Furthest Land competed in the "blue-collar" Breeders' Cup (Claiming Crown) in July (Ted Terquinio/Horsephotos.com)

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's FURTHEST LAND (Smart Strike) continued his remarkable ascension through the class ranks when posting a 21-1 upset in the $909,000 Dirt Mile (G1). Claimed for $35,000 at Belmont Park on last year's Breeders' Cup weekend, the four-year-old gelding posted his first graded victory when capturing the Kentucky Cup Classic (G2) in his previous start, and he rallied from just off the pace to secure his biggest career win on Saturday at Santa Anita, collaring pacesetter Midshipman (Unbridled's Song) in deep stretch before withstanding a final surge from runner-up Ready's Echo (More Than Ready) by three-quarters of a length.

Mastercraftsman (Ire) (Danehill Dancer), the overwhelming 7-5 favorite, could not sustain his rally while in tight quarters during the stretch run and checked in fourth.

Julien Leparoux gave a heady ride aboard the Mike Maker-trained winner, who settled in along the rail entering the first turn as Midshipman flashed to the front and established an opening quarter-mile in a moderate :23 4/5. Furthest Land continued to stalk, a couple of lengths back, as the pacesetter recorded the next splits in :47 2/5 and 1:11, and after waiting briefly for room while entering the stretch, the dark bay came off the rail and went after Midshipman, catching the front runner inside the sixteenth pole. Ready's Echo, who rated in last through the opening three-quarters of a mile, was flying on the far outside from the back of the pack, but the 24-1 outsider left himself too much to do and settled for a second, a head better than Midshipman.

Furthest Land gave Julien Leparoux his third win in the 2009 BC (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)

"That was incredible," Maker said. "Honestly, he has trained as well as he ever has. He gave me a lot of confidence and his (synthetic) record speaks for itself."

Furthest Land paid $44.60, $18.40 and $9.60 after completing the mile in 1:35 2/5 on the Pro-Ride. Ready's Echo, who was bumped hard at the top of the stretch by Mambo Meister (King Cugat), capped the $329.10 longshot exacta ($1) and returned $18.20 and $9.40 after rallying for the place. Midshipman, the 3-1 second choice in 10-horse field, was good for $4.20. Mastercraftsman finished another three-quarters of length back. Mambo Meister, Neko Bay (Giant's Causeway), Mr. Sidney (Storm Cat), Chocolate Candy (Candy Ride [Arg]), Bullsbay (Tiznow) and Pyro (Pulpit) rounded out the order of finish.

Furthest Land's biggest career victory boosted his bankroll to $869,689 from his mark of 16-8-2-1. After being claimed, he won three straight in allowance or optional claiming company on the turf for his new connections. Furthest Land was then unplaced in a pair of turf stakes attempts, including an eighth in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1), but broke through with his initial stakes score in the off-the-turf Golden Bear S. on June 10. On that sloppy track at Indiana Downs, he set a new track record of 1:40 4/5 for the mile and 70 yards. Next came the Claiming Crown Jewel, but Furthest Land never fired on the dirt at Canterbury Downs, checking in fourth. He rebounded in the aforementioned Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park, garnering his first graded victory with a neck decision over the Polytrack.