2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf presented by Coolmore America

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Race Info
History

A year after settling for second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park with Chimney Rock, owner Three Diamonds Farm and trainer Mike Maker fared one better Nov. 6 in the 2020 Breeders' Cup.

A year after settling for second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park with Chimney Rock, owner Three Diamonds Farm and trainer Mike Maker fared one better Nov. 6 in the 2020 Breeders' Cup. The duo connected with Fire At Will, who upset favorite Battleground and other international and domestic runners in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America.

Although Fire At Will entered off two consecutive stakes victories, the off-the-grass With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga, followed by the Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park, bettors paid him scant respect. The 2-year-old son of Declaration of War was dismissed at 30.20-1 odds.

There was no overlooking him in the race itself. Once the gates opened, Fire At Will showed he belonged. He quickly secured a forward position under Ricardo Santana Jr., sitting an inside pocket trip in third as Outadore set the pace.

Angled a few paths off the rail for the stretch, Fire At Will asserted his superiority. He caught Outadore in midstretch and powered away by three lengths, covering the distance in 1:35.81 on good turf, a tenth of a second slower than Aunt Pearl's clocking in the Breeders' Cup Juveniles Fillies Turf about an hour later (see recap below).

"Last year we were unlucky to lose with Chimney Rock, and Fire At Will made us forget all about it," Maker said.

The colt gave his trainer his third Breeders' Cup victory following champion Hansen's front-running score in the 2011 Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Furthest Land's triumph in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Fire at Will is not a difficult horse to ride, Maker said, and Santana made it look easy.

"I got a beautiful trip. I had plenty of horse in the tank," said the jockey, who notched his second Breeders' Cup win after Mitole's score in the Breeders' Cup Sprint last year.

The 3.80-1 favorite Battleground, bidding to give trainer Aidan O'Brien, jockey Ryan Moore, and his Coolmore-affiliated ownership their fifth Juvenile Turf victory, rallied to grab second, a neck ahead of Outadore.

Fire At Will improved to three wins from four starts and boosted his earnings to $657,932.

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Fastest Time (since 1976): 1:33:20
Greatest Winning Margin (since 1976): 3 lengths

Date	Past Winner	Trainer	Jockey	Owner
11/02/2023	Unquestionable (FR) Trainer / Aidan P. O'Brien Jockey / Ryan L. Moore Owner / Al Shaqab Racing, Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B., Smith, Derrick and Westerberg	Aidan P. O'Brien	Ryan L. Moore	Al Shaqab Racing, Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B., Smith, Derrick and Westerberg
11/03/2022	Victoria Road (IRE) Trainer / Aidan P. O'Brien Jockey / Ryan L. Moore Owner / Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor, and Smith.	Aidan P. O'Brien	Ryan L. Moore	Westerberg, Magnier, Tabor, and Smith.
11/04/2021	Modern Games (IRE) Trainer / Charles Appleby Jockey / William T. Buick Owner / Godolphin, LLC	Charles Appleby	William T. Buick	Godolphin, LLC
11/05/2020	Fire At Will Trainer / Michael J. Maker Jockey / Ricardo Santana, Jr. Owner / Three Diamonds Farm	Michael J. Maker	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	Three Diamonds Farm
10/31/2019	Structor Trainer / Chad C. Brown Jockey / Jose L. Ortiz Owner / Drown, Jeff and Rachel, Don	Chad C. Brown	Jose L. Ortiz	Drown, Jeff and Rachel, Don
11/01/2018	Line of Duty (IRE) Trainer / Charles Appleby Jockey / William T. Buick Owner / Godolphin, LLC	Charles Appleby	William T. Buick	Godolphin, LLC
11/02/2017	Mendelssohn Trainer / Aidan P. O'Brien Jockey / Ryan L. Moore Owner / Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick	Aidan P. O'Brien	Ryan L. Moore	Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick
11/03/2016	Oscar Performance Trainer / Brian A. Lynch Jockey / Jose L. Ortiz Owner / Amerman Racing LLC	Brian A. Lynch	Jose L. Ortiz	Amerman Racing LLC
10/29/2015	Hit It a Bomb Trainer / Aidan P. O'Brien Jockey / Ryan L. Moore Owner / Mrs. Evelyn M. Stockwell	Aidan P. O'Brien	Ryan L. Moore	Mrs. Evelyn M. Stockwell
10/30/2014	Hootenanny Trainer / Wesley A. Ward Jockey / Lanfranco Dettori Owner / Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick	Wesley A. Ward	Lanfranco Dettori	Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick
10/31/2013	Outstrip Trainer / Charles Appleby Jockey / Mike E. Smith Owner / Godolphin, LLC	Charles Appleby	Mike E. Smith	Godolphin, LLC
11/02/2012	George Vancouver Trainer / Aidan P. O'Brien Jockey / Ryan L. Moore Owner / Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick	Aidan P. O'Brien	Ryan L. Moore	Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick
11/04/2011	Wrote (IRE) Trainer / Aidan P. O'Brien Jockey / Ryan L. Moore Owner / Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick	Aidan P. O'Brien	Ryan L. Moore	Tabor, Michael B., Magnier, Mrs. John, and Smith, Derrick
11/05/2010	Pluck Trainer / Todd A. Pletcher Jockey / Garrett K. Gomez Owner / Team Valor International	Todd A. Pletcher	Garrett K. Gomez	Team Valor International
11/06/2009	Pounced Trainer / John H. M. Gosden Jockey / Lanfranco Dettori Owner / Lady Serena Rothschild	John H. M. Gosden	Lanfranco Dettori	Lady Serena Rothschild
10/24/2008	Donativum (GB) Trainer / John H. M. Gosden Jockey / Lanfranco Dettori Owner / H.R.H. Princess Haya of Jordan and Darley Stable	John H. M. Gosden	Lanfranco Dettori	H.R.H. Princess Haya of Jordan and Darley Stable
10/25/2007	Nownownow Trainer / Francois Parisel Jockey / Julien R. Leparoux Owner / Fab Oak Stable	Francois Parisel	Julien R. Leparoux	Fab Oak Stable