McKinzie ranged up in his usual stalking position Saturday in Santa Anita Park’s Grade 1, US$300,000 Awesome Again Stakes. But after taking aim at pace-setting Mongolian Groom, he failed to fire.
In a result that could shake up the role of favorite for next month’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, the 25-1 shot Mongolian Groom kept on going, earning a “Win and You’re In” spot to the Nov. 2 race back at Santa Anita.
Mongolian Groom may have gotten away with a favorable pace scenario, going the opening half mile in 48.29 seconds. But the 4-year-old son of Hightail also submitted the race of his life under jockey Abel Cedillo.
"We lost the battle, so to say, but the war's still ahead of us," said Mike Smith, who rode McKinzie. "I think you'll see he best of him in that race," meaning the Classic.
"He just seemed to get tired today, and my hat's off to the winner. He ran a race he'd never run before. Horses will do that when they have that kind of talent."
A gelding, Mongolian Groom runs for Mongolian Stable. He’s conditioned by Enebish Ganbat, who trained the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Mongolian Saturday.
Since winning an allowance race last February at Santa Anita, Mongolian Groom has competed in graded stakes around the country, running fifth most recently in the Woodward (G1) back on Aug. 31 at Saratoga.
His final time Saturday for 1 1/8 miles was 1:49.27 with Grade 1 winners Higher Power third and Seeking the Soul fourth in the field of six.
"Because he was against two of the best horses in America, McKinzie and Higher Power, I was happy if the horse came in third," Ganbat told TVG. "I didn't see my horses winning."
Bob Baffert, who trains McKinzie thought given the break his colt could get "an easy lead." But McKinzie was also running on the rail, a position he hasn't favored in the past. Smith took his mount back, then tipped him out in the first turn.
By then, Mongolian Groom was out front dealing with mild pressure from 60-1 shot Isotherm.
"The way the track's been playing, you've got to be up close," Baffert said. "I'm really puzzled that he didn't kick on. We'll just have to regroup and figure it out."
Baffert called Mongolian Groom a "tough-knocking, cool horse that's always there." But will he show up to the Breeders' Cup Classic?
Ganbat noted that Mongolian Groom is not nominated to the championships, meaning connections would owe a US$200,000 supplemental fee to run. He mentioned running in Japan this winter and Dubai in the spring as possibilities.
