The 26th edition of the Breeders' Cup World Championships got underway Friday at Santa Anita Park under sunny skies with a post-time temperature of 70 degrees. This is the second straight year the World Championships are being held at Santa Anita.
Friday's program consisted of six races, including all five for fillies and mares. More than $8 million was on the line during the running of the six contests. The remaining eight championship events will be conducted Saturday.
Highlighting the first day's races was Life Is Sweet, stablemate of champion mare Zenyatta, in the $2 million Ladies' Classic. The 8-1 choice came roaring down the stretch to win the Ladies' Classic concluding the first day of competition.
Zenyatta was held out of the Ladies' Classic to run in Saturday's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic versus the males. Also absent from the race was three- year-old filly Rachel Alexandra who is on vacation till next year.
Post-time favorite Careless Jewel set the pace in the 1 1/8 mile event for fillies and mares. The three-year-old filly led by as much as 10-lengths on Santa Anita's synthetic track.
Around the final turn the leader began to tire as the rest of the field cut into her lead. Careless Jewel faded badly down the stretch as Life Is Sweet and jockey Garrett Gomez rallied down the middle of the track.
Life Is Sweet, trained by John Shirreffs, posted a 2 1/2-length victory over Mushka with Music Note finishing third for the second straight year.
The time for the Ladies' Classic was 1:48.58.
Completing the order of finish was Proviso, Rainbow View, Cocoa Beach, Lethal Heat and Careless Jewel.
Owned by Pam and Martin Wygod, Life Is Sweet earned $1 million with the win. In 15 career starts the four-year-old filly has six wins for $1.7 million.
Life Is Sweet returned $18.20, $8.00 and $5.00. Mushka paid $12.80 and $6.40, and Music Note paid $3.20 to show.
The program began with Man of Iron winning the $500,000 Marathon. Ridden by John Murtagh, Man of Iron defeated Cloudy's Knight by a nose in the 1 3/4 mile race.
Setting the pace in the Marathon was Black Astor with Nite Light running in second and 2008 winner Muhannak in third. Not far behind the leaders was 7-5 favorite Mastery.
With a mile to run Black Astor still had the lead followed by Nite Light, Muhannak, Sir Dave and Mastery. Entering the far turn Mastery drew closer to the lead as Cloudy's Knight ranged on the outside.
Cloudy's Knight took the lead around the final turn with Mastery moving into second. At the top of the stretch Cloudy's Knight had the lead over Mastery as Man of Iron began to rally on the inside.
At the wire Man of Iron caught Cloudy's Knight to win the race with Mastery third and Gangbuster finishing fourth in the 10 horse field.
Completing the order of finish was Muhannak, Father Time, Eldaafer, Nite Light, Black Astor and Sir Dave
The time for the Breeders' Cup Marathon was 2:54.11.
Man of Iron is trained by Aidan O'Brien for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. The European based three-year-old has now won four of 10 career starts. The Marathon victory was worth $300,000 to bring his career earnings to $356,506.
"That was brilliant," said O'Brien. "We're delighted. Johnny (Murtagh) gave him a wonderful ride. Johnny said that he was just going to take his time because that's the way he likes to be ridden. That's what he did. It was just a marvelous ride."
Man of Iron paid $14.80, $7.20 and $4.40. Cloudy's Knight returned $7.40 and $4.60, and Mastery paid $2.40 to show.
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