Breeders’ Cup 2016 results: Beholder upsets Songbird in photo finish
Beholder edged Songbird by a nose in the Distaff
The first day of racing at the 2016 Breeders’ Cup saw an epic battle between two champions at Santa Anita Park. Beholder narrowly edged Songbird in the $2 million Distaff, the fourth and final race on Friday afternoon.
Songbird was the pre-race favorite at 4-5 odds, and led halfway through the 1⅛-mile race. But down the stretch, Beholder, at 5-2 odds, caught up and the two horses battled neck and neck through an exciting finish. The winning time was 1:49.20.
Forever Unbridled finished 1¼ lengths behind in third place.
“That was a hell of a way to go out,” jockey Gary Stevens said after the win, on the NBCSN telecast.
Beholder’s win was the ninth career Breeders’ Cup win for trainer Richard Mandella. The horse paid $8.60 to win, $3.60 to place, and $3.00 to show.
Other Friday results
Juvenile Turf
Oscar Performance at 6-1 finished 1¼ lengths ahead of Lancaster Bomber. Pre-race favorite Good Samaritan, at 3-2, finished in third place.
Las Vegas Dirt Mile
Tamarkuz, a 12-1 underdog, captured the race by running the mile in 1:35.72, with Gun Runner in second and Accelerate third. Pre-race favorite Dortmund, who finished third at the 2015 Kentucky Derby, finished a disappointing fourth on Friday.
Juvenile Fillies Turf
Jockey Javier Castellano rode New Money Honey to a win in the 1-mile Juvenile Fillies Turf, finishing a half-length ahead of Coasted. Cavale Doree finished third.
