ELMONT, N.Y., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- For the second straight year, Tiznow beat the best Europe had to offer in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic.
In a stretch drive worthy of the name, the reigning North American Horse of the Year grabbed a narrow lead in the featured attraction of Saturday's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Belmont Park. In a furious race to the wire, he just held on to win by a nose over Sakhee, winner last month of one of Europe's most prestigious races, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
A year ago at Churchill Downs, Tiznow was all out to win by a neck over European import Giant's Causeway. With Saturday's win, he became the first horse to win the Classic twice in its 18 runnings.
Since then, the 4-year-old son of Cee's Tizzy has had a variety of ailments that have reduced his racing. In his last start in California, he was third. However, the bay colt, trained by Jay Robbins and ridden by Chris McCarron, had trained superbly at Belmont.
The narrow defeat prevented the strong European contingent -- and particularly Dubai-based Godolphin Racing -- from enjoying a completely "over the moon" day. Godolphin's owners had opted to send Sakhee to the Classic and Fantastic Light to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf even through Sakhee had no experience racing on dirt.
Fantastic Light made good on his end of the switch, winning the Turf with style. A victory by Sakhee would have been an unprecedented triumph for the owners, who also sent out the 1-2 finishers in Saturday's $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
The running of the Classic was a textbook case. McCarron put Tiznow in a perfect striking position down the long Belmont Park backstretch, waiting for the early leader, Albert the Great, to tire. Although Albert the Great never did give up, McCarron got Tiznow by him at the top of the lane and opened up a short lead as the furlong pole neared.
At that point, jockey Frankie Dettori put Sakhee into full stride and the two matched strides the rest of the way, appearing to trade the lead several times in the final 100 yards.
"When I first pushed the button ... I didn't get the jump. There was no feeling of acceleration," McCarron said. "When Sakhee got to my hip, Tiznow saw him before I did and I felt the response. He's alsways ready to go when he gets the competition."
Owner Michael Cooper said Tiznow may race again next year.
"If he comes out of this sound, he may race another year," he said as McCarron cheered. Asked about the thrill of winning the Classic twice, Cooper asked, "Is there any rule against three?"
McCarron said another year of racing might entice Tiznow to give a full effort -- which he said the colt isn't doing now.
"I'm not sure if it's 75 percent or 80 percent," McCarron said. "I know it's not 100 percent. I'm just looking forward to the day he pulls a Secretariat and wins by 31 (lengths)."
Tiznow now has won eight of 15 lifetime starts. Last year, his owner supplemented him to Classic at a cost of $360,000. The fee is due only once, so he ran without the additional payment this year.
