Sonstiges » typical Masters moments where someone from behind

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- As he walked briskly into the post-race interview area at Saratoga, trainer Bob Baffert said: This is better this year. Why didnt we do that last year?A year after making a similar walk - though with less enthusiasm - following Triple Crown winner American Pharoahs defeat in the Travers, Baffert floated on air after the previously unheralded Arrogate put on a performance for the ages, winning Saturdays Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes by a whopping 13-1/2 lengths over stablemate American Freedom. Moreover, Arrogates final time of 1:59.36 for 1-1/4 miles was a track record, demolishing the mark of 2:00 set by General Assembly in the 1979 Travers.That was ridiculous, Baffert said.The win capped a sensational hour for Arrogates owner, Juddmonte Farms, which also won the Grade 1, $1 million Sword Dancer Invitational with Flintshire on Saturday. It was also a two-win day for Baffert, who won the Grade 1 Kings Bishop with Drefong.But Arrogate eclipsed all performances on a Breeders Cup-type card at Saratoga, where 13 3-year-olds went into the starting gate for the 147th Travers but only one will be remembered.Arrogate, a son of Unbridleds Song, had never run in a stakes race before Saturday. His three wins coming into this race came against a total of 10 horses. On Aug. 4, he beat two horses in an allowance race, coming from last of three.When Arrogate drew the rail for the Travers, Baffert knew Mike Smith would have to put him into the race from the outset. Smith hustled Arrogate away from the gate but was third under the wire the first time as American Freedom and Laoban had outbroke him.But by the time the field entered the first turn, Arrogate was in front, running an opening quarter of 23.23 seconds. The gray locomotive kept rolling at a brisk clip of 46.84 seconds for a half-mile and 1:10.85 for six furlongs while basically in hand.So smooth, so strong, Smith said. He would look around a lot because hes so immature. Every time he looked too much Id say, Hey, and, man, he would jump to it.Entering the far turn, Arrogate widened his lead and he came to the quarter pole two lengths in front after running a mile in 1:35.52, equaling the second-fastest mile fraction in the history of the race.Smith said he kept busy on Arrogate in the stretch because he was afraid someone was coming, but no one was in shouting distance as Arrogate came to the wire in front of 48,630 spectators.Sent off an 11-1 shot, Arrogate returned $25.40 and keyed a Baffert exacta that returned $134.50.It was Baffert who picked out Arrogate at auction for Juddmonte, which three years ago retained him as their Southern California trainer following the death of Juddmontes previous U.S. trainer Bobby Frankel several years earlier. Arrogate brought $560,000 as a yearling.Rafael Bejarano had ridden Arrogate in his three previous victories, but he also had ridden American Freedom to a victory in the Iowa Derby and a runner-up finish in the Haskell Invitational. Bejarano said owner Gary West wanted him to ride American Freedom.I wanted to ride [Arrogate], but there was nothing I could do because the owner wanted me to ride that other horse, said Bejarano, adding that Arrogate was much better than the other horses and he loved the distance.American Freedom finished a half-length in front of third-place finisher Gun Runner, who finished 3-3/4 lengths ahead of Gift Box in fourth. He was followed, in order, by Governor Malibu, Connect, Creator, My Man Sam, Destin, Forever dOro, 5-2 favorite Exaggerator, Laoban, and Anaximandros.Jockey Kent Desormeaux was on Exaggerator, who he said was empty before the running started.In addition to trying to boost his credentials for the 3-year-old championship, Exaggerator was trying to disprove the notion he is simply a wet-track specialist. He has won three Grade 1s in the slop this year. His last effort on a fast track was an 11th-place finish in the Belmont Stakes.Im not going to scratch my head, Im going to accept it as racing and Ill figure out what happened in the ensuing days, said Keith Desormeaux, trainer of Exaggerator. I can assure you theres nothing physically wrong with him. It kind of mimicked his Belmont race. Its hard for me to accept that its all about the track.Trainer Steve Asmussen was glad to see Gun Runner bounce back from his fifth-place finish in the Haskell with a respectable third-place showing in the Travers.On a dry track we saw Gun Runner is of very high quality, he said. It is very comforting to be able to throw out the Haskell.Creator, the Belmont Stakes winner, also trained by Asmussen, finished seventh. Asmussen deduced that Creator had the same troubles with the turns at Saratoga as he did at Fair Grounds this winter.Saratogas probably not for him, Asmussen said.They used to say that about Baffert. They werent saying it Saturday. Dwight Clark Jersey . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. 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Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team.Masters champion Danny Willett paid tribute to last years Augusta winner Jordan Spieth for showing a touch of class when presenting the Englishman with his first green jacket. The 28-year-old fired a stunning 67 to capture the title by three shots after Spieth suffered a collapse on the final day and, in doing so, he ended Englands 20-year wait for a Masters champion, becoming the first to conquer Augusta since Nick Faldo.Fresh from his victory, Willett joined us in the Sky Sports News HQ studio to talk through his preparation for the competition, what was going through his mind on that final bogey-free round and how capturing his first green jacket has changed his life. Jordan Spieth chats to Danny Willett at the presentation ceremony However, he also took the time to speak about the class of Spieth, who appeared certain to successfully defend his crown before dumping two balls into Raes Creek at the 12th to run up a quadruple-bogey seven to let his lead slip.As is traditional at Augusta, the winner from the previous year is expected to present the green jacket to the new champion, which in this case meant Spieth having to hand over the jacket which looked certain to be his earlier in the day.However, Willett spoke highly of the 22-year-old and the way he handled the situation. He was brilliant, just like everyone would imagine him to be, Willett said.ddddddddddddThat was probably 15 minutes after he came off, so not in the best frame of mind, but a classy guy, he shook my hand and said well done and great playing today.He did everything you could really expect someone in that position to do and it just goes to show the kind of guy he is. Jordan Spieth is comforted by his caddie Michael Greller as they leave the 18th green Willett admitted golfers do not want to see fellow pros suffer collapses, but said he was grateful to be in a position where he could come back into contention for the victory.He added: You dont want it to go any way like that but, unfortunately round that golf course with the pressure that is on, crazy things happen and that was one of those typical Masters moments where someone from behind comes up and plays nice all day. Danny Willett savours his victory at The Masters Unfortunately, it was one persons to lose that day, I guess, and I feel fortunate that we were in the position we were to take the best chances.Click on the video above to hear from the Masters champion... Also See: WATCH: Love v Clarke quiz Love keen to have Tiger in team Otto hits form in China Willett lifts Masters title ' ' '