Even the jockey Mike Smith had to agree it was “an amazing, amazing race” after Songbird, his 3-year-old filly, lost for the first time in 12 races. Nine Cup races will be run Saturday, capped by the $6 million Classic, in which California Chrome is the early favorite. The Distaff was her third Cup victory after the Distaff in 2013 and the Juvenile Fillies in 2012. “Other than losing, it was an amazing, amazing race,” Smith said. By the top of the stretch, it was a two-horse duel, with neither Beholder nor Songbird willing to give an inch.

Source: New York Times November 05, 2016 00:31 UTC