BC Internationals: Defending Mile champion Karakontie

Photo courtesy of Breeders' Cup Ltd.

The Niarchos Family's homebred Karakontie stunned the 2014 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at odds of 30-1, but his price was more reflective of his recent bad luck than his overall merit -- or his pedigree, as a direct descendant of two-time Mile legend Miesque.

A high-class juvenile who landed the 2013 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1), he was also a classic winner of the French 2000 Guineas (G1):

 

Karakontie wasn't to blame for failing to stay the trip in the about 1 5/16-mile French Derby (G1), or for being badly hampered in the Prix de la Foret (G1). But so competitive was the 2014 Mile field, and so concerning was his post 14, that he went off as a massive overlay at Santa Anita: