Breeders' Cup 2016 Results: Final Race Times, Payouts and Friday Reaction
The 2016 Breeders' Cup is horse racing's final major event of the year, with Friday featuring four races highlighted by the $2 million Longines Distaff.
Songbird has been the horse to watch in the Longines Distaff since it was announced the filly entered the field. She holds a perfect 11-0 record in her career, most recently winning the Cotillion Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths in September.
Dortmund, who finished third at the 2015 Kentucky Derby, stepped back onto the track at Santa Anita as part of the Las Vegas Dirt Mile field. He is seeking his first win of the year, finishing second at the San Diego Handicap in July and Awesome Again in October.
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Here are the full results from each of Friday's races as they become available, along with payout information and reaction.
Juvenile Turf
| Win | Oscar Performance | $550,000 |
| Place | Lancaster Bomber | $180,000 |
| Show | Good Samaritan | $100,000 |
| Oscar Performance | $15.20 | $8.00 | $5.60 |
| Lancaster Bomber | - | $11.20 | $6.40 |
| Good Samaritan | - | - | $3.40 |
Oscar Performance got the day started with a huge win in the Juvenile Turf. This was just his fourth career race, but third consecutive win. The Amerman Racing Stables horse dazzled with a win by more than one full length ahead of Lancaster Bomber.
The Breeders' Cup tweeted out the final stretch of the race in which Oscar Performance vaulted into the top spot for good:
In addition to being a huge moment for Oscar Performance in his racing career, Alicia Wincze Hughes noted it was also a big day for his trainer and jockey:
Jockey Jose Ortiz was unable to contain his emotions after the victory, per the Breeders' Cup:
The race was not all bad for runner-up Lancaster Bomber, who also made a late surge on the final stretch to finish in the No. 2 spot. Good Samaritan nearly came out of nowhere to pass Lancaster Bomber, but was forced to settle for a hard-earned third-place finish.
Las Vegas Dirt Mile
| Win | Tamarkuz | $550,000 |
| Place | Gun Runner | $180,000 |
| Show | Accelerate | $100,000 |
| Tamarkuz | $25.80 | $9.40 | $8.00 |
| Gun Runner | - | $5.20 | $4.60 |
| Accelerate | - | - | $16.00 |
Going against heavy-favorite Dortmund in the Las Vegas Dirt Mile, Tamarkuz pulled off an upset with a brilliant sprint to the finish line that allowed him to finish more than three lengths ahead of Gun Runner.
Here's the video of Tamarkuz's romp, per the Breeders' Cup:
Just as Oscar Performance's win was a Breeders' Cup breakthrough for trainer Brian Lynch, Racing Post noted the Las Vegas Dirt Mile was a huge moment for Tamarkuz's trainer:
Tamarkuz's win marked the biggest upset of the four races on Friday. He was listed as a 9-1 underdog, per Odds Shark. While those odds aren't huge, they do look significant when compared to Dortmund at 5-6 or even Runhappy at 5-1.
This was Tamarkuz's first win in seven races dating back to March 2015. He did have back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Forego Handicap and Kelso Handicap, giving him enough momentum to take advantage of the dirt track in Friday's race.
Dortmund came in a disappointing fourth, behind Gun Runner and Accelerate. He's got all the size and strength to be a dominant horse. Unfortunately, things haven't come together with just two wins in his last seven races.
Juvenile Fillies Turf
| Win | New Money Honey | $550,000 |
| Place | Coasted | $180,000 |
| Show | Cavale Doree | $100,000 |
| New Money Honey | $15.00 | $7.60 | $5.20 |
| Coasted | - | $17.40 | $10.20 |
| Cavale Doree | - | - | $10.60 |
New Money Honey was tremendous in her race, taking home the Juvenile Fillies Turf title for her second straight win.
Per Larry Collmus of NBC, New Money Honey also kept a streak going for the state of New York at this year's Breeders' Cup:
New Money Honey trainer Chad Brown seems to have the midas touch in this particular race, per Matt Bisogno:
TVG captured a brief moment after the race when jockey Javier Castellano was taking New Money Honey into the winner's circle:
Castellano is no stranger to success at the Breeders' Cup. The 39-year-old jockey has now won at least one race at this event every year since 2012, with this being his first in the Juvenile Fillies Turf race.
Cavale Doree, who came in third, gave Europe its best finish in the race. She was fighting an uphill battle from the start, having to come from slightly outside at the ninth post. A third-place finish is a huge testament to Cavale Doree's talent and jockey Flavien Prat's understanding of how to handle her.
Longines Distaff
| Win | Beholder | $1,100,000 | |
| Place | Songbird | $360,000 | |
| Show | Forever Unbridled | $200,000 |
| Beholder | $8.60 | $3.60 | $3.00 |
| Songbird | - | $3.20 | $2.80 |
| Forever Unbridled | - | - | $4.40 |
The main event certainly lived up to its billing with Songbird and Beholder literally neck-and-neck at the end of 1 1/8 miles. After looking at the footage, it was determined Beholder's nose squeaked in front of Songbird to cross the line first.
Here's the full replay of the incredible race and finish, per the Breeders' Cup:
In the final race of her career, Beholder and jockey Gary Stevens couldn't have picked a more fitting way to go out.
Jay Privman of Horse Racing Nation had nothing but praise for each of the top three finishers in the race:
Nicole Russo of Horse Racing Nation provided the final stats from Beholder's career after her triumph on Friday:
It's rare for a sporting event to live up to its hype, yet the Longines Distaff was truly a race for the ages. Songbird is a rising star in the sport and only figures to get better with more experience and development.
Beholder is the aged veteran whose career is coming to a close but still has plenty left in the tank. Jockey Gary Stevens did an outstanding job getting the horse inside after starting outside on the eighth post, while also making sure to save something for the stretch to put pressure on Songbird.
This was a perfect way for Beholder to walk off into the sunset. Songbird will have a lot more moments to celebrate in her career, but it just wasn't meant to be on Friday in a thrilling race that won't soon be forgotten.
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