 |
|
| Staff Writer |
Del Mar's picturesque setting plays host to a memorable opening day of the 2024 Breeders' Cup World Championships, with European challengers asserting their dominance in the turf races. The sun-drenched California track witnesses Aidan O'Brien equalling D. Wayne Lukas's record of twenty Breeders' Cup victories with a masterful double, while Bob Baffert reinforces his juvenile supremacy with a commanding one-two in the feature race. The five-race card showcases racing's brightest young talents, with several maintaining perfect records in compelling fashion.
 |
Magnum Force is providing Ger Lyons with a memorable first Breeders' Cup success, swooping late under a masterful Colin Keane ride to land the opener at Del Mar.
The Mehmas colt, hugging the rail throughout, is pouncing in the final furlong to deny the front-running Governor Sam, who sets a strong early tempo under Paco Lopez. Arizona Blaze is staying on strongly for second, with Governor Sam holding third.
Completing five furlongs in 56.36 seconds, Magnum Force is delivering Keane his second championship victory, following his 2020 Turf success on Tarnawa.
Immersive is maintaining her unbeaten sequence with an emphatic display in the Juvenile Fillies, powering clear under Manny Franco for trainer Brad Cox.
The Godolphin homebred, now four from four, is travelling smoothly behind the pace-setting Nooni before unleashing a decisive move around the far turn. Vodka With A Twist and Scottish Lassie briefly threaten, but Immersive is proving a class apart, stretching clear for a four-and-a-half length success.
Quickick is running on late for third, as Cox celebrates his eleventh Breeders' Cup triumph and second in this contest following British Idiom's 2019 victory.
The exceptional Lake Victoria is maintaining her perfect record with a commanding performance, providing Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore with their second success in this race.
The daughter of Frankel, already a dual Group One winner in Europe, is tracking the pace-setting Thought Process before asserting her authority in the straight. Moving smoothly into contention, Lake Victoria is quickening impressively to score by one-and-a-half lengths from May Day Ready, with Nitrogen finishing strongly for third.
Completing the mile in 1:34.28, Lake Victoria is extending her unbeaten run to five, while delivering O'Brien his nineteenth Breeders' Cup victory.
Citizen Bull is leading home a stable exacta for Bob Baffert, making all under a confident Martin Garcia ride to claim the feature event on Future Stars Friday.
The Into Mischief colt, showing bright early speed, is never headed as he repels his stablemate Gaming by one-and-a-half lengths. Hill Road is producing a late surge to deny the third Baffert runner, Getaway Car, for minor honours.
Pre-race favourite East Avenue is compromising his chances with a poor start, eventually finishing ninth of ten runners. The victory marks Baffert's nineteenth Breeders' Cup success and sixth in the Juvenile.
Henri Matisse is providing Aidan O'Brien with a milestone success, as the Irish trainer equals D. Wayne Lukas's record of twenty Breeders' Cup victories.
The Wootton Bassett colt, positioned towards rear under Ryan Moore, is producing a sustained run down the outside to collar Iron Man Cal in the closing stages. Aomori City is flying home from last to claim third, as early leaders Dream On, Zulu Kingdom, and Mentee fade in the straight.
Completing a memorable double on the card for the Ballydoyle team following Lake Victoria's success, Henri Matisse is extending his winning sequence to four while recording an impressive 1:34.48 for the mile journey.