Jockey Frankie Dettori's Top 5 Most Memorable BC Mounts

Originally published Oct. 30, 2016

Lanfranco 'Frankie' Dettori has undoubtedly held an impact on the Breeders' Cup, boasting 15 wins and almost as many finishes in the money through 1994 to 2025. In this articles from 2016, we look at his top mounts.

Quickly reflecting on Dettori's Breeders' Cup winners; Inspiral (GB), Enable (GB), Expert Eye (GB), Queen's Trust (GB), Hootenanny, Dangerous Midge, Pounced, Raven's Pass, Donativum (GB), Red Rocks (IRE), Ouija Board (GB), Wilko, Fantastic Light, Daylami (IRE), and Barathea (IRE).

Dettori's passion has led him to exit racing for a brief retirement, followed by a move to the United States where he 'became bored,' and has returned to riding with a second year of mounts in several key Kentucky Derby 151 undercard races as an expat. Looking ahead to the week's starts, watch for Frankie on Take Shape and Comin in Hot Thursday, Achieve Friday and Simply in Front, Classic of Course, Integration and Classic Time on Derby day Saturday.

1. Swain, 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic

I have to put this at the top of my list because I had keyed Swain in my Pick 4, trifectas, exactas, you name it. Oh, I was angry at Frankie for this ride, no doubt. But, truth be told, looking at it again, I'm not sure anybody would have beaten Awesome Again in that race. Silver Charm and Swain weren't speeding up as much as I thought they were while Awesome Again had a stunning burst of speed in the stretch in order to get to the wire first.

2. Ouija Board, 2006 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf

What a ride aboard Ouija Board in the 2006 BC Filly and Mare Turf. Frankie didn't push the button until he had to. My Typhoon and Wait A While, both terrific grass horses, had no shot after Frankie told Ouija Board to go in this race. Once of the reasons that I love this race is how it shows what a great jockey does when he or she knows, without a doubt, that he or she is on top of the best horse in the race. Frankie let the race unfold while not getting too fancy with Ouija Board.

3. Raven's Pass, 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic

You can hear it in Trevor Denman's voice as Curlin flattened out in the stretch. That's the real reason that I remember Dettori's ride aboard Raven's Pass in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic. Make no mistake, Frankie knew exactly what he was doing in the race. He pushed the button on Raven's Pass when Robby Albarado pushed the button on Curlin. Frankie also made the decision to keep Raven's Pass wide throughout the entire race instead of trying to beat Curlin by going inside the way that John Velasquez did aboard Henrythenavigator. Man...but if this race hadn't been run over an all weather track...Curlin might have had it.

4. Wilko, 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Tom Durkin said it best,"Here's a resurgent Wilko!" Afleet Alex, one of the greatest horses to not win the Triple Crown after finishing third in the Kentucky Derby and taking home the Preakness and Belmont, had Wilko beat around the turn. It appeared as if Wilko was done. Such is the greatness of Lanfranco Dettori. He used all of his horse whispering magic to get Wilko to somehow start moving with enthusiasm again. By the time they hit the wire, Wilko knew he had Afleet Alex beat. Afleet Alex knew that Wilko had him beat. Look at how both horses relaxed close to the wire. Another unbelievable ride in a Breeders' Cup race by Frankie.

5. Fantastic Light, 2001 Breeders' Cup Turf

Sure, Fantastic Light was odds on in this race. He was supposed to win. Make no mistake, though. Fantastic Light's victory in the 2001 Breeders' Cup Turf was all Frankie Dettori. If you don't believe me, just think about what Frankie did aboard the horse. There was a moment around the final turn where Frankie peaked back to see exactly how far Mick Kinane aboard Milan was behind him. That is what I call a brilliant jockey move. Frankie knew he was going by the front runner. But he also knew that he had to make the absolute most perfect move aboard Fantastic Light in order to hold off Milan. Milan probably catches Fantastic Light if Frankie hadn't gotten Fantastic Light to speed up at the exact, right, moment.