ARCADIA – Barbadian Patrick Husbands came up short on the opening day of the Breeders Cup Series Friday, failing to land a winner in either of his two rides at the prestigious event at Santa Anita Park in California.
The 41-year-old, a six-time champion at Woodbine in Canada, finished fourth with 16-1 bet Conquest Typhoon in the US$1 million Juvenile Turf Stakes in race six before finishing third from last with 19-1 chance Conquest Harlanate in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes in race eight.
Going a mile in the Juvenile Turf, Husbands broke Conquest Typhoon nicely and settled him in mid-pack as 8-1 bet Luck Of The Kitten, under Mike Smith, set the early pace.
Lawn Ranger tracked from second while eventual winner Hootenanny, with celebrated rider Frankie Dettori, stalked from third.
Coming off the final turn, Husbands swung the two-year-old colt Conquest Typhoon wide and brought him with a strong run down the middle of the track but just failed to catch the leaders, as Hootenanny nipped Luck Of The Kitten at the wire to win by three-quarters of a length.
In the Juvenile Fillies Turf, Husbands positioned the two-year-old filly Conquest Harlanate on the outside in sixth, in touch with the leaders as Sunset Glow, chased by Isabella Sings, set a brisk pace through the opening quarter run in 22.66 seconds and the half-mile in 46.46.
In the stretch, however, Conquest Harlanate lost her rally and faded badly, as favourite Lady Eli with Irad Ortiz Jr aboard, swept by the leaders to win by two and three-quarter lengths. (CMC)
