2011 Breeders' Cup Classic

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.

28th Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
LocationChurchill Downs
DateNovember 5, 2011 (2011-11-05)
Winning horseDrosselmeyer
JockeyMike E. Smith
TrainerWilliam I. Mott
OwnerWinStar Farm
Conditionsfast[1]
SurfaceDirt

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]

  • Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds: 122 pounds (55 kg)
  • Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds: 117 pounds (53 kg)
  • Four-year-olds and up: 126 pounds (57 kg)
  • Any fillies or mares receive a 3 pounds (1.4 kg) allowance

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

Finish Program
Number
Margin
(lengths)
Horse Jockey Trainer Final
Odds
Winnings
1st 3 1 12 lengths Drosselmeyer Mike Smith Bill Mott 14.80 2,700,000
2nd81 lengthGame On DudeChantal SutherlandBob Baffert14.20900,000
3rd412Ruler On IceGarrett GomezKelly Breen17.20495,000
4th10HeadHavre de GraceRamon DominguezJ. Larry Jones4.10300,000
5th2NeckFlat OutAlex SolisCharles Dickey3.60150,000
6th5NeckSo You Think (NZ)Ryan MooreAidan O'Brien5.30
7th1312To Honor and ServeJose LezcanoWilliam Mott9.90
8th61 14Ice BoxCorey NakataniNicholas Zito30.60
9th71 12Rattlesnake BridgeCalvin BorelKiaran McLaughlin21.10
10th12NoseUncle MoJohn VelazquezTodd Pletcher5.40
11th934Stay ThirstyJavier CastellanoTodd Pletcher11.80
12th11HeadachePaco LopezMichael Maker24.90

Source: Equibase[1]

Times: 14 – 0:23.61; 12 – 0:47.84; 34 – 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
Horse Win Place Show
3 Drosselmeyer 31.60 13.20 8.30
8 Game On Dude 13.60 9.20
4 Flat Out 9.80

References

  1. "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. Pugmire, Lance (5 November 2011). "Breeders' Cup Classic is a heartbreaker". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  5. Shinar, Jack. "Smith Gets Classic Redemption on Drosselmeyer". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
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