Modern Games wins Breeders' Cup Mile and bettors get paid
Modern Games proved last year's controversial victory in the Breeders' Cup was no fluke, returning stateside to capture $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile on Saturday at Keeneland.
The victory by last year's winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf continued the hot streaks of British trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick in the series, adding to Mischief Magic's score in Friday's Juvenile Turf Sprint.
The 3-year-old son of Dubawi bided his time well back in the pack behind fractions of 46.81 seconds and 1:10.96 before Buick cut him loose in the stretch.
Once given his cue, the 6-5 favorite roared down the center of the track to overhaul the tiring front-runners and hold off a wall of closers. At the wire, it was Modern Games by 1 1/4 lengths over the long shot Canadian entry Shirl's Speight, with top European miler Kinross a nose back in third.
The winner returned $13.10 on a $2 win bet and stopped the clock in 1:33.96.
Domestic Spending was pulled up by Flavien Prat after appearing off in the left hind limb during the Breeders’ Cup Mile, according to a Breeders' Cup statement. The horse was immediately attended to by a team of veterinarians and was transported back to his barn by equine ambulance for evaluation by attending veterinarian Dr. Bo Landry. Domestic Spending was radiographed and does not appear to have a lower limb fracture. He was being stabilized for transfer to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital for further evaluation.
While Modern Games' victory on Saturday was dramatic, it was nothing compared to the drama that surrounded his run last year at Del Mar.
The Godophin homebred was declared a non-starter in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf after being wrongly scratched and then reinstated to run for purse money only. Bettors who had backed him could only shake their heads in dismay as he rallied through the stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Tiz A Bomb, who was declared the victor for pari-mutuel purposes. The refunds they received on their "winning" tickets was small consolation.