Upsets highlight wild day at Breeders' Cup
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Breeders' Cup began with fists flying in the winner's circle.
The mayhem was just starting.
Jockeys brawled and long shots dominated on a wild opening day, capped by Unrivaled Belle's victory in the $2 million Ladies' Classic under the lights Friday at Churchill Downs.
Unrivaled Belle ran 1 1-8 miles in 1:50.04, winning by 1¾ lengths over 3-2 favorite Blind Luck in front of 41,614.
Jockeys Calvin Borel and Javier Castellano traded punches after the first Breeders' Cup race, with an enraged Borel needing to be restrained. He was furious about a move in tight quarters by Castellano.
Shared Account scored the second-biggest upset in the event's 27-year history, winning the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf at 46-1 odds on a gray and chilly day.
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay earned his first Breeders' Cup victory as owner of More Than Real in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf.
American horses won all of the six races. No jockey or trainer won more than one race on a day where horses and riders got around safely.
The races went off without Zenyatta, who was back in her barn waiting to defend her title today in the $5 million Classic against the boys. She will put her 19-0 winning streak on the line in the 1¼-mile race, the richest in North America.
The two-day world championships were back at Churchill Downs for a record seventh time, and the first in three years to be run on dirt. The event was on the synthetic track at Santa Anita the last two years.
The lights dotting the home of the Kentucky Derby were turned on before daylight faded.
In the other races:
&bul; Eldaafer won the 1¾-mile Marathon by 1¾ lengths for Velazquez and trainer Diane Alvarado. He paid $23.20 to win.
&bul; More Than Real won the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf by two lengths under Garrett Gomez and paid $29.20. It was Pletcher's lone win on the day.
&bul; Dubai Majestry won the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint by 2¼ lengths, giving jockey Jamie Theriot his first BC title. She paid $19.20.
&bul; Awesome Feather won the $2 million Juvenile Fillies by 2¼ lengths, making jockey Jeffrey Sanchez and trainer Stanley Gold winners in their BC debuts. She paid $10.40.
&bul; Shared Account and jockey Edgar Prado won the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf by a neck in the day's closest race. She paid $94.