A European longshot again dominated the shortest of Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar on Saturday when Starlust won a three-way photo by a nose in the $920,000 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).
The bigger story, however, was the fifth-place finish by American star and 4-5 favorite Cogburn, who seemed to have the race in hand turning for home but came up empty inside the final furlong and lost for the first time in four outings this season.
“I was in between two horses and he didn’t break that well today,” said Cogburn’s jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr. “I had to use him a little bit early. I just let him be him. I didn’t want to fight too much with him and I turned for home, I asked him to give me a good kick, but they went by me.”
Starlust, third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) last year in his lone previous trip to America, had won only one minor stakes, at York, in the interim. He had also finished adrift of seemingly more qualified Turf Sprint contenders like Bradsell and Big Evs over the past few months.
But Saturday was Starlust’s day. Last after the first quarter-mile, Starlust saved ground around the turn, made progress through the stretch while staying inside, and then knifed his way between Cogburn and others to outfinish California-based Motorious and Ag Bullet in a time of :55.92 for five furlongs on firm ground. Sent off at 33-1, Starlust paid $69.20 to win.
Finishing fourth was Star of Mystery, who was followed by Cogburn, Arzak, Isivunguvungu, reigning Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) winner Big Evs, Howard Wolowitz, Big Invasion, and Bradsell. Believing was a late scratch after acting up in the gate.
Starlust is owned by Mrs. Fitriani Hay, trained by Ralph Beckett, and was ridden by Rossa Ryan. It’s been a tremendous fall for Beckett and Ryan, who teamed up last month to win Europe’s biggest race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), with the filly Bluestocking.
“The reality is that when you’re in it, it’s very hard to enjoy it,” Beckett said. “I think probably we will enjoy it at the end of the year. And we’re nearly done now. We have a week’s left of runners and then there’s November and December and that’s when I’ll really (enjoy it). But, absolutely it has been a year like no other.”
Starlust, who is now 6-for-18 lifetime, was bred in England by Branton Court Stud. He is by Zoustar and out of the Group 3-winning Beyond Desire, a daughter of Invincible Spirit.
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