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Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.’s favored Saint Liam wrapped up Horse of the Year honors as he delivered a 1-length victory over Flower Alley to win the 22nd running of the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

In giving trainer Rick Dutrow his second Breeders’ Cup victory of the afternoon, Saint Liam completed the mile and a quarter over a fast track in 2:01.49.

Ridden by Jerry Bailey, who would notch his 15th and final World Championships victory and fifth in the Classic, Saint Liam raced just off the pace on the outside after breaking from post 12 in the 13-horse field.

“When he broke, he broke out sharply and stayed there for 20 or 30 yards, so instead of saving ground for the first few jumps, I was losing ground,” Bailey said.

Sun King led the field through fractions of :23.98, 47.68 and 1:12.23 with Suave and Flower Alley in closest pursuit. Saint Liam was content to race four wide in fifth and did not begin his advance to the leaders until hitting the stretch.

“I was trying to keep him off the leaders as long as I could to leave him with a target,” Bailey said. “I knew I had Flower Alley. You just don’t want anybody flying up. I knew (second choice) Borrego can really come with a strong run, but it was going to take a magnificent effort to beat him.”

Saint Liam collared Flower Alley at the eighth pole and then edged clear to secure his fourth Grade 1 victory of the year.

Flower Alley held second by 1 ½ lengths over Perfect Drift, who was running in his fourth Breeders’ Cup Classic. Borrego never threatened and finished 10th.

2005 Classic Replay

Many racing greats show brilliance early in their careers while others grow into their peak performances as they mature. With eventual Horse of the Year Saint Liam, it was the latter. He made nine starts as a 3-year-old and did not win a stakes race. His career began to blossom late in his 4-year-old season when he missed by a neck to eventual Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, while drifting out in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes. Blinkers were added to his equipment and he lost only two races throughout the rest of his career. During the first half of 1995, Saint Liam scored Grade 1 victories in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream and the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs. He entered the Classic with a powerful redemption win in the Woodward under new jockey Jerry Bailey. Despite breaking outward from post 12, he gained good position and swept four wide to win by a length over a stubborn Flower Alley to give Bailey his 15th Breeders’ Cup score.

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www.breederscup.com//horses/hall-of-champions/2005/saint-liam


        Many racing greats show brilliance early in their careers while others grow into their peak performances as they mature.

Saint Liam