Vino Rosso wears down McKinzie to land famous Classic win for Pletcher and Ortiz

Todd Pletcher rectified the most significant omission from his considerable CV as Vino Rosso overpowered McKinzie to run out an utterly emphatic winner of the 36^th Breeders’ Cup Classic.

When Joel Rosario sent market leader McKinzie past War Of Will as they motored out of the back stretch in Santa Anita, all of a sudden it looked as though Bob Baffert’s decision to swap Mike Smith for last year’s winning rider might be an inspired choice. Soon, though, the picture changed once again.

Irad Ortiz, who also won the Turf aboard Bricks And Mortar and plundered four winners in total over the two days, had charted a wide course in midfield on 4-1 shot Vino Rosso.

When McKinzie slipped the field out of the back, Vino Rosso had most of five lengths to find. Ortiz had it covered.

His clock is bang on the money right now, and he reeled in the hare in as they rounded the final bend. They slugged it out initially on straightening up, but then Vino Rosso broke McKinzie’s spirit inside the final furlong.

In the end, as McKinzie’s stamina failed him once again, Ortiz’s mount drew clear for a resounding four-and-a-quarter length success. Higher Power took third, with the filly Elate in fourth.

Irad Ortiz celebrates winning the Classic on Vino RossoCredit: Edward Whitaker

Sadly, there was a grim postscript to events, as Mongolian Groom, bang there turning in, suffered a fatal injury as he began to backtrack, fracturing his near hind cannon bone and pastern.

Given the intense scrutiny the LA venue has been subject to due to the spike in equine fatalities earlier in the year, such an unfortunate incident was the last thing anyone wanted to see.

Mongolian Groom was removed from the track in a horse ambulance, and the Breeders' Cup subsequently confirmed he had been put down.

"The death of Mongolian Groom is a loss to the entire horse racing community," a statement read. "Our equine and human athletes' safety is the Breeders' Cup top priority. We have worked closely with Santa Anita leading up to the World Championships to promote enhanced equine safety. Santa Anita has implemented numerous industry-leading safety reforms to enhance the existing health and safety measures with the intent of providing a safe racing environment.

"Breeders' Cup has engaged world-renowned veterinarian , Dr Larry Bramlage, to conduct an independent evaluation, the results of which will be published when completed. We are committed to working with our partners in the industry to continue to advance safety reforms, with the well-being of our athletes in mind."

The four-year-old's death inevitably overshadowed Vino Rosso’s moment, but it was a popular success for Pletcher, who has two Kentucky Derbys to his name as well as three other Triple Crown victories.

“It was the one thing that was missing and it feels great,” Pletcher said after finally conquering the Classic with a horse owned by Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola. “It's not very often you come into race and feel a horse is just doing so well. We were on pins and needles all week as we felt he was sitting on a big race.”

Todd Pletcher greets Irad Ortiz and Vino Rossa after their emphatic Breeders' Cup Classic successCredit: Edward Whitaker

Of the race, he added: “It was one of those times where pretty much the race unfolded exactly like we had all discussed beforehand. We were able to get the trip we had talked about trying to get. Irad was very confident coming in the paddock. We had a game plan in place. Mike [Repole] asked him, ‘Is there one particular horse you're afraid of?’ And he said, ‘No, I'm just going to let my horse run his race’ - which he did.”

Ortiz, who came into the meeting with two Breeders’ Cup wins to his name and departed with six, was in exuberant form all day. The 26-year-old Puerto Rican’s raucous celebrations added a welcome dash of colour to proceedings.

“I'm blessed,” he said after completing a memorable treble on the card. “Thank God for everything, for keeping me in one piece, keeping me healthy. I really work to do what I love to do, which is riding horses.”

As well as the Classic and Turf, Ortiz landed the Dirt Mile on Spun To Run, having won Friday's Juvenile Turf Sprint on Four Wheel Drive.

This was just the second time he rode Vino Rosso, having passed the post in front on him in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park before the race was awarded to Code Of Honor in the stewards' room.

Vino Rosso's only other victory in his three previous Grade 1 outings this year came over Saturday's course and distance, when he won the Gold Cup under Johnny Valazquez on what was his only previous Santa Anita start. He clearly likes the place.

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