DEL MAR, Calif. – Straight No Chaser waited until the most important race of his career to prove he was more than a one dimensional speedball who needed the lead to win, rallying from off the pace to a half-length victory over the 28-1 Bentornato Saturday at Del Mar in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Straight No Chaser came into the Sprint having won five of his nine previous starts, leading at every call in each of those victories that included an easy 6 1/4-length triumph in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint in just his second start in 16 months. The only time Straight No Chaser had not been on the front end was when he finished a tiring seventh trying to stretch to seven furlongs in the Grade 1 Malibu in his 3-year-old finale at Santa Anita in December of 2023.
But after breaking alertly and showing in front briefly exiting the chute in the six-furlong Sprint, Straight No Chaser eased back off both Federal Judge and Bentornato in the run down the backstretch, with the two leaders setting an honest pace, 21.74 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.12 to the half. With his regular rider John Velazquez aboard, Straight No Chaser commenced his bid three wide entering the stretch, engaged Bentornato, who had emerged with a short advantage leaving the furlong marker, at midstretch, before ultimately proving narrowly best at the end.
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Bentornato, one of only two 3-year-olds in the field along with Raging Torrent, disposed of Federal Judge after five furlongs, dug in gamely when challenged by Straight No Chaser but was not quite good enough while easily proving second best. Mullikin, the tepid 3-1 favorite in a well-matched field of 10, eased back between horses about seven lengths off the leaders approaching the far turn, came wide into the stretch, and finished best of all to be third. He was followed by Gun Pilot, a tiring Federal Judge, Nakatomi, Raging Torrent, Meta Max, Don Frankie, Skelly, and Remake.
A 5-year-old son of Speighster, Straight No Chaser gave trainer Dan Blacker his second Grade 1 victory and first Breeders’ Cup win of his career. Straight No Chaser is owned by My Racehorse Stable, whose legion of owners created a raucous scene around the winner’s circle after the race. Straight No Chaser completed the distance over a fast track in 1:08.63, earning a 103 Beyer Speed Figure. He paid $14.20.
Patience was the word Blacker emphasized when asked about the key to Straight No Chaser’s success.
“Sometimes you just have to be patient and let them come around on their own,” Blacker said. “This guy, he’s got his own agenda. You just kind of go along for the ride, try and guide him through his steps day by day, work by work. I’m just thankful I have such a great ownership group. I don’t think they get enough credit. The big part is feeling no pressure on my end. He’s just such a talented horse and obviously winning a race like this is so special to me and my family.”
Blacker also said it was such a big plus to have a Hall of Fame rider like John Velazquez in his corner.
“He’s not an easy horse to ride but Johnny gets on with him so well,” Blacker said. “He’s a Hall of Famer and we’re lucky to have him. There were no instructions for him going into the race. I normally get pretty nervous before races and obviously this is the biggest race and the best chance I’ve had to win such a race, but I felt really confident going into it. Just the way the horse acted all week, everything just went so well to plan. I’m really lucky to have him.”
Velazquez, who won for the fourth time in five tries aboard Straight No Chaser, said that with all the early speed in the lineup, he was prepared not to make the lead in the Sprint.
“I knew the two horses inside of me had a lot of speed so I didn’t want to force my horse to do anything and Dan gave me a lot of confidence. He told me if we didn’t make the lead, not to worry about it,” Velazquez explained. “I just let the horse get into his rhythm, I was comfortable where we were at. I didn’t want to move too soon, at the quarter pole I said 'Let’s go,' and when he changed leads near the three-sixteenths pole, I knew he was going to get it. He was all there for me.”
Trainer Jose D’Angelo said he was proud of Bentornato in defeat.
“Coming down the stretch, for a moment, I thought we got it,” D’Angelo said. “The horse ran huge, he left his heart out on the track today. I know the race had so much speed but always in these types of races, sometimes riders are afraid to get the lead so I told Luis [Saez] if you break good and you think you can go, then go.”
D’Angelo said Bentornato would likely return to Southern California to close out his 3-year-old campaign in the Malibu on December 26.
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