Jockey Joseph O’Brien looked to be an outstanding rider on the colt but at 5’11, it looks like the jockey may be moving on to another position in the horse industry in the next few years.
“I’ll keep riding for as long as possible,” O’Brien said. “Obviously, I can’t control my height and weight. I’ll try to control it as long as possible and take it from there.”
Even with the Turf’s story possibly winning story of the weekend, there were still more races to run, including one that may show the world the 2012 Kentucky Derby winner.
The three major strongholds in racing made up the top three placings in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as Kentucky-based Hansen proved to be the best over New York-based Union Rags with California horse Creative Cause coming in third a length behind the two. The rest of the 13-horse field finished five lengths back.
The end of the race proved to be exciting as Union Rags and Hansen duked it out in the final strides with Union Rags getting to Hansen the stride after the wire in what many hope is a preview of next year’s Kentucky Derby. But it is questionable if the horses will meet with Hansen, possibly making his way south for the winter.
“My guess is we’ll go to Florida. Obviously, we’ll have that next on our topic,” Trainer Michael Maker said.
Hansen is by the hot sire Tapit out of the Sir Cat mare Stormy Sunday, who went three-for-four in lower level races. With his win in the Juvenile, the colt became the favorite for the Kentucky Derby.
The Classic may be the biggest race of the Breeders’ Cup weekend but for fans, it was the Breeders’ Cup Mile where everyone waited to see if Goldikova would be able to win her fourth consecutive Breeders’ Cup Mile.
The Breeders’ Cup Mile looked to be another crown for three-time winner Goldikova. But while Goldikova was expected to win, the Mile looked as strong as it had in years, but the winner wouldn’t be anyone that most people would expect.
Court Vision, a long shot that hadn’t won since September of 2010, looked to be content racing in the back of the pack, so it was a surprise when the horse flew past the Queen of the Mile to assume the lead. However, Court Vision wouldn’t get the win easily as Turallure fought him every step of the stretch to end the race in a photo finish.
In the end, Court Vision would squeak out the win by a nose with Goldikova back in third. An inquiry would be launched into an interference by Goldikova with the last place horse Courageous Cat but in the end, the order would stand.
But just like others in the Breeders’ Cup, both Court Vision and Goldikova would be making their way to the breeding shed after the race.
“We’ve already made plans for him to go to Canada, and that’s what he’ll do,” Spendthrift’s general manager Ned Toffy said. “He’ll come to the farm. We’ll let the breeders take a look at him during the November sale, and then he’ll ship up to Canada and Park Stud.”
