Awesome Again - 1998 Breeders Cup Classic (Partial)

[TicinoParadise]

Will we not see a race loaded with this caliber of horses for a LONG time.  Only horses this decade that could run with this group would be Ghostzapper, and ST.Liam. Sorry no Tiznow.

[freemyo]

For me Swain is the greatest horse ever.... Destiny denied him to win Dubai World Cub & this race.

i miss you Swain son of Nashwan

[freemyo]

the most underrated horse ever SWAIN

[nealtracy]

Perhaps the low point of Frankies career after this ride on Swain...Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory!...But Frankie is a true character with guts...as proved by his brilliant ride on Daylami a year later!

[saskboy1957]

In all fairness, friends, almost all of the horses in this fantastic field "could have" won this race on a given day. It doesn't matter how a horse wins at this level, the one that wins is the BEST of the day. While I was a huge Victory Gallop fan, I was delighted that Awesome Again came through. All the other horses were fantastic, too, but on this day, Awesome Again was the winner.

[Phileboy]

I just watched this video for the first time since I saw the race live and I'm still sick how Frankie Dettori rode Swain. It was painful as I had already lost a heartbreaker when Swain was beat a whisker in Dubai, by Silver Charm. (Swain was about 15-1 that day and I had, I believe, a $60 double with the winner of the previous race, with Jerrry Bailey aboard, who paid about $11.) Anyway, I thought I wouId make amends in the Breeders Cup, but I was punished anew when Dettori cost Swain the race.

[talos124]

I remember this like it was yesterday, i had £500 on Swain. I dont care what anybody says about this race, Swain should have won had it not been for the worst ride ive ever seen at that level of racing.

[JemappelleVincent]

Awesome 4'ever

[jediknightjohnny123]

was real quiet supposed to be in this race?

[JSanity01]

Real Quiet was recovering from injury at that time. If anything Free House was supposed to be in the race but they gave him the year off after he lost to Silver Charm in the Goodwood

[tigerboy1966]

Why oh why did Dettori persist with a left hand whip when Swain was obviously running away to the right? He's a great jockey, but this was his blackest hour.

[ruffian72]

Awesome Again has won! A brilliant call by Durkin! Thank you for this wonderful thrilling video!

[Rachalone]

Wow, they're beautiful!

Looks like they're on the field to win.

Nigel, if you see this message, please contact me about your vintage horse.

[DanielSong39]

Someone needs to give Swain the directions to the finish line.

Far and away the best horse until he decides to make a right turn in the final strides.

[Ravenspass4life]

frankie dettori even admitted he made mistakes on him

i think if he kept him staight he might of won

[bonjoey222]

The fix was in, horses parted to let Awesome Again through. None the less great horse.

[horsepat]

awesome again was the best horse on the day and the best stallion to come out of that race

[JSanity01]

Awesome Again wasnt the best horse that day. It was Swain. Maybe Silver Charm could have held him off like he did in the Dubia World Cup, If anything Awesome Again was the 3rd best horse that day, but too bad Skip Away and Gentlemen didnt run their race that day. Victory Gallop and Coronado Quest ran good.

[saveus228]

you may or may not have a point about Swain, but Silver Charm got beat on the square a 2nd time by Awesome Again in that race. A horse ridden by Pat "wait all" Day never wins by alot, he does enough to win. If Swain were further in front by running a straighter course, Day moves earlier and Awesome Again may win anyway. One thing is for sure, Awesome Again had something left at the finish, he wasn't all juiced as evidenced by the way he galloped out.

[JSanity01]

I think alot of people forgot that Awesome Again did beat Silver Charm earlier that year in the Steven Foster. I think in both his losses to AG he had legitimate excuses. In the Stephen Foster it was his first race back since winning the Dubia World Cup and the Classic he drifted out. I still believe that AG had hooked him that day, Silver Charm loved a battle. But I still say Swain was the best horse that day.

[jhordanian]

Everyone remembers Dettori's ride, but Stevens was almost as bad. I know he wanted to keep Silver Charm's eyes on Swain, but Charm was barely ahead of Coronado's Quest on the rail, and Victory Gallop was also moving fast further inside of Awesome Again. Would Charm have held on had Stevens not been so obsessed about Swain? It's hard to say, but he would have had a far better chance.

[ZayedEr]

Skip away + silver charm + victory gallop + Awesome again and Swain, what a cast of powerfull horses for me Swain was the better horse that day unlucky third.

[cf1970]

Yep, I agree, the field was very deep. Swain would have had a great chance to win had he not drifted so much under whipping. Take care.

[sachahuista]

Dettori got a lashing from the press for that ride!

[cf1970]

Ah...the press. I can only imagine what bunk was said about Dettori. It was a curiously bad finish for Swain, true enough, but I wish the some press would grow up and show tact when dealing with a tough situation. I've come to hate those guys that say crap just to sell papers. It looked to me like the horse did his own thing when whipped. I think Dettori tried to rally him, but he just dove wide erratically. Hard luck for them really. Take care.

[ZayedEr]

thanks cf1970 your the man

[cf1970]

Glad you enjoyed it, Zayed. I am humbled by your compliment, thank you kindly. It is fun and rewarding to find and discover new races, I really enjoy it. Others, [gfn02, partymanners, bryan3229, etc.], have posted many sensational races as well. Check out their great pages too. God bless.

[sachahuista]

What a messy finish but a terrific race! Brilliant call by Tom Durkin!

[cf1970]

Yeah, they were all over the track at the end. Durkin rox! Take care.