Drosselmeyer wins BC Classic for WinStar

Drosselmeyer’s win in the $5 million Breeder’s Cup Classic (G1) on Nov. 5 was doubling pleasing for WinStar Farm, who owns the 4-year-old colt and also stands his sire Distorted Humor. Drosselmeyer is the first Breeders’ Cup winner for both the farm and his sire. Distorted Humor is North America’s leading sire of 2011 with $9,711,314 in progeny earnings.

Drosselmeyer was near the back of the 12-horse field for the first mile of the 10 furlongs. His jockey Mike Smith saved ground on the turns, then swung five wide into the stretch to begin his rally. Still seventh with just a furlong to go, the 4-year-old colt had another burst of speed to pass front-running Game On Dude and go on to a 1 1/2-length victory.

“He ran an awesome race right from the first jump,” Smith said. “Right out of the gate, he got into a great rhythm. The key to this horse is to keep him moving. If you put on the brakes it messes him up. I knew I was going to wheel out, so I just kept him going. And I was able to save ground on both turns.”

“He ran a super race,” echoed winning trainer Bill Mott. “He was mowing them down the last eighth of a mile. I guess his biggest attribute is his stamina, and he showed it today. When they were wearing down, he was coming. It’s great. Maybe they’ll want to run him another year.”

Drosselmeyer, winner of the 2010 Belmont S. (G1) is out of Golden Ballet, by Moscow Ballet, and was bred in Kentucky by Aaron and Marie Jones. A $600,000 Keeneland September yearling in 2008, Drosselmeyer improved his career mark to 5-5-2 in 16 starts. He banked $2.7 million for the victory, pushing his lifetime earnings to $3,728,170.