Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

About 30 miles from Hollywood, Oscar Performance delivered an award-winning effort to secure a 1 1/4-length victory in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park.

After tracking speedy Wellabled through a half-mile in :45.88 under jockey Jose Ortiz, Amerman Racing Stables’ homebred Oscar Performance moved to the lead in the far turn and was not seriously challenged in the stretch to win the first of four Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup stakes on Friday’s card.

“Absolutely fantastic. You always hope that it’s in the stars and it’s lovely when they all line up,” said trainer Brian Lynch, who secured his first Breeders’ Cup win. “He’s always been a little bit above the other 2-year-olds and we’ve worked him with the older horses. He sat and waited lovely and kicked it in in his works, so it was nice to see it all come to play today. Jose got him to cruise down the backside and kicked it in.”

A son of Kitten’s Joy out of Devine Actress, by Theatrical, Oscar Performance secured his third straight win and first Grade 1 score, completing one mile on firm turf in 1:33.28.

Lancaster Bomber finished second, followed by Good Samaritan, who had trouble on the first turn where he was swept very wide.

Wellabled and jockey E. T. Baird seized the lead going into the first turn and posted a quarter mile in :22.30 but Ortiz and Oscar Performance quickly settled into a tracking position. Oscar Performance engaged the early leader in the turn and after a few strides took command through six furlongs in 1:09.44.

“I had a perfect trip. He broke very alertly. I put myself where I wanted to be, right behind the speed,” said Ortiz, who also secured his first Breeders’ Cup score. “Approaching the half-mile pole, I felt I had a lot horse underneath me, so I just kind of waited until I crossed the quarter pole to unleash him.”