Times:​1⁄4 – 0:23.61; ​1⁄2 – 0:47.84; ​3⁄4 – 1:12.82; mile – 1:38.27; final – 2:04.27.
Fractional Splits: (:23.61) (:24.23) (:24.98) (:25.45) (:26.00)

Payout

Payout Schedule: [1]

Program
Number		HorseWinPlaceShow
3Drosselmeyer31.6013.208.30
8Game On Dude13.609.20
4Flat Out9.80

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chart of the 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic". equibase.com. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "2011 Breeders' Cup Classic Preview". minnesota.cbslocal.com. 2011-11-03. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  3. ↑ Doche, Marc. "2011 Breeders' Cup Classic Post Positions: Odds, Preview and More". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 Pugmire, Lance (5 November 2011). "Breeders' Cup Classic is a heartbreaker". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  5. 1 2 Shinar, Jack. "Smith Gets Classic Redemption on Drosselmeyer". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
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