Structor obliges in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf as Arizona endures troubled run

Jockey Jose Ortiz, denied by big brother Irad in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Friday, had his sibling to thank 40 or so minutes later after winning the Juvenile Turf on the Chad Brown-trained Structor, who rattled home.

A son of Palace Malice, who was unbeaten in two starts, Structor could have been ridden by Irad Ortiz, but he chose to partner Decorated Invader instead, leaving his brother to step in for a memorable victory.

The colt appeared to have his work cut out turning in, but rallied gamely and had enough to score from Billy Bates, while Gear Jockey was third.

Coventry winner Arizona, the big Ballydoyle hope for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore, was on the scene late, but never looked like winning.

Arizona gets going a little lateCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ortiz, a winner of the race two years ago on Oscar Performance and also successful in the 2017 Juvenile on Good Magic, had to settle for second on Chimney Rock behind Irad and Four Wheel Drive earlier on the card, but he was beaming after this victory.

"We knew he was a very nice horse and I'd worked him a couple of times at Saratoga when he was a baby," he said.

"Irad said he was easy to ride and Chad gave me a lot of confidence – he was very confident.

"We had a good trip, broke well and saved ground, and when I took him to the outside he exploded."

For Brown, the dominant force on turf in the US, it was Breeders' Cup win number 13.

He said: "I don't get too excited in races anymore, I stay calm, but I yelled for this one because I could see he had so much horse turning for home. I hoped he'd get through and he did."

O'Brien had been chasing a fifth strike in the Juvenile Turf, but things did not pan out for Arizona, last seen finishing second to the brilliant Pinatubo in the Dewhurst, but only fifth here.

"He was a little bit slowly away and then he had to accept the position he was in," said the trainer. "The pace wasn't fast. He ran well and came home very well. He will be a lovely three-year-old."

Moore concurred, adding: "He broke slowly, but he ran very well. The pace just wasn't hard enough to make up ground."

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