Claiborne Farm’s Lure took charge after avoiding traffic trouble on the first turn and cruised to a 2 ¼-length victory to successfully defend his title in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park.

In winning the 10th running of the race, Lure gave jockey Mike Smith his second Breeders’ Cup victory and trainer Shug McGaughey his fifth. Lure completed the mile over a firm turf course in 1:33.58.

Breaking from post 12 in the 13-horse field, Lure made a rush for the lead going into the first turn widest of all. But Ski Paradise, who broke from post one, rushed up the rail and had trouble negotiating the turn and pushed six rivals wide in a mass of a bothered horses.

Smith had Lure just far enough in front going into the turn that he avoided any contact as Ski Paradise regained his spot next to the rail and took the lead around with turn with Lure to his outside.

Lure took the lead soon after entering the backstretch and, as he had done the year before at Gulfstream Park, quickly opened a daylight advantage that he maintained to the far turn where 74-1 longshot Fourstars Allstar moved to within a half-length.

Lure shook off that challenge and quickly opened up again at the top of the stretch and coasted to victory.

Ski Paradise came back on along the inside to get second by 1 ¾ lengths over Fourstars Allstars who was a head in front of the filly Toussaud who was bothered in the first turn along with Barathea (IRE), who was another head back in fifth.

“The horse to the inside (Ski Paradise) was trying to bolt,” Smith said. “I was trying to give and take when, thank goodness, someone relieved the pressure. At that point, I knew that I needed to go on.

“It was like a traffic jam on some L.A. freeway with everybody honking. I was in the seven path, and everybody inside of me was getting knocked around. I was forced out, and my horse had everything to overcome right there.”

“There wasn’t much speed in the race,” McGaughey said. “I was maybe a little surprised he went to the lead down the backside, but I think what happened in the first turn caused Mike to decide to go on the lead.”

Lure, who finished 1993 with six wins and two seconds from eight starts, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2013.