ARCADIA, Calif., Nov. 2 (UPI) -- New Year's Day found running room on the rail in deep stretch, shot through and won Saturday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
The favorite, previously undefeated Havana, had a clear lead at the top of the lane and held on for second, 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner. Strong Mandate finished third, another 3/4 of a length in arrears.
New Year's Day, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Martin Garcia, got the 1 1/16 miles on the fast Santa Anita main track in 1:43.52. It was his second win, following a maiden victory at Del Mar in August. The Street Cry colt, owned by Gary and Mary West, went to the post at 10-1 odds.
Havana was favored after winning at first asking at Saratoga, then taking the Grade I Champagne at Belmont Park last month. Havana, a gray son of Dunkirk, is owned by the principals of the Irish-based Coolmore.
"This is pretty special," Gary West said. "Now I've got something to look forward to in the 3-year-old races" next year.
