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Breeders Cup Summary - Day One

Summary of results from day one of the Breeders Cup meeting at Santa Anita.

DISTAFF

Leading sire Tapit set a new record for earnings by a North American-based sire in a single season when his outstanding daughter Untapable added the $2 million Breeders Cup Distaff to her record.

Untapable’s win was the highlight of the first day of the Breeders Cup meetings and took Tapit past the mark of $14,358,570 set by Smart Strike in 2007.

The Steven Asmussen-trained and Rosie Napravnik-ridden Untapable, having her first start against older horses, capped a stellar 3-year-old season that included wins in the Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose Stakes with a 1 1/4 length victory.

"Today definitely makes her a champion," said Asmussen, who trains the homebred filly for Winchell Thoroughbreds.

Untapable moved to the outside as the field entered the stretch, taking the lead and drawing away to beat Don't Tell Sophia.

Her rider Rosie Napravnik, who has piloted the filly to four G1 wins this year, announced after the race that she would now retire to dedicate herself to her family.

Tapit stands at Gainesway Farm and has sired G1 winners on turf, dirt and synthetic surfaces from seven furlongs to a mile and a half. He was raced by the Winchell family, who retained a half-share in the Wood Memorial winner after his retirement to stud.

Bought for $625,000 at the 2002 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Tapit stood his first season at Gainesway in 2005 for $15,000. He was available this season for $150,000.

JUVENILE TURF

The Wesley Ward-trained Hootenanny (Quality Road x More Hennessy by Hennessy) won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Friday, defeating his stablemate Luck Of The Kitten by three quarters of a length.

Ridden by Frankie Dettori, the Florida-trained youngster has now started five times and won races in three countries

The Coolmore-owned colt is the first G1 winner for his Lanes End Farm-based sire Quality Road, a son of Elusive Quality.

He followed up his victory earlier in the year in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and second in the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville.

He was a $75,000 purchase at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale. Hootenanny was initially purchased by Winding Oaks Farm for $120,000 from the Eaton Sales consignment to the 2012 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Pinhooked by St. George Sales to the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, he was purchased by Cromwell Bloodstock for $75,000.

Wes Ward was not at Santa Anita, spending time in Florida with family.

DIRT MILE

Making his final career start, Goldencents (Into Mischief x Golden Works by Banker’s Gold) became the first repeat winner of the Dirt Mile in the race's seven-year history with a courageous display of speed and heart.

Challenged for the lead during the first quarter by Vicar's in Trouble, Goldencents set quick fractions before Tapiture made a game attempt to catch him in the stretch.

The 4-year-old, owned by W.C. Racing, won by 1 1/4 lengths with five lengths to the third horse in a final time of 1:35.16, nearly the same time as the 1:35.12 he ran winning the Dirt Mile in 2013.

With the victory Goldencents surpassed $3 million in career earnings. He will stand next season with his sire at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky.

Jockey Rafael Bejarano guided Goldencents to victory for a second straight year as the Southern California-based rider earned his fifth career Breeders' Cup victory.

Winning trainer was Leandro Mora, assistant to Goldencents' suspended regular trainer Doug O'Neill.

JUVENILE FILLIES TURF

Unbeaten filly Lady Eli (Divine Park x Sacre Coeur by Saint Ballado) won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to become the first G1 winner for her sire.

Divine Park (Chester House) stands at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky.

Trainer Chad Brown thought there was something special about Lady Eli from the first time the filly breezed on the turf.

"I'm so proud of her to see her run like this," said Brown, who had three other fillies in the race. "We develop these babies from scratch, and I remember the first time I saw her breeze on the turf. It took my breath away.

"I told the owners she was something special and she proved out to be. It all worked out."

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Lady Eli sat fourth along the rail until the top of the lane and exploded past front-running Sunset Glow to win going away by two and three quarter lengths.

Her time of 1:33.41 is the fastest time ever posted in the one mile race and was 1.38 seconds faster than the Juvenile Turf earlier on the card.

The win brought her record to a perfect three wins from three starts.

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