Breeders’ Cup World Championships 2013 results

CLASSIC

Winner: In a finish that was as close as possible without being a dead heat, Mucho Macho Man held off Will Take Charge to win the $5-million race by less than a nose. The crowd of 58,795 was on its feet during the race and afterward as the stewards looked at the photo.

Scoop: Winning jockey Gary Stevens also won Friday’s big race, the Distaff. Kathy Ritvo, the first female trainer to win the Classic, received a heart transplant a few years ago. Favorite Game On Dude finished ninth.

Quote: “This was a tremendous experience to win this race at my age [50]. I never expected to be in this situation. This is the ultimate feeling. It’s the icing on the cake of my career.”

— Jockey Gary Stevens

MILE

Winner: Wise Dan became the third repeat champion of the day when he rallied to win the turf race by three-quarters of a length. The 6-year-old gelding was seventh with a quarter-mile to go but stayed clear on the outside to come home a winner.

Scoop: Jose Lezcano picked up the ride on Wise Dan when John Velazquez was injured in the Juvenile Fillies. Wise Dan, the 2012 horse of the year, has won 19 of 27 races.

Quote: “This one’s for John Velazquez who was really keen to ride the horse, but we had every confidence in Jose and we had to go to Plan B.”

— Trainer Charles LoPresti

TURF

Winner: Irish import Magician came from seventh at the top of stretch, moved three wide to the outside and ran down favorite The Fugue to win the $3-million, 1 1/2-mile race. It was the 3-year-old colt’s fourth win in eight races.

Scoop: The Fugue, trained by John Gosden, is owned by noted composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. The horse’s dam is Twyla Tharp, named after the Broadway dancer and choreographer.

Quote: “I was a little farther back than I wanted to be because he got a bump at the turn, but he leveled off nicely. From there he took me where I wanted to be.”

— Jockey Ryan Moore

TURF SPRINT

Winner: Mizdirection, another favorite, owns the 6 1/2-furlong, down-the-hill turf course at Santa Anita, having never lost in seven tries. This time she repeated as Turf Sprint champion, winning over Reneesgotzip and Tightend Touchdown, who finished in a dead heat for second.

Scoop: The 5-year-old mare is partially owned by radio talker Jim Rome. He plans to retire the horse and sell her in the coming weeks.

Quote: “She loves it here, eh? She loves Santa Anita. … But it’s quite sad that she is getting on a plane ¿tomorrow and heading for the sales [in Kentucky].”

— Trainer Mike Puype

SPRINT

Winner: Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Martin Garcia found themselves back in the winner’s circle for the second time when Secret Circle won the six-furlong race. He was almost caught at the wire by Laugh Track, but he held on to win by a neck.

Scoop: Secret Circle was the fourth favorite to win on a day that rarely favors low-odds horses.

Quote: “I saw the other horse [Laugh Track] coming up on the outside and my horse started messing around, but by then it was too late to beat me.”

— Jockey Martin Garcia

JUVENILE

Winner: New Year’s Day became the early favorite for next year’s Kentucky Derby with a ground-saving trip to win the 2-year-old race by 1 1/4 lengths. Martin Garcia guided the horse from fourth entering the stretch to win.

Scoop: It was the first time Garcia has ridden New Year’s Day. The horse had previously run two races at Del Mar with Garrett Gomez in the saddle.

Quote: “I told him [Garcia] to take advantage of the rail and he did. I’m glad Martin got to shine on a big day like this.”

— Trainer Bob Baffert

JUVENILE FILLIES

Winner: Ria Antonia was moved to first when She’s A Tiger was disqualified and placed second for a late stretch bump. She’s A Tiger finished first by a nose, but the stewards ruled the contact was enough to change the order.

Scoop: Secret Compass, trained by Bob Baffert, fell on the far turn and was euthanized on the track. Jockey John Velazquez was taken to the hospital where he was set to be released when internal bleeding was discovered. He underwent surgery to remove his spleen.

Quote: “It was a very tough call. If we had lost by half a length, it wouldn’t have been the right call. But when you lose by an inch and a half, it’s probably the right call.”

— Ria Antonia owner Ron Paolucci

FILLY & MARE SPRINT

Winner: Groupie Doll was a repeat winner of this seven-furlong race on the dirt. The race set up perfectly for the mare as she took the lead on the far turn, extended her lead to two lengths entering the stretch, and held on to win by half a length.

Scoop: The connections of Groupie Doll plan to sell the horse this week at the November sales at Keeneland.

Quote: “Today was going to be emotional no matter what. This is her last race for us. I’m just so happy she’s going out a winner.”

— Trainer Buff Bradley