Well, the Breeders Cup Classic was an instant classic race with Arrogate taking California Chrome down the stretch and passing him at the finish, but the best race of the weekend was
the Breeders Cup Distaff. The Distaff was loaded with talent from Beholder, Stellar Wind, I'm a Chatterbox, Curalina, and of course Songbird. All year I have talked about how I think Songbird is the best three year old horse in the country. She may never face the boys, but this race was a huge test for her as she was finally racing against older horses and especially the champion mare Beholder. In sports they always talk about how some games can come down to matter of inches. Well this amazing race came down to one, one inch!! Songbird popped right out of the gate as she always does. It was looking like it could be another wire to wire win, but Mike Smith was way to smart for that, he knew Gary Stevens and Beholder were going to challenge him at some point. On the far turn Beholder starting coming and as they hit the stretch it was a two horse race between Songbird and Beholder. They both ran their best races and their hearts out. An instant classic to be watched again for many years to come that was decided by a photo finish with Beholder beating Songbird by an inch. I honestly would've been happy with a dead heat tie, as both horses won that race in my book. Both are amazing and on this special day is what great to hear the roars of the crowd as Beholder, Mike Smith, Richard Mandella, and the Sprendthrift Farm connections celebrated winning their last race. Beholder went out a champion and as for Songbird the racing world cannot wait to see her race in her 2017. Songbird will go relax at winstar the rest of the year, not a bad way to end her amazing 2016 run. As per the Classic. It was another great race that closed out a great weekend. I thought California Chrome had it, but Mike Smith and Arrogoate ran the better and smarter race that day. Breeders Cup weekend is a test of champions, the race cards are loaded with talent and big field sizes. With the mountains in the background at Santa Anita, and all the great races I saw this past weekend, this will be a Breeders Cup I'll remember for a long long time. So see you all soon again next year . . . but wait there's something new and exciting brewing down in the south near the beaches of Miami, the Pegasus!!!!