LITTLE ROCK — OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer Doug O'Neill led a wild winner's celebration after Maryfield splashed to victory Friday on the first day of the Breeders' Cup, where upsets ruled and a trainer on the verge of suspension was in the spotlight.
Far back turning for home, Maryfield found an outside path to the finish line and won the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint.
Corinthian raced to a commanding upset in the $1 million Dirt Mile, and Nownownow edged wagering favorite Achill Island by a half-length in the $1 million Juvenile Turf.
Rain pelted Monmouth Park throughout the day, keeping hundreds of trackside seats and stands empty on the first Friday in Breeders' Cup history. The dirt surface, sloppy from rain earlier in the week, was a quagmire.
But that wasn't the only messiness.
Nownownow was one of seven Breeders' Cup horses that trainer Patrick Biancone turned over to assistant Francois Parisel as the result of a one-year ban for violating medication rules in Kentucky.
Biancone's suspension begins Nov. 1, but in a settlement with Kentucky racing officials, he agreed to step aside early for the Breeders' Cup. The Frenchman showed up in the barn area Thursday and was asked to leave by New Jersey racing authorities.
"Patrick Biancone is a friend of mine for 40 years," said FabienOuaki, who owns Nownownow. "We're a family, so it's a family victory. He's like a pingpong ball. He always rebounds. He will come back because he's a horseman from the beginning."
Nownownow and Julien Leparoux covered one mile in 1:40.48. The 2-year-old colt paid $27.20, $8.60 and $6.
Irish-bred Achill Island returned $5.20 and $4.20. Cannonball paid $7.80 to show.
Biancone had two horses inthe Filly & Mare Sprint. Baroness Thatcher was fourth and wagering favorite La Traviata was sixth.
Corinthian defeated Gottcha 1 Gold by 6/2 lengths in the last of three Breeders' Cup races on the card. The other eight will be run Saturday.
Kent Desormeaux improved to 3 for 55 on racing's richest two days, guiding Corinthian over the mile in 1:39.06. The winner paid $9.40, $4.40 and $3.
Corinthian is trained by JimmyJerkens, son of Hall of Famer Allen Jerkins.
Discreet Cat, trying to recapture top form, finished third on a gloomy, sloppy day that only a mudder could love.
Six tractors dragging the surface after each race kicked up waves and wind whipped the infield flags. The dreary conditions made it difficult for 27,803 fans to spot the horses during the races. It got so dark that a spotlight was turned on the finish line for the final race.
"Save the weather, we couldn't be happier with the way things turned out," said Dennis Dowd of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.
Today's forecast was expected to be no better, with a half-inch of rain predicted and highs in the 60s for the eight Breeders' Cup races.
Day 1 results
BREEDERS' CUP FILLY AND MARE SPRINT 4 Maryfield (Trujillo) .................................18.00 9.00 6.00 2 Miraculous Miss (Rose) ..............................37.40 17.20 1 Miss Macy Sue (Razo) ............................................4.60 $1 Pick 3 2,102.60; $2 Exacta 374.80; $1 Superfecta 6,787.00; $1 Trifecta 878.40 BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE TURF 7 Nownownow (Leparoux) .......................27.20 8.60 6.00 8 Achill Island (IRE) (Murtagh) ..........................5.20 4.20 2 Cannonball (Trujillo) ................................................7.80 $1 Pick 3 ..3,171.40; $2 Exacta 180.00; $1 Superfecta 8,330.30; $1 Trifecta 1,318.00 BREEDERS' CUP DIRT MILE 8 Corinthian (Desormeaux) ........................9.40 4.40 3.00 6 Gottcha Gold (Lopez) ......................................6.20 3.40 1 Discreet Cat (Gomez) ..............................................2.60 $1 Pick 3 795.70; $1 Pick 4 24,235.30; $1 Pick 6 1,681.10; $2 Daily Double 170.40; $2 Exacta 60.20; $1 Superfecta 496.40; $1 Trifecta 107.70
Sports, Pages 36 on 10/27/2007