3:52 pm: Quick, name the only two Oklahoma-breds to win a Breeders' Cup race. First there was Lady's Secret and now there's Kip DeVille, who benefitted from a perfect Cornelio Velasquez rail ride to hold off Excellent Art and win the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Kip Deville ($18.40) was somewhat reminiscent of last year's Mile winner, Miesque's Approval, who similarly dominated major mile races early in the year before hitting dry spell and then rebounding on Cup Day. Kip De Ville took the G1 Kilroe and G2 Maker's Mark in March and April, then lost four straight before today. Last time out he was second best to Shakespeare in the Woodbine Mile, and today's outcome highlights just how good Shakespeare was before being retired with a tendon injury last month.
Kip DeVille was perfectly placed early, third at the rail as Cosmonaut set the pace with My Typhoon and Remarkable News in close attendance. Nobiz Like Shobiz made a menacing move on the turn and looked strong but was hung out five wide. Meanwhile, Kip DeVille waited for room, went out and got Cosmonaut, and then held off Excellent Art, the favorite, who was last early. Excellent art lost by a length and it was another lengths back to Cosmonaut, who held third by a neck over Nobiz Like Shobiz with Host a fast-closing fifth. The final time over the soft turf was 1:39.78.
Kip Deville is owned by IEAH Stables and partners, who had to supplement him for $300,000 because neither the colt nor his obscure Oklahoma sire, the Gulch stallion Kipling, were nominated to the Breeders' Cup. Unlike Lady's Secret, Kip DeVille began his career in Oklahoma, winning a statebred race at Remington in his debut. After winning the Grand Prairie Turf challenge at Lone Star in April 2006, he was purchased by IEAH and turned over to trainer Rick Dutrow. He came to national attention when he opened a crazy 15-length early lead in the Colonial Turf Cup, but gradually learned to harness his speed.
Kip Deville topped a $70.80 exacta, $753.80 trifecta and $3500.60 superfecta. The pick-six officially died here for me and the Capital shareholders, as we were down to only Excellent Art and Nobiz Like Shobiz.
As for my unusual interest in great racing animals bred in the Sooner State, it's partly because my retired racing greyhounds, Badger Pluto and Badger Popeye, are themselves Okie-breds.
