By Alan Carasso
If you decided to swallow the skinny-ish 6-5 about Godolphin's Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Mile, Sponsored by the Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund (PDJF) at Keeneland Saturday, hey–you actually got paid this time around.
The striking chestnut, who exuded confidence and class throughout the week–as reported by TDN's Steve Sherack and Christie DeBernardis on site–steamed down the center of the Keeneland turf course once produced in upper stretch by William Buick and raced away for a second consecutive victory at the Breeders' Cup.
Modern Games looked a bit toey in the stalls and indeed, hopped at the break, but was able to establish a position in midpack as Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute) took pace pressure in the form of European raider Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}), who held his spot at the rail, forcing Smooth Like Strait to make the running from the two path. The speed was strong enough–:23 flat for the opening quarter and :46.81 past midway–and that would have been much to the liking of Buick, who began to feel for Modern Games at the five-sixteenths pole, with 2020 Mile hero Order of Australia (GB) (Australia {GB}) lapped to his outside. The duo crept into a striking position as they neared the stretch, was swung out wide when push came to shove and showed a more decisive finishing kick than the Ballydoyle runner, hitting another gear entering the final furlong before motoring home to score cozily. 'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) ran on gamely and outfinished Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who worked out a nice trip from a double-digit draw beneath Frankie Dettori, to be third.
Modern Games was famously erroneously scratched after breaking through the inside stall before last year's GI Juvenile Turf, then was unscratched, but ultimately ran for purse money only. He duly won the race with a minimum of fuss. Modern Games, 6-5 on the tote as the gates sprung Saturday, returned $4.76–or nearly 7-5–under the new penny breakage rules in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was pulled up and out of the race at the half-mile pole by Flavien Prat. A statement from Breeders' Cup said the 5-year-old was off in his left hind, was attended to by veterinarians and transported back to the barn by equine ambulance. There was no indication of lower-limb fracture, the statement said, and he was being stabilized for transfer to Rood & Riddle for further evaluation. Later in the afternoon trainer Chad Brown tweeted that Domestic Spending had suffered 'a serious pelvic fracture' and that he would provide updates when available.
“He has so many attributes to himself–his size, he's neat, he's nimble,” said trainer Charlie Appleby, celebrating an eighth Breeders' Cup success and fifth in the last two years. “That's why I think he's always thrived on these tracks here. Wherever he is, he's small enough to get through the gaps and he's neat enough to get around those turns.”
With Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) the team for the 'Boys in Blue' for the G1 English 2000 Guineas–they ultimately ran 1-2–Modern Games made the French equivalent a few weeks later his seasonal debut and validated 2-1 favoritism. Third in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club over a stamina-stretching 2100 meters, he was a slightly disappointing fifth in the G1 Prix Jean Prat going seven furlongs ahead of a brave second to Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood July 27. A slashing, 5 1/4-length winner over Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) in the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile Sept. 17, the chestnut was back at home for his latest in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. over rain-affected Ascot turf on QIPCO British Champions S. Oct. 15.
“He finished second [to Bayside Boy {Ire}, by New Bay {GB}] and from start to finish hated the ground, [that's ]the horse he is. A true warrior,” said Appleby.
Modern Games will be programmed for races like the G1 Lockinge S. and G1 Queen Anne S. early next season, with a return to California for a defense of his title very much on the cards, Appleby said.
Pedigree Notes:
The all-conquering Dubawi was earning a fifth Breeders' Cup race winner (Rebel's Romance would go on to make it a half-dozen in the Turf), including champion Yibir (GB) and Mile winner Space Blues (Ire) in addition to Modern Games last year.
As if his female family needed further burnishing, Modern Games's year-younger half-sister Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was second in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot this past June before going one better in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. during Newmarket's July meeting. Mawj was most recently third to Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus})–whom she beat in the Duke of Cambridge–and Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf romper Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never) in the G1 Cheveley Park S. at headquarters Sept. 24.
The last reported foal out of Modern Ideals is a yearling filly by Mastercraftsman (Ire). Modern Games's female family also includes the outstanding Bosra Sham (Woodman) and her full-brother Hector Protector.
Saturday, Keeneland
FANDUEL BREEDERS' CUP MILE PRESENTED BY PDJF-GI, $1,840,000, Keeneland, 11-5, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:33.96, fm.
1–MODERN GAMES (IRE), 123, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Modern Ideals (GB), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Epitome (Ire), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Proskona, by Mr. Prospector
O-Godolphin, LLC Lessee; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charles Appleby; J-William T. Buick. $1,040,000. Lifetime Record: 13-7-3-1, $3,176,716. *1/2 to Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), GSW & G1SP-Eng, $153,786; 1/2 to Modern News (GB) (Shamardal), SW & MGSP-Eng, SP-UAE, $201,610. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shirl's Speight, 126, h, 5, Speightstown–Perfect Shirl, by Perfect Soul (Ire). 'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Charles E. Fipke (KY); T-Roger L. Attfield. $340,000.
3–Kinross (GB), 126, g, 5, Kingman (GB)–Ceilidh House (GB), by Selkirk. 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Marcstown Thoroughbreds; B-Lawn Stud (GB); T-Ralph Beckett. $180,000.
Margins: 3/4, NO, NK. Odds: 1.38, 55.67, 9.39.
Also Ran: Ivar (Brz), Malavath (Ire), Order of Australia (Ire), Pogo (Ire), Beyond Brilliant, Smooth Like Strait, Regal Glory, Annapolis, Dreamloper (Ire), Front Run the Fed, Domestic Spending (GB). Scratched: Gear Jockey, King Cause.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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