Havre de Grace settles for 4th in BC Classic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Havre de Grace fell a bit short of where Zenyatta finished in her battle with the boys in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The 4-year-old filly owned by Rick Porter is now 5 for 7 this year after running fourth in the Classic.

With a victory, Havre de Grace (HA'-vur-duh-grays) could have staked a strong claim to Horse of the Year. And that would have been three fillies in a row to take the sport's top honor, following Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta.

Instead, Havre de Grace was never a major factor in the Classic.

``We didn't get the trip we wanted,'' trainer Larry Jones said. ``But she ran well. Rick likes to run where the gusto is.''

Havre de Grace bumped with Headache near the first turn and got close among a four-wide group of contenders, but never caught up with the leaders.

``No regrets about running here,'' Jones said. ``She didn't do anything to tarnish herself. She has another year ahead of her.''

Zenyatta surged at the finish of the 2010 Classic, but fell just short of catching Blame in a defeat that left jockey Mike Smith devastated.

This year, Smith was on winning Drosselmeyer and said it took a little of the sting out of losing the race that would've capped Zenyatta's perfect career.

``That's one that will always hurt,'' he said. ``But this sure helps.''

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FAREWELL: There was no glitter for Goldikova in her final race.

The champion mare from France tried to win the Mile for an unprecedented fourth straight year.

She bulled her way to the front in the stretch only to be outfinished by two long shots.

As an added indignity, the 6-year-old had to withstand a foul claim that was disallowed before securing the show spot. She finished with 17 wins in 27 starts and more than $7 million in earnings.

It was, trainer Freddy Head said, ``a very good run. She looked like she was going to win for a moment. Now, I don't think she can sustain the same speed.''

Goldikova had plenty of support in her final appearance, going off as the even-money favorite. The effort was there, but not the usual result.

``Maybe the mileage and the years have taken a toll,'' Head said. ``I'm very happy because I think it's a nice way to finish. Although we didn't win, she did what she could do, and she tried her best.''

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THE SON ALSO RISES: Joseph O'Brien first attended the Breeders' Cup as a lad tagging along with his father, famed Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien.

On Saturday, he created a new memory at the world championships.

Standing 6-foot, the 18-year-old became the youngest jockey to win a Breeders' Cup race when he guided St Nicholas Abbey to victory in the $3 million Turf.

O'Brien is 18 years, 5 months, surpassing Fernando Jara, who was 18 years, 10 months old when he won the 2006 Classic on Invasor.

One of the first people to greet him after the historic win was his father, who gave him the mount.

``It's a dream come true,'' Joseph O'Brien said.

Aidan O'Brien was understandably proud, saying, ``Wonderful race. Incredible. What can I say, he's an amazing rider.''

But how long can he continue? If the younger O'Brien keeps growing, he soon will be too heavy to ride thoroughbreds.

``Obviously, I can't control my height and weight,'' he said. ``I'll keep riding as long as possible.''

One option would be a switch to steeplechasing, more popular in Europe than the U.S., where riders can carry significantly more weight.

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MINER SURGERY: A.U. Miner pulled up around the final turn in the Breeders' Cup Marathon after fracturing the sesimoid bone in his left front leg.

A.U. Miner will have surgery early next week in Lexington, and Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, the on-call veterinarian for the Breeders' Cup, said 60 to 70 percent of horses having such surgery do well.

``Basically you do the surgery to save their life,'' McIlwraith said. ``There can be a number of complications.''

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ON THE MOVE: Royal Delta soon will have a new home following her win Friday in the $2 million Ladies' Classic. She will be sold at auction on Tuesday in a dispersal of her late owner's racing stable.

Bill Mott, her trainer who also won the Classic with Drosselmeyer, doesn't know if this is goodbye forever. She could wind up in a new barn or be retired as a broodmare.

``It's always tough to lose one like her,'' Mott said. ``We'd love to have her, but I guess that's up to whoever buys her. I'd love to have her back. She's been a really good one.''

Mott said the 3-year-old came out of the race in good shape. Royal Delta gave Mott his fourth win in the Ladies' Classic, tying him with D. Wayne Lukas for most victories in the race.

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GO WEST: My Miss Aurelia, impressive winner of the Juvenile Fillies on Friday, will be heading to California in December.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said she came out of the race just fine.

``I'm very proud of her,'' Asmussen said. ``I thought she ran a great race. It worked out as well as we could have hoped. She got jostled a little the first turn and relaxed beautifully.

She will join the rest of Stonestreet Stable, the racing and breeding operation founded by the late Jess Jackson, at Santa Anita.

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NO PROBLEM: The two horses scratched minutes before post on Friday are fine.

Announce was unruly in the warmup before the Filly & Mare Turf and suffered a leg injury.

``It was stitched. She was a little sore on it this morning, but there will be no long lasting implications,'' Juddmonte racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said.

Owner-trainer C.R. Trout said Shotgun Gulch was scratched at the starting gate for the Filly & Mare Sprint because of severe muscle cramping.

``She's never done that before, but galloped fine this morning,'' Trout said. ``We'll get her back to Oklahoma and give her some time off. I'll have to see if I race her again or breed her. She's been really good to me.''