ARCADIA, California — The 2013 Breeders' Cup opened its $27 million two-day program Friday with a superb victory by Beholder, a disappointing run by the fancied Royal Delta and more record wins for veteran jockey Mike Smith. Beholder totally upstaged favorite Royal Delta in Friday's feature race, the $2 million Distaff, as the three-year-old filly took control by the final turn before charging down the home straight to win by four and one-quarter lengths. Close Hatches finished second with Authenticity third while Royal Delta ended up fourth out of six runners after fading badly at a sun-drenched Santa Anita Park. “She didn't have it today. No spark, man,” said Hall of Fame jockey Smith, who had stretched his record career total of Breeders' Cup wins to 19 earlier in the day. The 48-year-old Smith had extended his record number of Breeders' Cup victories by winning the first two events of the day on a five-race card, both with rousing finishes. In front of a crammed grandstand in glorious afternoon sunshine at Santa Anita, he piloted New York-bred London Bridge to victory on dirt in the $500,000 Marathon after a strong surge from the outside down the home straight. London Bridge, who was recently sold to Waratah Thoroughbreds in Australia, prevailed by a length over Blueskiesnrainbows, who finished a neck clear of Worldly. “He just had to work really hard,” Smith said of London Bridge. “He was never really sure of the dirt. The change in his shoes made a big difference, but even with that he was never really confident. I had to keep riding him at times, taking a hold of him, riding him, trying to get him confident, but keep moving all at the same time ... he outlasted them.” Smith then added Breeders' Cup win number 19 in the next race, guiding British raider Outstrip to a spectacular come-from-behind victory in the $1 million Juvenile Turf. Giovanni Boldini, with Ryan Moore on board, appeared to have the race won with a storming run from the final turn but Smith and Outstrip powered past with a blistering late surge to triumph by half a length. “The trip was really good. I managed to get covered up, just make my way, and follow the right horses,” said Smith. “I was following two of the greatest turf riders here in America, Gary Stevens and Corey Nakatani. They showed me a great way to go, and it really worked out for me.” — Reuters
