Hootenanny, a Quality Road colt owned by the connections of Coolmore Stud, wore down pacesetter Luck of the Kitten to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita Park Oct. 31.
Ridden by Frankie Dettori for trainer Wesley Ward, Hootenanny was comfortably positioned third in the 14-horse field as Luck of the Kitten, also trained by Ward, tried to steal the race. Running free on the lead while followed by Lawn Ranger, Mike Smith and Luck of the Kitten set fractions of :22.71 seconds, :46.91 seconds, and 1:11.36 through the first three-quarters of a mile.
Hootenanny maintained his position in third before he made up ground in the stretch, with Luck of the Kitten still leading as they turned for home. Challenged by Hootenanny, Luck of the Kitten hung on gamely for a stretch duel. Hootenanny finally kicked in to win by three-quarters of a length in a final time of 1:34.79 for a mile on firm turf.
Dettori thrilled the crowd with his patented leaping dismount in the winner's circle.
The victory improved Hootenanny's record to 3-1-1 in five starts and the winner's purse of $550,000 increased his bankroll to $751,985.
Produced from the Hennessy mare More Hennessy, the winner is from his sire's first crop. He was bred in Kentucky by Barronstown and is owned by Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, and Mrs. John Magnier of the Coolmore partnership. He was a $75,000 purchase at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Hootenanny paid $14, $7.80, and $5.60. Luck of the Kitten paid $9.20 and $7.00. Daddy D T finished third, 1-1/2 lengths behind Luck of the Kitten, at $11. The $1 exacta paid $50.
Tabor, who along with his partners has won the Juvenile Turf three out of the eight years it has been run, said the connections have a lot of options with Hootenanny.
"He's a very good horse, and this has been a very lucky race for us," Tabor said. "To win at the Breeders' Cup is very special and hopefully we can do it for many more years. He obviously gets the mile pretty well, and he could run in the [classic One Thousand] Guineas, and there are a host of races that are possibilities for him. Dettori, who had ridden Luck of the Kitten in his first two starts, including his maiden win at Saratoga Race Course, said he knew the pacesetter had a lot of speed.
"I know he's [Luck of the Kitten] got a lot of speed, so I didn't want to get in a speed duel," the rider said. "He [Hootenanny] blew the first turn a bit, but once I got him asleep, I knew then that I had the race in my mercy."
Ward was not at Santa Anita, spending time in Florida with family. His father, Dennis, explained that the trainer's sons were involved in a lot of activities at this time of the year and that Ward wanted to be there for them.
Hootenanny began his career by winning a maiden special weight at Keeneland and then finished third in $75,000 Rollicking Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Sent by Ward to Royal Ascot, Hootenanny dominated 23 overmatched rivals in the Windsor Castle Stakes, becoming the first stakes winner for his Lane's End Farm-based sire in the process. In his most recent start, the colt finished second in the Darley Prix Morny Aug. 24 at Deauville.
Hootenanny was initially purchased by Winding Oaks Farm for $120,000 from the Eaton Sales consignment to the 2012 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Pinhooked by St. George Sales to the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, he was purchased by Cromwell Bloodstock for $75,000.