Breakpoint (CHI) became a dual hemisphere graded stakes winner on Sunday when the 5-year-old son of Constitution led nearly all the way in the “about” 1 ¾-mile San Juan Capistrano S. (G3) at Santa Anita Park.
Breakpoint, owned by his breed Don Alberto Stable, was the unbeaten champion 3-year-old and Horse of the Year in Chile in 2020, where he won three Group 1 events. He had yet to have that success since coming to the U. S. a year ago, before breaking through in a big way on Sunday.
Sent to the front in the first quarter-mile Tyler Baze, Breakpoint appeared to relish having the lead as he strode through the stretch the first time. The flashy bay had a one-length lead after a mile, when Modus Operandi (IRE) cut the margin to just a head around the final turn. With a quartet of foes within striking range in the final furlong, Breakpoint held them all off to win by a neck of Red King.
“I worked him a couple of times and I told Neil, the farther we can run him the better,” said winning jockey Tyler Baze of his conversation with trainer Neil Drysdale. “He asked, ‘The San Juan Capistrano’, and I said, ‘Yeah, great!’ He will go two miles, he’ll go all day long.”
With his first stateside victory, Breakpoint has won six of 10 starts and earned $286,163.
“I’m delighted for the horse,” Drysdale added. “He had a masterful ride and it’s just good to see the horse get his form back from South America, because he had very good form in South America. I’m just delighted for the owners to see the horse come back to life again.”
Breakpoint is a son of multiple group winner and Group 1-placed Safawi, who is a full sister to Group 1-placed Asi Es No Mas (CHI) and multiple group-placed Mi Elegido (CHI).
Constitution is having a stellar year with his fourth crop of runners, leading his contemporaries by black type horses, with 18 and graded stakes horses, with 11.