Brown Advisory Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

With a depleted squad caused by two veterinary scratches, trainer Aidan O’Brien held a less imposing hand than expected in the $1 million Brown Advisory Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. But it proved a winning hand all the same.

The legendary Irish trainer won his ninth Juvenile Turf and 23rd overall Breeders’ Cup race, pulling him one ahead of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert as the winningest trainer in Breeders’ Cup history, when a stalking Haffner pounced on the leaders and held off Folsom Blues by 1 ¾ lengths in the one-mile grass race for 2-year-olds. The victory gave O’Brien a fifth consecutive victory in the race.

Even Ryan Moore, his primary rider, got in on the action, replacing Christophe Soumillon after he became available when his mount, Great Barrier Reef, was pulled from competition. Man’s Best Friend was O’Brien’s other scratch. His other horse, Florida Bay, finished next to last.

Moore delivered his usual masterful ride from a good draw in post position 3, drafting in behind horses, a couple lengths behind a brisk early pace, before angling out in the stretch to launch his bid. The Justify colt, who races for owners Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Brooke Smith, and other partners, did the rest, pulling clear through the lane to finish a mile on firm turf in 1:35.19. He paid $9.46 for a $2 win wager

Folsom Blues, trained by one of O’Brien’s sons, Joseph, nosed out Avec Toi for the place. The latter, who set quarter-mile fractions of :23.02, :46.80, and 1:11.05, lasted for the show — giving European-trained horses a 1-2-3 finish. Oscar, trained by Miguel Clement, was the top-performing American, finishing fourth.

The Juvenile marked the second time one of Joseph’s horses finished second to a horse trained by his father in a Breeders’ Cup race Friday. Aidan O’Brien’s Sun Goddess defeated Green Empress earlier in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, with Moore also piloting that winner.

Father and son watched the Juvenile Turf together from Keeneland’s grandstand apron and hugged shortly after the finish. Their profession requires competition regardless of personal ties.

“We hate beating Joseph and his lads, and I mean that,” O’Brien said. “But, obviously, it’s business and it’s sport. We always do our very best, and we don’t give them an inch in any way.”

He also acknowledged the benefits of training high-class stock for the highly successful Coolmore team and its partners, plus the advantage of having Moore in the saddle.—Byron King