Hightail edged 1-2 favorite Merit Man by a nose to win the $500,000 Juvenile Sprint, giving Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas his record 19th Breeders' Cup victory.
Hightail and Merit Man raced neck-and-neck to the wire, with the 15-1 shot Hightail sticking his nose in front at the finish. The 2-year-old colt had never won in eight previous races, and he survived a stewards' inquiry to win Friday on opening day of the world championships at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Rajiv Maragh, Hightail paid $32.80 on a $2 win bet. Hightail ran 6 furlongs in 1 minute, 9.75 seconds.
Sweet Shirley Mae was third.
The field was reduced to five after Super Ninety Nine and South Floyd were scratched because of left front leg issues.
Royal Delta defended her title in the Ladies' Classic, giving jockey Mike Smith a record 16th Breeders' Cup victory. Smith moved past fellow Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey. READ MORE
Zagora won the Filly & Mare Turf at 9-1 as 9-5 favorite The Fugue got trapped on the rail. READ MORE
Beholder led all the way, holding off 3-2 favorite Executiveprivilege by one length to capture the $2 million Juvenile Fillies. READ MORE
French-bred Flotilla rallied to win the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf, giving Europe its first winner of this year's Breeders' Cup event. READ MORE
Calidoscopio became the oldest Breeders' Cup winner when the 9-year-old from Argentina pulled a 17-1 upset. READ MORE
