The Thoroughbred Daily News Is delivered to your fax each morning by 5 a.m. For subscription information, please call (732) 747-8060. THOROUGHBRETtTM D • A • 1 • L • Y N*E*W*S Tk" SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1998 $2 Daily Saturday, Churchill Downs: Breeders' • Cup BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC-GI, $4,689,920, CDX, 11-7, 3yo/up, 1 1/4m, 2:02, ft. XV 1-AWESOME AGAIN. 126, c. 4, Deputy Minister- Primal Force, by Blushing Groom (Fr). 0-Stronach 'AWESOME' AFTERNOON Stables, EA&B Stronach; B-Stronach Frank (CAN); T-Patrick B Byrne; J-P Day; $2,662,400. Lifetime FOR BREEDERS' CUP XV The Record: 12-9-0-2, $4,374,589. autumn weather was picture-perfect for 2-SiIver Charm, 126, c, 4, Silver Buck-Bonnie's Poker, 0^' the record Breeders' Cup crowd of by Poker. ($16,500 yrl '95 OBSAUG; $100,000 2yo 80,542 at Churchill Downs yesterday 1996 OBSAPR). 0-Lewis Robert B& Beverly J; afternoon, but the finish of the $5,120,000 Classic was anything but. There were six B-Wootton Mary Lou (FL); $1,024,000. horses still in with a chance at the eighth pole, but they 3-Swain (Ire), 126, h, 6, Nashwan-Love Smitten, by came to the wire like a cavalry charge, with Swain (Ire) Key to the Mint. 0-Godolphin; B-Sheikh Mohammed (Nashwan) rallying so wide under jockey Frankie bin Rashid Ai Maktoum; $614,400. Dettori's left-handed punishment that he nearly ran Margins: 3/4, NK, NO. Odds: 4.70A, 2.50, 6.80. down the photographers shooting along the outside rail. Also Ran: Victory Gallop, Coronado's Quest, Skip Away, Jockey Gary Stevens, aboard Silver Charm (Silver Buck), Running Stag, Touch Gold, Arch. DNF: Gentlemen (Arg). was afraid his mount couldn't see the European coming Amid all the speculation about whether Silver Charm and drifted wide as well, opening a gap down the center or Skip Away would prove best in their long awaited of the track wider than Ohio River. And, like Moses match-up, Pat Byrne quietly and confidently prepared parting the Red Sea, jockey Pat Day and Awesome the undefeated Awesome Again to face the best horses Again (Deputy Minister) came on through and held on to in training. It was only a year earlier at Hollywood Park take the Classic by three-quarters of a length. The '97 that Byrne won his first two Breeders' Cup races with Derby winner gave it his all, but had to settle for sec Favorite Trick in the Juvenile and Countess Diana in the ond; Swain, runner-up by a nose to Silver Charm in this Juvenile Fillies. Two months later, he gave up his cham year's Dubai World Cup, ran on gamely to be third de pions to train Frank Stronach's vast string of talented spite the trip."Swain and Silver Charm were coming horseflesh, including Awesome Again. The one knock back at him, but they were both bearing out," said against Awesome Again was that he hadn't consistently jockey Pat Day, taking his third Classic and 10th Breed faced top competition in a campaign which saw him ers' Cup race overall. "We moved inside and we were beat Silver Charm in the Gil Stephen Foster at Churchill, on our way. This horse had a lot of confidence. He and win the Gl Whitney and Gil Saratoga Breeders' Cup. didn't believe he could be beat." Awesome Again has But instead of propping for the Classic in New York or not been beaten this campaign. In any other year, his Kentucky, Awesome Again shipped to Chicago and took perfect six-for-six season, culminating with Classic the Gill Hawthorne Gold Cup at odds of 1-10. Sent off success, would be an automatic ticket to Horse of the the 9-2 third choice as part of an entry, the bay raced in Year. But he will have a tough time taking the honor eighth early as Coronado's Quest (Forty Niner) and Arch from Skip Away (Skip Trial). Tucked in along the inside (Kris S.) set a good early pace. Advancing four wide on off the pace of Coronado's Quest (Forty Niner) (5th), the second turn, he split horses in midstretch, closed the gray, on the board in his 26 starts since running with a rush outside of Victory Gallop (Cryptoclearance) 12th in the 1996 Kentucky Derby over this strip, tried and was up in time to get the win. "He's a brilliant to make his move on the far turn, but was without his racehorse," said Byrne. "He's done everything perfect usual knockout punch and could only spin his wheels in and I think he should be considered for Horse of the the stretch, finishing sixth. "I knew 50 yards into the Year." Gentlemen (Robin des Bois), well-placed early, race i was in trouble," said his jockey, Jerry Bailey. "He bled and was eased late. "He's not in desperate shape, just could not handle the track." "I'm ready to cry, but I but he bled significantly, said trainer Richard Mandella. won't," said trainer Sonny Hine. "It's just a shame it turned out like it did. it's too bad it had to end on a sour note. But he gave me plenty." The five-year-old won STAKES CLOSINGS seven of his nine appearances this year, capturing five TOMORROW. MONDAY. NOVEMBER 9: Grade I races in four different states, but couldn't take 11-21 $100,000 Mecke S., Ore, 2yo, 8.5ft, over the top spot on the all-time earnings list. He retires (100) with a bankroll of $9,616,360, $383,455 behind Cigar. 11-22 $ 100,000 Hollywood Wildcat, Ore, DA HOSS DEFIES THE ODDS, p3 2yo, f, S.dfT, (100) •PAGE 2 • THOROUGHBRED DAH^Y NEWS • 11-8-98 Saturday, Churchill Downs: BREEDERS' CUP DISTAFF-GI, $1,832,000, CDX, 11-7, BREEDERS' CUP TURF-GI, $1,832,000, CDX, 11-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:49 4/5, ft. 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:28 3/5, fm. 1-ESCENA, 123, m, 5, Strawberry Road (Aus)- 1-BUCK'S BOY, 126, g, 5, Bucksplasher-Molly's Claxton's Slew (MSW-Ire), by Seattle Slew. Colleen, by Verbatim. ($8,000 yrl '94 OBSJAN). 0/B-Paulson Allen E (KY); T-Wllliam I Mott; J-G L •-Quarter B Farm; B-lrish Acres Farm (ID: T-P Noel Stevens: $1,040,000. Lifetime Record: 29-11-9-3, Hickey; J-S J Sellers; $1,040,000. Lifetime Record: $2,962,639. *1/2 to Humbel (Theatrical {Ire}), 25-14-4-1, $2,308,530. ♦ 1/2 to Z. Bengal Tiger MGSW-Ire, $158,553. (Ziad), MSP, $227,487; Beau Sierra (That's A Nice), 2-Banshee Breeze, 120, f, 3, Unbridled-Banshee SP, $240,282. Winds, by Known Fact. 0-James B Tafel & Jayeff B 2"Yagll, 126, h, 5, Jade Hunter-Nijinsky's Best, by Stables; B-Tafel James B (KY); $400,000. Nijinsky II. 0/B-Paulson Allen E (KY); $400,000. 3-Keeper Hill, 120, f, 3, Deputy Minister-Fineza, by 3-Dushyantor, 126, h, 5, Sadler's Wells-Slightly Lypheor (GB). ($250,000 2yo 1997 KEEAPR). 0-Dr J Dangerous, by Roberto. 0/B-Juddmonte Farms (KY); & Mrs A Chandler, A Otto &CR McGaughey; $240,000. B-Chadds Ford Stable, et al (KY); $240,000. Margins: 1 1/4, 1 3/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 3.60, 19.30, 58.40. Margins: NO, 5, HF. Odds: 3.00, 0.80, 4.50. Also Ran: Chief Bearhart, Sunshine Street, Cetewayo, Also Ran: Tomisue's Delight, Tap to Music, Tuxedo Royal Anthem, Caitano (GB), Bonapartiste (Fr), Insatia Junction, Dancing Gulch, Kirby's Song. ble (Ire), River Bay, Leggera (Ire), Frapper Le Or. Escena established herself as the leader of the distaff Scratched: Daylami (Ire). division with a trio of victories in the spring, including It was 10 starts back, in last year's Turf, that Buck's the prestigious Gl Apple Blossom H. at Oaklawn Park Boy proved he belonged with the best turf horses in the Apr. 10 and back-to-back conquests in graded events at world. He led the field through fast splits for 1 1/4 miles Churchill Downs. She was also victorious in the Gl and hung on to finish fourth behind Chief Bearhart Vanity Invitational H. at Hollywood and second in the Gl (Chief's Crown). He started 1998 in fine form, winning Go For Wand H. at Saratoga before her form tailed off; four of seven starts including the July 26 GIC Hong her sixth-place finish in the Aug. 28 Gl Personal Ensign Kong Jockey Club at Woodbine, took a break, and came H. earned her a break from the races. Trainer Bill Mott back to finish second to Daylami (Ire) in the Sept. 12 Gl and jockey Gary Stevens decided to take this race to the Man o' War S. at Belmont. He followed that up with his rest of the field, as Escena looked to be the controlling first Grade I score in Belmont's Turf Classic Invitational speed. She established a reasonable pace while under H. Oct. 10. Well backed looking to add another to his only light pressure through the opening six furlongs in resume, the bay gelding was soon to the front and led 1:12, with Banshee Breeze biding her time towards the the field through very reasonable splits of :49 1/5 and outside, three lengths in arrears.