All Charlie Appleby and William Buick sought was recognition for Modern Games.
The inconspicuous hero of last year's Breeders' Cup when the colt captured a controversial running of the Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Del Mar, Modern Games had yet to earn the respect of racing pundits worldwide, despite returning as a 3-year-old to capture the French Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T).
In the Nov. 5 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T), the son of Dubawi, affectionately dubbed the "substitute" by his trainer, would need to overcome a troubled start to prevail in the $2 million prize. After his decisive three-quarter-length score Nov. 5, the copper-colored dynamo cemented his place in Breeders' Cup lore, becoming the first horse to complete the Juvenile Turf-Mile double.
"He's beginning to get some fanfare around the world, but it's great to see him get the recognition today that he didn't get 12 months ago from no fault of his own," Appleby said. "I'd love to bring him back here again and let the American crowd enjoy him."
The last time Modern Games was led into a Breeders' Cup winner's circle, there was a less-than-enthusiastic ovation that greeted the colt when an erroneous scratch meant that he competed for purse money only. American bettors were hopeful this time around, however, that the colt would reward them after last year' mishap, and he was bet down as the 6-5 favorite by post time. After all, just seven weeks earlier the Godolphin color-bearer treated American racing fans to a sublime performance in the Woodbine Mile in his first 2022 venture overseas. The gamblers' faith was also arguably buoyed by the fact that the colt left a memorable impression at Keeneland during Breeders' Cup week, both during his morning training as well as in the paddock ring.
Appleby pointed out that the 3-year-old Modern Games was not the same Modern Games American fans saw only a year before. The Irish-bred, always of a smaller stature, had filled out his slighter frame, burgeoning with muscle and striding with a collected purpose past the onlookers.
"Physically, he just got stronger in all the right places," Appleby said. "He looked a picture in the paddock today. You're always confident coming into these races when they look like that."
Hopping awkwardly at the start and pinched back behind horses into the run for the first turn, Buick tucked Modern Games into path two in eighth position as 2021 Mile runner-up Smooth Like Strait assumed his customary role as front-runner, narrowly leading European invader Pogo through splits of :23, :46.81, and 1:10.96.
By this time, the closers were beginning to creep in behind the contentious pace. Although Modern Games would be losing ground by traveling wide, Buick decided it was better to be safe than sorry, and being confident his mount could get there in time, he angled the colt eight-wide into the run for home.
"From where I was, the opportunity sort of presented itself at the time and I didn't need to do anything too brave," Buick said. "It was just all about getting him clear and giving him every chance to run."
Modern Games clicked into high gear and bore down on the leaders from the middle of the track as Pogo took over the lead from a tiring Smooth Like Strait. By the eighth pole, there was no stopping Buick and Modern Games, and the colt swept by a game Ivar and held sway over the late-closing 55-1 shot Shirl's Speight and Kinross.
One of just six European horses to triumph on Breeders' Cup weekend, and the third for team Godolphin, Modern Games clocked the mile in 1:33.96 on a firm turf course. Canadian-based Shirl's Speight, returning to the site of his Maker's Mark Mile (G1T) glory this spring, nosed out Kinross for third. Ivar, making his third Mile appearance following a fourth in 2020 and third in 2021, settled for fourth.
Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending, who was making his first start in 15 months in the Mile, was pulled up down the backstretch by jockey Flavien Prat. The colt was vanned off the track and sent to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital for further evaluation.
Kinross, a highly regarded Euro entering the Mile off group 1 victories in the U.K. and France, put forth a fine effort, considering his nine-wide venture in the stretch run. It was the gelding's first start beyond seven-furlongs this year.
"Huge run. To get on the fence from (the) 13 (post position) and then come from there and then go inside and then out... I'm hugely proud of the horse," trainer Ralph Beckett said of Kinross. "The fact that he performed as he did at six (furlongs) and seven (furlongs) and now a mile- they don't come along very often. He galloped out past the winner; maybe he could have (won), but that's all 'ifs and maybes.' "
Modern Games is one of four winners produced from the New Approach mare Modern Ideals. The mare has beget three other stakes winners in addition to Modern Games, including the promising 2-year-old filly Mawj (Exceed and Excel), winner of the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (G2) this past summer at Newmarket and a last-out third in the Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (G1).
Only six months ago Modern Games was low on the totem pole of Godolphin 3-year-olds heading into the European classics. Sharing the barn with Native Trail and Coroebus, who respectively won the Irish and English Two Thousand Guineas (G1). Modern Games returned to action in the French Guineas, taking that Classic by 1 1/4-lengths before failing to stay the 1 5/16 miles in the French Derby (G1).
"After the (French Derby) I held my hands up and just said, "we probably shouldn't have done that." And then the new plan was to go to Canada," Appleby said. "We gave (Modern Games) the nickname the "substitute" because at the time Coroebus wasn't able to make the Sussex so he dropped in there. He ran incredible there finishing second to Baaeed."
Modern Games' consistency throughout his 3-year-old campaign has now catapulted him into a category above his classic-winning stablemates.
"Frankly, he's the horse (more than the others) that will probably be crowned a second championship because back in the UK it's based on prize money," Appleby said. "He's just a true warrior."
The substitute no more, Modern Games has earned his rightful place on the starting lineup.
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