2014 Breeders' Cup Turf: Main Sequence Does it Again
{{monthName}} {{day}}, {{year}} {{hour12}}:{{minuteTwoDigit}}{{dayPeriod}}
For Main Sequence it does not seem to matter at what racetrack he runs or against which horses he
competes; the result has been the same. In the Breeders' Cup Turf Main Sequence beat a field of twelve with what
has become his signature move, a long sustained closing drive down the middle
of the track.
The victory in the Turf was the fourth consecutive grade one
stakes win for the Graham Motion trainee since he came to the United States in December. The win was Motion’s
third in the Breeders’ Cup and his second in this Turf event. Jockey John
Velazquez picked up his 13th career win in the World Championships.
The twelve-furlong race began with Imagining, Starspangled
Heat, and Hardest Core mixing it up for the early lead. Imagining set the first
two fractions in :25.00 and :47.76. After the pace quickened Hardest Core took
and led after three quarters in 1:11.15 and the mile in 1:36.10.
As the front running trio tired the late running turfers
began to make their moves. The European Telescope, who was the (8-5) betting
favorite, found an opening on the rail; Flintshire was closing between horses;
and Main Sequence was coming down the middle of the track after being ninth in
the early going.
In the end it was a battle between Flintshire and Main
Sequence. After Main Sequence took the lead, Flintshire battled to within a
head of Graham Motion’s star. However, Main Sequence dug in and extended his
lead to a half-length, which turned out to be his biggest margin of victory
this year.
An elated Motion said, “He did
everything so well and so easily today. He broke really well and went on from
there and did everything great. He’s really suited to American racing and he
just gets better and better. He’s a very impressive horse.”
Velazquez,
who was on Main Sequence for the first time, said, “(Regular rider) Rajiv (Maragh, who is injured) told me all
about the horse and how to ride him. He told me everything good about the horse
and he (Main Sequence) did exactly what he said. It was the perfect trip.”
The win gave Main Sequence another $1,650,000 and lifted his
career earnings to over $3,000,000. The mutuel payoffs were $14.40, $5.80, and
$4.20 across the board and the exacta with Flintshire paid $64.80 for a $2
wager.
The win in the BC Turf puts Main Sequence up with the very best American runners. Motion added, “I hadn’t even thought about Horse of the Year now, but I think he should be. Horses don’t win four Grade ones in a row like that. How many horses can do that? He has to be one of the best I’ve trained.”
Read More
Santa Anita's opening day was supposed to be the day-after-Christmas treat, but Mother Nature had other plans. Rain...
The past seven days delivered a solid set of maiden winners, with 29 horses posting Horse Racing Nation...
Unbeaten Grade 2 winner Ewing and stakes-winning Strategic Risk were scheduled to arrive Monday at Oaklawn to continue...
Two colts won points preps for Kentucky Derby 2026 on Saturday, joining the leaderboard with 10 points each....
Magnitude worked Monday for the first time since his Nov. 28 win in the Grade 2 Clark Stakes...