Enlarge imageBy Steve Ginsburg
ARCADIA, California (Reuters) - English raider Pounced produced a dramatic stretch run to overtake Bridgetown and win the $1 million (600,000 pound) Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf by three-quarters of a length at Santa Anita Park Saturday.
Pounced stalked the front-running Bridgetown for much of the race before blowing past the Florida-bred Summer Stakes winner in the closing strides of the mile-long race.
Ridden by Frankie Dettori and trained by John Gosden, the Kentucky-bred chestnut now has two wins and two seconds in four career starts. Favourite Pounced paid $6.80 to a $2 win ticket.
In other early Breeders' Cup races, big outsider Dancing in Silks won the $2 million Sprint after edging Crown of Thorns by a nose. The four-year-old gelding, ridden by Joel Rosario for trainer Carla Gaines, paid $52.60 for a $2 win ticket.
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Five-year-old grey gelding California Flag, partnered by 19-year-old Joe Talamo, cruised to victory with a 1 3/4-length triumph in the $1 million Turf Sprint.
California Flag led most of last year's race but finished 10th after tiring badly in the stretch. This year, a slower pace helped the California-bred dominate the field of 14.
"He had so much in reserve coming down the stretch and really kicked it in," said Talamo. "Last year we went 41 (seconds) for the half. This year we went 43. That was the difference."
Dettori and Gosden teamed to win the Juvenile Turf last year with Donativum on a night when European runners notched a record five victories.
Dettori told reporters: "I was very pleased that we got the split (between horses) and he fought really hard for me. I was worried about getting clear but the gap was big enough for me to go through. My horse was very brave."
Gosden, who spent part of his early career in the U.S., said: "There wasn't much pace but he got through the gap when he had to.
"It's fantastic to win this race for the second straight year and to do it at Santa Anita, my second home."
There were eight Breeders' Cup races to be held Saturday, culminating with the $5 million Classic, the richest race in North America.
(Editing by Dave Thompson)
