By Stefanie Grimm
The outside draw was no problem for Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) who came flying late to award trainer Aidan O'Brien another win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
The only O'Brien runner in the race, the son of Wootton Bassett likely would have been a shorter price if not for his last-out fifth as the beaten favorite in the G1 Prix JeanLuc Lagardere at Longchamp, a race in which he wore blinkers for the first time over soft turf. Otherwise sporting a nearly unblemished record including a second by just three-quarters of a length two back in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes in Ireland, Henri Matisse brought a two-time group-winning form line to Del Mar where he tried firm going for the first time.
Favored in now five of his six lifetime starts, the 7-2 chalk drew the unfavorable 13 hole for this one-mile affair, the longest distance the colt had tried to date. Guided by Ryan Moore and racing without the blinkers that O'Brien admitted may have affected his performance in France, Henri Matisse broke in stride but was happy to let nearly the entire field go ahead of him. Able to shift down to be two wide into the first turn, he had just Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who briefly delayed the start after breaking through the gate, behind him as 15-1 longshot Dream On (Not This Time) rushed up to lead through the opening quarter in :22.65. Shifted out to be three wide nearing the half-mile marker, the favorite began a gradual charge up along the outside but still had a lot of ground to make up as he swung widest of the field off the far turn. Coming down the crown of the track, Henri Matisse stayed outside of drama as jockey James Doyle almost came out of the saddle when Al Qudra (Ire) (No Nay Never) hooked legs with New Century (GB) (Kameko) at the furlong marker. All runners stayed up and the favorite, who began to drift down to the inside, sealed the deal narrowly over 29-1 American hopeful Iron Man Cal (Collected) while a late run from Aomori City netted third.
With the win, Aidan O'Brien earned his 20th Breeders' Cup victory, a number that equals him with the legendary D. Wayne Lukas. Ryan Moore added his 16th win after earning the victory in GI Juvenile Fillies Turf earlier in the card.
Of matching that record, O'Brien said: “It's incredible (to get to 20 Breeders' Cup wins and equal D. Wayne Lukas), obviously, and we all know what an unbelievably special man Wayne is. I'm honored to equal his record. He's the most special man and always been such a help to us. He rang me during the week and he spoke to me about this track and the way to ride; what to do and what not to do. He was explaining about the Classic and the way he thought we should ride it, so we feel very grateful and privileged that he was so good to tell us everything; honored really.”
Of the winner, Moore added: “He was very easy today and did it beautifully, we've been learning about him. He needed stepping up to a mile on a turning track on some nice ground helped him. We've just had to figure him out a little bit and I said to Aidan (O'Brien) before the race I thought he was by far the best horse in the race and he's done it easily. He just traveled into it. I was wide on the bend but he just took me there very comfortably. At home we race a lot in straight lines so on the turn some horses appreciate that. Everyone does such an amazing job at home and back at the stud to get these horses here. I just had to keep him out of trouble and not mess it up. He's showed today what an incredible horse he could be.”
Pedigree Note:
Coolmore's Wootton Bassett has now sired three winners from seven starters in the Breeders' Cup. Immortal Verse (Ire), a MG1SW, sold at the end of her racing career to BBA (Ireland) for a sales-topping 4,700,000gns at the 2013 Tattersalls December Mares Sale. From six foals to race, five have won including the likes of MG1SW and 'TDN Rising Star' Tenebrism (Caravaggio) and GSW Statuette (Justify). This is the family of French champion sprinter Last Tycoon (Ire) (Try My Best) and there is plenty of international top-level success to be found under the third dam with the likes of G1 French One Thousand Guineas winner Valentine Waltz (Ire) (Be My Guest) and GI Matron Stakes winner Sense of Style (Thunder Gulch). Immortal Verse is not represented by a yearling this season but reported a colt by Justify, a full-brother to the aforementioned Statuette, this spring.
Another for @Ballydoyle as Henri Matisse (Wootton Bassett) gets it done in the GI @BreedersCup Juvenile Turf!
Owner: @MerriebelleS & @coolmorestud partners
Breeder: Immortal Verse Syndicate
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore pic.twitter.com/PkFAMOcz9u— TDN (@theTDN) November 2, 2024
Friday, Del Mar
BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE TURF-GI, $920,000, Del Mar, 11-1, 2yo, c/g, 1mT, 1:34.48, fm.
1–HENRI MATISSE (IRE), 122, c, 2, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Immortal Verse (Ire) (Hwt. Filly-Eng- at 7 – 9 1/2 f., G1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, $1,053,873), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Side of Paradise (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Mill Princess (Ire), by Mill Reef
1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Merriebelle Stable, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier; B-Immortal Verse Syndicate (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien; J-Ryan L. Moore. $520,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Ire, 6-4-1-0, $783,148. *1/2 to Tenebrism (Caravaggio), Hwt. Filly-Ire, Hwt. Filly-Eng, Hwt.-Fr – at 5 – 7 f., Hwt. Filly-Eur, G1SW-Eng, G1SW-Fr, SW & G1SP-Ire, $662,772; 1/2 to Statuette (Justify), GSW-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Iron Man Cal, 122, c, 2, Collected–Joyful Dreams, by Kitten's Joy. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($130,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Little Red Feather Racing and Madaket Stables LLC; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Philip D'Amato. $170,000.
3–Aomori City (Fr), 122, c, 2, Oasis Dream (GB)–Setsuko (Fr), by Shamardal. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (€260,000 Ylg '23 ARAUG). O-Godolphin, LLC; B-SCEA Haras De Saint Pair & Ecurie Peregrine SAS (FR); T-Charles Appleby. $90,000.
Margins: NK, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.90, 29.00, 9.60.
Also Ran: New Century (GB), Dream On, Noble Confessor, Zulu Kingdom (Ire), Al Qudra (Ire), Satono Carnaval (Jpn), Seagulls Eleven (Ire), The Waco Kid (Ire), Mentee. Scratched: Kale's Angel, Minaret Station, Sabertooth, Tenacious Leader.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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