Magnum Force upsets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Magnum Force, who went off at 12-1, benefitted from a ground-saving trip under Colin Keane, overhauled longtime leader Governor Sam in deep stretch and then held off Arizona Blaze by a half-length to win the seventh running of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, the first championship race Friday at Del Mar. 

Owned by Abdulla Al Khalifa and trained by Ger Lyons, Magnum Force completed the five furlongs on a firm turf course in 56.36 seconds. It was the first victory in the Breeders’ Cup for Lyons and the second for Keane, who won the 2020 Turf on Tarnawa.

“Listen, I knew the horse was the right horse for the job, but if he was good enough, we didn’t know until today," Lyons said. "When you have Colin Keane riding for you, probably the most underrated jockey in the world just because he’s a little bit like his trainer and likes to stay at home and walk his dogs and stay at the farm and not go around the world. Believe me, he’s had two rides and two wins in the Breeders’ Cup and it’s about time the world opened up to him. It’s fantastic."

Governor Sam, under Paco Lopez, shot to the lead out of the gate and opened a daylight margin that he carried into the stretch. Magnum Force raced against the rail and in the stretch found clear sailing along the inside to collar Governor Sam inside the sixteenth pole and holding off Arizona Blaze, who rallied three wide and took second by a half-length over Governor Sam. 

The victory was worth $520,000 and increased Magnum Force’s earnings to $579,672 with a record of 5: 2-2-1. It was the first graded-stakes victory for the son of Mehmas out of the Fastnet Rock mare Tropical Rock.