Breeders’ Cup: Golden Pal is upset by Caravel in Turf Sprint

Lexington, Ky.

Like an uninvited dinner guest, long shot Caravel ruined Golden Pal’s retirement gala with a front-running win in Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

But it was actually Golden Pal himself who spoiled the party, showing up late and then barely mingling with the other guests before fading from view.

Golden Pal was expected to go to the lead in his final start before heading to the breeding shed, as he had in nearly all of his previous 12 races. But when the gates were sprung, the 6-5 favorite in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint hopped slightly exiting post 8 and broke last in the field of 14.

That left the door open for the Brad Cox-trained Caravel, sent off at odds of nearly 43-1, to sprint to the front from post no. 10 and quickly cross to the rail.

“No one really went, so I decided to take control of things,” jockey Tyler Gaffalione said.

The 5-year-old daughter of the excellent turf sire Mizzen Mast held the lead by about a half length over Golden Pal’s stablemate Arrest Me Red while setting fractions of 21.91 and 44.25 seconds. She widened that margin slightly turning for home as Arrest Me Red began to fade but soon faced a challenge from British invader Emaraaty Ana, who was rallying smartly along the rail under jockey Ryan Moore and looked to have the momentum to pass the leader.

But once Caravel detected her rival, she gamely dug in and held Emaraaty Ana safe by a half length while crossing the wire in 1:01.79. Creative Force, trained by the usually unstoppable Charles Appleby, rallied late in the center of the track to grab third.

The winner returned $87.78 for a $2 win bet and keyed a $1 exacta payoff of $881.27 for $1. She was the longest shot to win this race in its 16 runnings. Desert Code previously held the record after winning at 17-1 in 2008.

Cox said the decision to enter the race against heavily favored Golden Pal was made easier by the recent progress shown by the mare, who won the Franklin Stakes (G3) at Keeneland in her prior start.

“She’s a filly that has had a hard time keeping on weight and since the end of the summer, she’s really blossomed,” he said. “We decided to take a swing and it worked out.”

The victory by Caravel put her owners Qatar Racing, Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables in a happy dilemma. She is listed as hip 224 in Monday’s November Breeding Stock Sale on Monday at Keeneland and catalogued as a racing or broodmare prospect.

Sheik Fahad Al Thani, chairman of Qatar Racing, said the partners and Cox would have to discuss matters before deciding whether to proceed with the sale.

Gaffalione won’t have a say in that conversation, but he made it clear that he’d like to keep riding the speedy gray.

“She’s a very solid filly, he said. “She shows up every time.

Meanwhile, Golden Pal, who has repeatedly been described by trainer Wesley Ward as the best horse he’s ever had, is headed to Ashford Stud.

He retires with a record of 13: 8-2-0 and earnings of more than $1.8 million.