Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile: Facts and Figures

The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile suffers from an identity crisis … or is it the Las Vegas Dirt Mile?

Whatever it is now known by … just don’t call it the “Mile”. We already have one of those, and it is a turf race.

Not the Sprint, and certainly not the ten-furlong Classic, the Dirt Mile falls somewhere uncomfortably between. For some, it fills a void. For others, it is the reason neither the Sprint, nor the Classic is as good as it once was. Whether Dortmund, or Frosted, or some other top dirt horse runs this year, you better believe that the million-dollar race will once again take some heat, with detractors screaming that fill in the blank should have been in the Breeders’ Cup Classic instead. Remember all the hullabaloo over Liam’s Map?

Believe it or not, it is a race which I really like. America is a dirt racing country, and the mile is one of my favorite distances. Then again, this race is not always run at a flat mile. Oh well, it seems even supporters cannot get 100% behind this race. Without further babble, let’s take a quick look back at the nine-year history of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile …

Did you know that the first Dirt Mile was not run at a mile? Unable to do so at Monmouth Park, the first edition in 2007 was actually contested at one-mile and 70 yards. The talented, but inconsistent Corinthian won that day by more than six-lengths in a sea of slop.

The fastest edition of the race came in year two, when Albertus Maximus stopped the clock in 1:33.41. Sent off at 6-1, the son of Albert the Great had no problem getting over the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita.

Afforded Grade 1 status for year three, the other ‘Synthetic Mile’ was taken by the Ramsey owned Furthest Land, who connected at odds of 21-1, also at Santa Anita. Thankfully, the Dirt Mile has been run on dirt every year since.

Further Land was not the biggest longshot to win the Dirt Mile. That honor goes to Dakota Phone, who came from last and got up in the final jump at Churchill Downs to nip Morning Line at odds of 37-1.

Only two three-year-olds have won the race so far. Caleb’s Posse became the first in 2011, when he uncorked a potent stretch kick to run right by another three-year-old, Preakness winner Shackleford.

Among those left in the wake of Caleb’s Posse that afternoon at Churchill Downs was Tapizar, but he would find redemption the following year at Santa Anita by winning in his second try.

Who has been the best of the Dirt Mile in the first nine years? It would be hard to say anyone but Goldencents. The only two-time winner, the son of Into Mischief proved best in both 2013 (at three) and in 2014. While it is true that both editions were at Santa Anita, it would seem that Goldencents was born for the Dirt Mile.

Once the dust cleared from last year’s Breeders’ Cup, I’m not sure too many would argue in calling Liam’s Map the second best dirt horse in training. So, while his win in the Dirt Mile was a thing of beauty, it left many a racefan wondering what might have been had he run in the Classic.

As for this year, the only horse I know for sure will be in the race at this point is Runhappy. The possessor or a special kind of talent to be sure, but also a horse who has yet to make his first start of 2016.