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Raven's Pass A Spoiler

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By BETH HARRIS

The Associated Press

Published: October 26, 2008

ARCADIA, Calif. - The favorites, especially Horse of the Year Curlin, didn't have a shot at the Breeders' Cup on Saturday.

Raven's Pass spoiled Curlin's bid for a second consecutive Breeders' Cup Classic, winning the $5 million race by 1 3/4 lengths on Santa Anita's new synthetic surface.

The defending champion, who had never raced on such a surface, wound up fourth.

Britain-based Raven's Pass capped a day of long-shot upsets at the season-ending championships, with European-based horses winning five of nine races. Seven of the winners were long shots.

Trainers Bob Baffert and John Gosden were double winners, while jockey Frankie Dettori rode two winners.

Among owners, Darley Stable had three wins, while Princess Haya of Jordan shared in two, including the Classic.

Raven's Pass won by 1 3/4 lengths in his first race on a synthetic surface, something the Breeders' Cup tried for the first time in its 25-year history. The event returns to Santa Anita next year.

It was a new experience for 4-5 favorite Curlin, too. More than $1 million was wagered on the reigning Horse of the Year to win, an amount so huge the tote board couldn't display it.

Raven's Pass ran 1 1/4 miles in a track record 1:59.27 under Dettori.

Baffert saddled Midshipman to a 1 1/4 -length win in the $2 million Juvenile, then watched Midnight Lute defend his title in the $2 million Sprint by 1 3/4 lengths.

Midnight Lute ran 6 furlongs in 1:07.08; Midshipman ran 11/16 miles in 1:40.94.

Ireland-bred Conduit won the $3 million Turf by 1 1/2 lengths in an upset. Favored Goldikova won the $2 million Mile by 1 1/4 lengths, making Frenchman Freddy Head become the first man to train and ride a Breeders' Cup winner. He rode Miesque to victories in the Mile in 1987 and '88.

Desert Code, a 36-1 shot, won the $1 million Turf Sprint; Muhannak captured the $500,000 Marathon and gelding Donativum won the $1 million Juvenile Turf.

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