Favored into the face of top European miler Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), streaking World Approval (Northern Afleet) became the second Live Oak Plantation colorbearer out of Win Approval (With Approval) to take home the hardware in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. The 5-year-old gelding's half-brother Miesque's Approval (Miesque's Son) accomplished the same feat at a much bigger price in 2006.
Away well, the nearly white veteran tracked from the two path into the first turn and just behind expected hot splits of :22.30, :45.65 and 1:10.04. Spinning out into the clear turning for home, he spurted clear of his competition as several failed to find clear runs.
“Well, of course, he seems to always break well, and that was important for us,” said trainer Mark Casse, who took this race two years with superstar Tepin (Bernstein). “Then talking to Johnny [Velazquez], we felt like Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile) and Heart To Heart (Kitten's Joy) would be up front. And Johnny was right. He thought we'd get some–maybe a little speed from the outside, and we did. I was a little nervous about that. I could see going to about the half-mile pole when Johnny started asking him to go, it looked like he hesitated just a little bit. But once he got in the clear, he ran on.”
Velazquez added, “He was between horses and switched leads coming down the lane. He always had it for me. Horses like him make you look good. He's been perfect for me.”
Things did not go as well for Ribchester, who was somewhat dead on the board and failed to run his race while fifth after racking up three Group 1s this year and a probable Cartier Award. He'll head to Kildangan Stud in Ireland this coming season.
“I was a little bit disappointed as he came off the bridle a little sooner than I would have expected him to, but he has had a long season,” offered William Buick.
Saturday, Del Mar
BREEDERS' CUP MILE-GI, $1,840,000, DMR, 11-4, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:34.55, fm.
1–WORLD APPROVAL, 126, g, 5, by Northern Afleet
1st Dam: Win Approval, by With Approval
2nd Dam: Negotiator, by Hoist the Flag
3rd Dam: Geneva II, by Gulf-Weed
O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Live Oak Stud (FL); T-Mark E. Casse; J-John R Velazquez. $1,100,000. Lifetime Record: 24-11-2-4, $2,937,363. *1/2 to Revved Up (Sultry Song), MGSW, $1,548,653; Miesque's Approval (Miesque's Son), Ch. Grass Horse, GISW, $2,648,879; and Za Approval (Ghostzapper), MGSW & MGISP, $1,394,666. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lancaster Bomber, 123, c, 3, War Front–Sun Shower (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). O-Michael B Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier & Derrick Smith; B-Sun Shower Syndicate (KY); T-Aidan P O'Brien. $340,000. [bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Blackjackcat, 126, g, 4, Tale of the Cat–Bootleg Annie, by Go for Gin. O/B-Al & Saundra Kirkwood (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $180,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HD, NK. Odds: 2.70, 13.00, 19.00.
Also Ran: Suedois (Fr), Ribchester (Ire), Zelzal (Fr), Karar (GB), Om, Ballagh Rocks, Heart to Heart, Roly Poly, Midnight Storm, Mr. Roary, Home of The Brave (Ire). Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
A breakout winner of GI United Nations S. at Monmouth last July, World Approval snapped a four race winless streak on seasonal debut in Florida-bred company at Tampa in April. He added Pimlico's GII Dixie S. on Preakness Day May 20, but was a close fifth in the GI Woodford Resreve S. on Belmont day June 10. He bounced back with a comfy success in the GI Fourstardave H. Aug. 12, and added the GI Woodbine Mile over familiar foe Lancaster Bomber last out Sept. 16.
Pedigree Notes:
Win Approval, profiled earlier this week by Steve Sherack, joins greats Hasili (Ire), Primal Force and Sweet Life as producers of multiple Breeders' Cup winners. From 10 foals, the pensioned 25-year-old has produced nine starters, eight winners, four graded stakes winner and progeny earnings of $8,811,808. Miesque's Approval was champion grass horse after his Breeders' Cup victory, and World Approval appears very likely to take home his own Eclipse Award in January. A second-generation Live Oak homebred, two-time winner Win Approval was bought back for $38,000 as a weanling at the 1992 OBS Fall Mixed Sale.
“I would tell you that it fulfilled a lot of expectations, and I'm so excited,” said Live Oak principal Charlotte Weber, whose only previous Breeders' Cup win came with Miesque's Approval. “I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am. To have a foundation mare, it's a privilege and an honor. And Mark has really put the finishing touches on this horse, and I feel privileged to be with the Casse team.”
Casse added of his client, “A lot of people don't know, but we have a long history. I'm an Ocala boy for 51 years, and I think Live Oak has been there 50 of those years. Her father and my father and her were very good friends. He passed away a couple years ago, but he was always wanting us to be together. So I'm sure he's watching.”
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