Speightstown’s millionaire world traveler Tamarkuz secured his status as one of the best milers in training Friday, zooming past Grade 1 winners Dortmund and Runhappy at the eighth pole before drawing off to a 3 ½-length victory going away in the $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita [VIDEO].
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for Shadwell Stable, the classy chestnut was a proven world-class miler coming into the Dirt Mile, however, he had never been around two turns on the dirt before Friday. As it turned out, that may have been what he’s been looking to do all along, as Tamarkuz and jockey Mike Smith poured it on from the second turn to the wire. The final time was 1:35.72 over a fast local main track, earning a career high 107 Beyer.
“This feels great,” said an elated McLaughlin in the winner’s circle Friday. “What a feeling.”
Tamarkuz became Speightstown’s 14th Grade 1 winner with the victory, and the already-millionaire moved his career earnings to $1,840,444 with his eighth win from 20 starts. He began his career in Europe for Shadwell, and captured three straight graded stakes races in Dubai a year ago including the $1,000,000 Godolphin Mile (G2) over a strong international field on Dubai World Cup Day.
Bred in Kentucky by John D. Gunther, Tamarkuz’s win earned his breeder the first big award from WinStar’s new WIN program launched Friday. Gunther earned $100,000 in awards for breeding a Breeders’ Cup winner.
