Trainer Richard Mandella completed the greatest day in racing history when his Pleasantly Perfect swept past the leaders in the stretch and won the US$4 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday.
Mandella, a quiet Californian who often works in the shadow of Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas, also won the US$1.5 Juvenile with Action This Day, the US$1 million Juveniles with Halfbridled and his Johar deadheated with High Chaparral in the US$2 million Turf.
But it was Pleasantly Perfect's stunning win in the Classic that had the crowd roaring at Santa Anita.
PHOTO: AP
With favorite Medaglia d'Oro and Congaree locked in a stretch duel, Pleasantly Perfect charged past them on the outside and won by 1 1/2 lengths. Medaglia d'Oro finished second for the second year in a row. Dynever was third.
Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide was never in contention and finished ninth in the 10-horse field. Defending champion Volponi, who ran the final race of his career, was last.
Pleasantly Perfect simply ran the best race of his career in beating many of the world's top horses.
The 5-year-old son of Pleasant Colony, ridden by Alex Solis, came into the race off a victory in the Goodwood Handicap three weeks ago on this track. Clearly, the horse loves the course.
And Mandella has himself an early birthday present. The trainer who turns 53 on Nov. 5, won two Breeders' Cup races the last time these championships visited Santa Anita, 10 years ago.
Of the seven horses he ran Saturday, four won and two others cashed, bringing the total earnings to US$4,564,040. Trainers earn a standard 10 percent, but expect his owners to deliver some extra cash.
"I never thought lightning would strike twice, but it struck harder," Mandella said.
Mandella played a part in another kind of history as Julie Krone, aboard Halfbridled, became the first female jockey to win a Breeders' Cup race.
While Mandella celebrates, Bobby Frankel will have a hard time recovering from another dismal day at the Breeders' Cup.
He sent out eight horses, including favorites Medaglia d'Oro, Sightseek in the Distaff and Aldebaran in the Sprint -- and did not win. He is now 2-for-57 in the Breeders' Cup. Pleasantly Perfect, ridden by Alex Solis, covered the 1.25 miles in 1:59.88 and returned US$30.40, US$9.60 and US$6.60.
Congaree was fourth, followed by Hold That Tiger, Perfect Drift, Evening Attire, Ten Most Wanted, Funny Cide and Volponi.
The upset virtually assures that the retired Mineshaft will end up as Horse of the Year. Medaglia d'Oro, Perfect Drift and even Funny Cide were ready to stake a claim to the title with a Classic victory. With the victory, Pleasantly Perfect earned US$2,080,000 for Gerald J. Ford, who owns Diamond A Racing Corp. Leaving from the No. 2 post, Pleasantly Perfect was still seventh with a half-mile to go, and fifth with a quarter-mile left. But when Solis swung outside, Pleasantly Perfect responded with a surge to blow past Medaglia d'Oro and Congaree.
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