AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
The 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships continued Saturday with nine Grade 1 races, culminating in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
This year's event takes place at Keeneland racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky, featuring several accomplished thoroughbreds and a long list of the sport's biggest names among trainers and jockeys.
With at least a $1 million purse for every race, it's one of the biggest days of the year in American racing.
Filly and Mare Sprint ($1 Million Purse)
Breeders' Cup @BreedersCupREPLAY: Goodnight Olive wins the $1 Million <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreedersCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreedersCup</a> Filly & Mare Sprint! Congrats to her connections! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BC22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BC22</a> <a href="https://t.co/deeEvn4WgX">pic.twitter.com/deeEvn4WgX</a>
Win: Goodnight Olive (8)
Place: Echo Zulu (13)
Show: Wicked Halo (11)
The seven-furlong race is known to feature the fastest female sprinters in the world, and Goodnight Olive stood above the rest. The favorite was in the middle of the pack until the final turn, when she moved to the front and pulled away.
Defending champion Ce Ce couldn't close as well as last year and ended up in fourth place.
Turf Sprint ($1 Million Purse)
Breeders' Cup @BreedersCupREPLAY: Caravel wins the $1 Million <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreedersCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreedersCup</a> Turf Sprint! Congrats to all connections! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BC22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BC22</a> <a href="https://t.co/wXDJvhD0Tg">pic.twitter.com/wXDJvhD0Tg</a>
Win: Caravel (10)
Place: Emaraaty Ana (3)
Show: Creative Force (1)
Caravel pulled off a massive upset as a 42-1 underdog, winning the 5½-furlong race. The No. 10 horse was in front on the final turn and stayed ahead despite late charges by Emaraaty Ana and Creative Force, who simply ran out of turf before the finish line.
Local trainer Brad Cox continued his impressive run in this event with his ninth Breeders' Cup victory.
Dirt Mile ($1 Million Purse)
Breeders' Cup @BreedersCupREPLAY: Cody's Wish wins the $1 Million <a href="https://twitter.com/bigassfans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bigassfans</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreedersCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreedersCup</a> Dirt Mile at <a href="https://twitter.com/keeneland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Keeneland</a>! Congrats to all of the connections! <a href="https://t.co/SMKQE8GnIx">pic.twitter.com/SMKQE8GnIx</a>
Win: Cody's Wish (7)
Place: Cyberknife (9)
Show: Slow Down Andy (1)
After starting at the back of the pack, Cody's Wish came around the outside to set up a neck-and-neck finish against Cyberknife. Cody's Wish won by a nose, completing an incredible story with Make-A-Wish teenager Cody Dorman.
It was the seventh win in the last eight starts for the four-year-old colt.
Filly and Mare Turf ($2 Million Purse)
Breeders' Cup @BreedersCupREPLAY: Tuesday wins the $2 Million <a href="https://twitter.com/MakersMark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MakersMark</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreedersCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreedersCup</a> Filly & Mare Turf at <a href="https://twitter.com/keenelandracing?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@keenelandracing</a>! Congrats to all of the connections! <a href="https://t.co/bBlwmJeKtm">pic.twitter.com/bBlwmJeKtm</a>
Win: Tuesday (5)
Place: In Italian (11)
Show: Lady Speightspeare (1)
In Italian entered as the favorite and appeared set for a wire-to-wire victory. But Tuesday made a tremendous charge to fly to the front of the pack just before the finish line.
It was just the third career win for the Irish thoroughbred.
Sprint ($2 Million Purse)
Breeders' Cup @BreedersCupREPLAY: Elite Power wins the $2 Million <a href="https://twitter.com/Qatar_Racing?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Qatar_Racing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreedersCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreedersCup</a> Sprint! Congrats to all connections! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BC22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BC22</a> <a href="https://t.co/VjLdbWbyaX">pic.twitter.com/VjLdbWbyaX</a>
Win: Elite Power (6)
Place: C Z Rocket (8)
Show: Jackie's Warrior (9)
There isn't much time to pace yourself in a five-furlong sprint, but Elite Power came from behind to take first place in the prestigious race. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and his thoroughbred made an outside move and closed strong to win.
It marked the fifth straight win for Elite Power.
Mile ($2 Million Purse)
Breeders' Cup @BreedersCupModern Games wins the $2 Million <a href="https://twitter.com/FanDuel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FanDuel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreedersCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreedersCup</a> Mile presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/PDJFund?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PDJFund</a>. Congrats to his connections. <a href="https://t.co/wVIs9m9Otg">pic.twitter.com/wVIs9m9Otg</a>
Win: Modern Games (4)
Place: Shirl's Speight (2)
Show: Kinross (13)
One year after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, Modern Games came through with a win in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
The three-year-old representing the United Kingdom went seven wide to get around the traffic up front and just cleared Shirl's Speight and Kinross to earn another victory on turf.
Distaff ($2 Million Purse)
Breeders' Cup @BreedersCupREPLAY: Malathaat wins the $2 Million <a href="https://twitter.com/LonginesEq?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LonginesEq</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreedersCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreedersCup</a> Distaff! Congrats to her connections! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BC22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BC22</a> <a href="https://t.co/xvqqABpkky">pic.twitter.com/xvqqABpkky</a>
Win: Malathaat (1)
Place: Blue Stripe (2)
Show: Clairiere (4)
In the closest race of the day, Malathaat won in a photo finish over Blue Stripe and Clairiere.
At The Races @AtTheRacesA game of fine margins! Great to see Malathaat get her <a href="https://twitter.com/BreedersCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BreedersCup</a> win <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BC22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BC22</a> <a href="https://t.co/RyDnIicyxB">pic.twitter.com/RyDnIicyxB</a>
Malathaat drew the rail and was seemingly caught inside early, but jockey John Velazquez navigated the eight-horse field to find an opening on the outside. Malathaat needed every inch of the 1⅛-mile track, but she pulled out the victory in a field of the best female horses in the world.
Breeders' Cup Turf ($4 million purse)
Breeders' Cup @BreedersCupREPLAY: Rebel's Romance wins the $4 Million <a href="https://twitter.com/LonginesEq?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LonginesEq</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreedersCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreedersCup</a> Turf! Congrats to all connections! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BC22?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BC22</a> <a href="https://t.co/qIYRHvWCCh">pic.twitter.com/qIYRHvWCCh</a>
Win: Rebel's Romance (5)
Place: Stone Age (3)
Show: War Like Goddess (2)
In the longest race of the day, Rebel's Romance outlasted the field in the 1½-mile trip around the turf track at Keeneland.
James Doyle led the come-from-behind effort, while European horses continued their strong day while finishing one-two in this event. It was the fifth straight win for Rebel's Romance, including a third Grade I victory in a row.
Breeders' Cup Classic ($6 million)
Win: Flightline (4)
Place: Olympiad (7)
Show: Taiba (1)
In arguably the biggest horse race in the world, Flightline stood out to take home the top prize of the $6 million purse.
Life is Good and Flightline built a massive early gap ahead of the rest of the field, creating a two-horse race at the final turn. From there, it was all Flightline as the heavy favorite pulled away for a dominant eight-length win.
Even in a field of accomplished thoroughbreds, Flightline remained undefeated and showed why there were such high expectations for the talented horse.