Curlin upset by 13-1 longshot in Breeder’s Cup Classic race

October 26, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Britain’s Raven’s Pass upended America’s best horse in the $5 million race.

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — The crowd backed him with its money and its mouth, bellowing on tiptoes as Curlin took the lead at the top of the stretch. Too soon it was over as this Breeders’ Cup was about long shots, a new surface and European imports, not America’s best horse.

Curlin was upset in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Saturday, demoted to a fourth-place finish behind 13-1 long shot Raven’s Pass from Britain.

Neither reigning Horse of the Year Curlin nor Raven’s Pass had ever raced on a synthetic surface. But Raven’s Pass trains on something similar, and European horses used to running on turf often make an easier transition to synthetics.

“Maybe he’s not a synthetic surface specialist,” said Curlin’s jockey Robby Albarado. “He was paddling around. These horses (Raven’s Pass and second-place Henrythenavigator) are great turf horses, and it seemed like the synthetics played like a turf course.”

Raven’s Pass paid $29, $15.80 and $8. Henrythenavigator, also based in Europe, returned $22 and $11.20, while Tiago, another three-quarters of a length back, paid $7 to show.

Go Between was fifth, Colonel John sixth, Smooth Air seventh and Champs Elysees eighth, followed by Duke of Marmalade, Fairbanks, Student Council and Casino Drive.

Youngstown businessman Bruce Zoldan is part of a consortium that owns Fairbanks.

Raven’s Pass capped a day of long-shot upsets at the season-ending championships, with European-based horses winning five of nine races. Seven of the winners at Santa Anita were long shots.

Garrett Gomez had a big afternoon, too, becoming the first jockey to win three races in one day in the event’s history. He also won the Filly & Mare Turf on opening day Friday.

The richest two days in thoroughbred racing went off without a hitch, surely relieving Breeders’ Cup officials who were mindful of Eight Belles’ fatal breakdown after this year’s Kentucky Derby and George Washington being euthanized on the track after last year’s Classic at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park.

“I feel it’s probably the single most important thing that had to happen at this event for this industry at this particular time,” Breeders’ Cup president Greg Avioli said of the decision to switch to a synthetic surface for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup’s 25-year history. “I’d say Santa Anita has made some believers.”

The surface was a new experience for 4-5 favorite Curlin. More than $1 million was wagered on him to win, an amount so huge the tote board couldn’t display it.

He came in nearly a month early to test himself on the Pro-Ride surface, performing well enough to convince majority owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen to run in the Classic.

Curlin’s biggest challenger going in was thought to be Big Brown, but the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner was forced to retire earlier this month because of injury.

Instead, the rest of the world ganged up on Curlin.

Under Albarado, Curlin left the starting gate near the back of the pack, while Casino Drive from Japan took the lead.

Entering the final turn, Albarado asked Curlin to pick up the pace, and he responded with an explosive move.