For the second day in a row, a Godolphin runner won a Breeders’ Cup race going a mile after his stablemate scratched due to gate issues.
This time, his bettors got paid for it.
Space Blues sat a comfortable trip and made a strong closing move to win the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar. The Charlie Appleby trainee covered eight furlongs over the lawn in 1:34.01, returning $6.20 as the 2-1 favorite.
The victory came after the race was delayed a few minutes after another Appleby runner, Master of The Seas, reared in the gate. As that Godolphin runner was scratched, the field was backed out and then reloaded.
Once the horses finally broke from the gate, local runner Smooth Like Strait went out to the lead. He set patient fractions of 23.51, 47.38 and 1:11.02 through the first six furlongs while Space Blues cruised just off the pace.
Space Blues made his move in the stretch, surging by and scoring over Smooth Like Strait, who stayed up to finish second at 10-1 odds. Long shot Ivar (24-1) completed the trifecta.
Appleby, Buick, and Godolphin were the connections behind Modern Games, who won Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. That victory came after his stablemate Albahr flipped in the gate, necessitating a scratch.
Modern Games was erroneously scratched amid the confusion. He was then allowed to race for purse money only, and his backers at the windows went uncompensated.
