GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Wilko, making his first start in the United Stakes and first on dirt, won Saturday's $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile with a gutsy stretch run.
Wilko, a Kentucky-bred son of Awesome Again, had 10 starts earlier this year on the turf in England, winning only two minor races. Saturday, jockey Frankie Dettori kept the chestnut colt up with the leaders until the turn, then dropped back and swung to the outside for room. He then easily ran by and won by 3/4 length over Afleet Alex. Sun King was third.
The 1 1/16 mile took 1:42.09. Roman Ruler, the favorite and only starter of the day for trainer Bob Baffert, never reached contention after a slow start and finished fifth.
The result casts doubt on the 2-year-old championship for 2004. And none of the previous 20 Juvenile winners has ever come back the following year to win the Kentucky Derby.
