These were the 10 biggest graded-stakes upsets of 2021

Everyone likes to root for the underdog – especially when they have a bet on a long shot.

Here are the 10 biggest upsets in graded stakes in 2021.

108-1: Hollywood Talent, Turf Monster (G3). Horseplayers were stunned when this 10-year-old gelding, winless since taking an $8,000 claimer more than a year earlier, pulled off this upset at Parx. But according to Paulick Report, Hollywood Talent failed his post-race drug test because of the presence of Levasimole. Pennsylvania Racing Commission officials could not be reached for an update, but online records show no related ruling against trainer Juan Vazquez.

79-1: Informative, Salvator Mile (G3). Informative came into this race with only two wins in his previous 24 starts, and he would win no more in 2021. After getting bumped at the start, he was last in the 10-horse field after a half-mile and then rallied in the stretch to beat favorite Ny Traffic by a length.

72-1: Bourbonic, Wood Memorial (G2). Though a familiar name later in the year, he was a long shot at Aqueduct on April 3. He started the race, according to the chart, "at the tail of the field growing detached from the main body while loping along at his own pace." The Todd Pletcher trainee rallied in the stretch to beat stablemate Dynamic One by a head.

52-1: Wholebodemeister, Davona Dale (G2). She finished third in the Forward Gal (G3) ahead of her second start as a 3-year-old. She led most of the way to beat Crazy Beautiful by 6 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream in February, but she hasn't raced since.

49-1: Marche Lorraine, Breeders' Cup Distaff. The Japan-bred mare had three wins in five starts on the year coming into this race. She took the lead in the stretch to beat Dunbar Road by a nose, with second-choice Malathaat a half-length back.

46-1: Weyburn, Gotham (G3). This was the only win of the year of the Pioneerof the Nile colt. He stayed within a length of the leader until nipping third choice Crowded Trade by a "sliver," according to the chart. His best effort since was a neck loss to Mandaloun in the Pegasus Stakes.

43-1: Captivating Moon, Fair Grounds Stakes (G3). He was the longest shot in the field of 11 and had not won since 2019. After running in last place, he took the lead in the final sixteenth to beat Logical Myth by 1 3/4 lengths. It was his only in-the-money finish of the year.

41-1: Hibiscus Punch, Barbara Fritchie (G3). Entering the race off an allowance win at Laurel Park, the daughter of Into Mischief drew clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths over Estilo Talentoso.

34-1: Lexitonian, Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1). He was 0-for-3 on the year entering this race, though he come within a head of winning the Churchill Downs (G1). Sent off as the last choice, he battled with second-choice Special Reserve to win by a half-length.

29-1: Queen Nekia, Royal Delta (G3). In her first start of the year, she was the second-to-last choice. She overtook second choice Eres Tu in the stretch to win by 1 3/4 lengths. It was the only win of the year for the 6-year-old (now 7).