Big Evs ($8.40) took command in the upper stretch and then held off a late bid from Valiant Force by a half-length to win the sixth running of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) for 2-year-olds to kick off the Friday card at the 40th world championships at Santa Anita.
Trained by Michael Appleby and ridden by Tom Marquand for RP Racing, Big Evs covered the 5 furlongs on a firm turf course in 55.31 seconds. It is the first Breeders’ Cup victory for Appleby and Marquand.
Big Evs was involved in a three-horse scramble with Crimson Advocate and Tiger Belle in the run down the backside and continued on into the turn with Crimson Advocate. In the stretch, Big Evs took over, opened a daylight margin and was well clear to hold off the challenge from Valiant Force.
The victory was worth $520,000 and increased Big Evs’ earnings to $748,283 with a record of 6-4-1-0.
Big Evs is a son of Blue Point out of the Oasis Dream mare Hana Lina.
“I can’t believe it,” Appleby said. “He’s been an absolute superstar all year and to come here and put in a performance like that is unreal. Going into the race I thought he had an outstanding chance, and when Tom (Marquand) rode him in a breeze earlier in the week he couldn’t have been more bullish. We’ll enjoy it as it’s a dream to be here never mind go and win. Hopefully he comes out the race in good order then we’ll make a plan for next season. He really is a horse of a lifetime for us. I can’t thank the team at home enough for all their hard work.”
“Just amazing,” Marquand said. “Once he got out the gates and we got in an early position, I knew we wouldn’t be far away. Turning for home nothing was going to catch him. He put his head down and galloped all the way to the line. To ride a Breeders’ Cup winner is a dream come true. He’s just an exceptional horse.”
Trainer George Weaver had three entrants: No Nay Mets, Crimson Advocate and Amidst Waves. About fourth-place No Nay Mets, Weaver said, “He wasn’t good enough today. We wanted to be forward. All three of his wins, he was on the lead or close to it. It’s all fine if you want the lead, but you have to be fast enough to get there. They were smoking up there. I am not complaining about what happened today. I brought three very solid horses here and didn’t hit the board with any of them. It’s a disappointment, but we move on.”