Which 3 Breeders' Cup winners were most impressive?

Any time a horse wins a Breeders’ Cup race, it counts as a great accomplishment because in most instances the winner beat a quality field. But not every winning performance over the two event days is equal.

Based on a number of factors, including TimeformUS, here are the three best winning performances of the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar last weekend.

Life Is Good – Dirt Mile

Life Is Good set a fast pace and kept on moving in the stretch in a machine-like motion to capture the Dirt Mile with style. 

The most interesting part of Life Is Good’s win are the fractions. In a one-mile race, most people see opening fractions such as 22 and 45 as an indication of a fast pace for one mile, even at the graded stakes level.

Not many horses can set fractions of 21.88, 44.94 and 1:08.76 and still win. Yet Life Is Good set those lightning fractions and opened up in the stretch.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. used the whip once, but he did not need to.

Granted, Life Is Good did not beat the strongest Breeders' Cup field. But the runners behind him and left in the dust had some credibility.

For example, Ginobili won the local Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) and Restrainedvengence won a $200k stakes at Albuquerque Downs in their last starts before the Breeders’ Cup. Also, the fifth-place Silver State took both the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and Oaklawn Handicap (G2) earlier in the year.

The most important part is that Life Is Good earned a 129 TimeformUS Speed Figure without even trying his best. The sky is the limit for this exciting colt.

Golden Pal – Turf Sprint

With his blazing early speed and ease of win in the Turf Sprint, Golden Pal also impressed onlookers last weekend. From the start, he took control of the race and established an important cushion before the turn.

Although Golden Pal typically breaks well, he broke better than ever and established a two-length length margin quickly over a large field.

Lieutenant Dan cut into the lead slightly and tried to run with Golden Pal.

In fact, Lieutenant Dan pushed Golden Pal a bit in the stretch as well. When Golden Pal started to accelerate, Lieutenant Dan kept him within range. The two sprinters separated from the field in an impressive display of raw speed.

Still, Golden Pal needed only a vigorous hand ride in the stretch. He established his opening cushion quickly and maintained his advantage over Lieutenant Dan through the stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths, with 3 1/2 lengths separating Lieutenant Dan and the third-place Charmaine’s Mia as well.

Golden Pal set fractions of 22.25 and 43.91, with a final time of 55.22.

Because of the lack of time in a turf sprint, spaced-out margins are more difficult to pull off. The race is over before most horses can separate themselves.

Golden Pal finished first by a good margin over Lieutenant Dan and dominated the rest of the field as well. The racing public immediately started to rave over Golden Pal’s win, and he deserved the attention for his display of early speed and keeping a talented challenger at bay.

For his effort, Golden Pal earned a career-high 125 on TimeformUS.

Echo Zulu – Juvenile Fillies

Compared with the horses listed above, Echo Zulu went at a relatively easier pace before winning the Juvenile Fillies in easy fashion on Day 1.

Echo Zulu secured an uncontested lead by the first turn and ticked off fractions of 23.42 and 47.01, which are mild numbers for a Grade 1.

Tarabi chased close by in second, while Juju’s Map stalked outside in third.

The impressive part came in the stretch.

After Tarabi and Juju’s Map briefly moved closer on the turn, Echo Zulu opened up again in mid-stretch under a hand ride from jockey Joel Rosario.

Without any whip use, Echo Zulu won by 5 1/4 lengths. She also made a good lead switch early in the stretch and ran straight in a professional manner.

In addition, Echo Zulu earned a 114 TimeformUS Speed Figure, and that is the most important part because numbers are the heart of handicapping.

Put Echo Zulu’s winning margin and fluid running motion together with the speed figure, and this is one exciting filly to watch next spring.