Mendelssohn wins 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf for the Euros

A year after Beholder won her final race in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, her half-brother Mendelssohn propelled his own career forward by taking the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.

A $3 million yearling purchase for Coolmore, the Scat Daddy colt gave his late sire his first Breeders’ Cup win.

The one-length victory marked the 27th Group or Grade 1 victory this year for record-breaking O’Brien, who recently eclipsed the total of the late Bobby Frankel.

“We could tell he was still a little bit green, but he was learning and getting better all the time,” O'Brien said. “It was brilliant. He stepped up again today.”

Last out, Mendelssohn was second to stablemate U S Navy Flag in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. While Mendelssohn was originally scheduled to run in the Juvenile on dirt and U S Navy Flag on the turf, the switch seemed to work for Mendelssohn.

He returned $11.60, $8.40, and $5.60 at 9-2. The Juvenile Turf was his second win in five starts and his first stakes victory. In addition to Beholder, Mendelssohn is also a half-brother to hot sire Into Mischief

Sands of Mali opened the first quarter Friday in :22.83 before slowing it down to :46.87. Sands of Mali still had the lead turning for home in 1:11.29, but Moore switched Mendelssohn to the outside and looked much the best. Untamed Domain swung wide with a late kick and Voting Control emerged from the group.

Everyone was left to catch Mendelssohn and Moore. The pair drew off and finished the mile 1:23.67.

“He's a beautiful horse,” Moore said. “He's just been a bit backward mentally. In the time he ran before, in the Group 2 [Champagne Stakes], he knocked himself out of sorts. But he's a very talented horse.”

By Christine Oser