The 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic

Breeders' Cup > Classic > 2003

The 2003 Breeders’ Cup Classic

Winner: Pleasantly Perfect

The 2003 Breeders’ Cup World Championships took place at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California on October 25. It was the 20th edition of the premier North American horse racing event and featured a number of exciting races and finishes. One of the highlights of the card was the Breeders’ Cup Classic powered by Dodge (G1).

A field of ten horses took to the track in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. The pre-race story was the retirement of Horse of the Year contender Mineshaft, as the Classic contenders were looking for a way to sneak in and take the title from him. At odds of 5-2. Medaglia d’Oro was the pre-race favorite. Other top contenders included Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide at 9-1 odds, and Perfect Drift at 4-1 odds.

The early pace was indeed set by Medaglia d’Oro with fractions of :22/79 and :46.35 through the first half-mile, Congaree would then take the lead and set fractions of 1:10.32 and 1:34.32. The two of them would battle for first, but it was 14-1 longshot Pleasantly Perfect who would zip past Medaglia d’Oro at the top of the stretch and win by 1 ½ lengths in a time of 1:59.59. Dynever finished third.

Pleasantly Perfect paid $30.40. $9.60, and $6.60 across the board for the win. Medaglia d’Oro returned $4.40 to place and $3.30 to show, while third-place finisher Dynever paid $7.40 for his showing. A $1 Trifecta of 2-8-6 paid $831.

“The whole way out he had a good trip. I knew he was coming so strong, and I know when you really ask him down the stretch he was going to give it to me today, a big kick like he always does. I put my whip to him on the left side and he just blew by those two horses [Medaglia d'Oro and Congaree],” said Pleasantly Perfect jockey Alex Solis.