DIRT MILE UPSET

ARCADIA, Calif. -- Furthest Land pulled off a stunning upset in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, defeating Ready's Echo by three-quarters of a length.

Furthest Land went off at 21-1 odds on Saturday at Santa Anita, and paid $44.60 to win.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Furthest Land ran the distance in 1:35.50 on the synthetic surface, which replaced Santa Anita's traditional dirt track a few years ago.

He became the third gelding to win on the second day of the season-ending world championships. Furthest Land was claimed for $35,000 a year ago at Belmont Park.

Furthest Land began his 2009 season with two victories at Gulfstream Park. He won nonstakes turf races Jan. 3 and Jan. 29. He is owned by Kentucky residents Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

Ready's Echo paid $18.20 and $9.40 to place and Midshipman $4.20 to show. Mastercraftsman, the 7-5 favorite from Ireland, was fourth.

DERBY-BOUND

Godolphin Racing's Vale of York pulled off an upset in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile by edging betting favorite Lookin At Lucky by a head.

The 2-year-old colt streaked down the straight stride for stride with Lookin At Lucky and stamped himself as an early Kentucky Derby favorite.

Only Street Sense has pulled off the Juvenile-Derby double since the Breeders' Cup began in 1984, but that's not going to dissuade Vale of York's connections from showing up on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

``Every time he's come for a race he's handled everything really well,'' said trainer Saeed bin Suroor. ``He's a tough horse, and next year we'll bring him for the Kentucky Derby.''

Mambo Meister, whose home track is Calder Race Course, finished fifth. He went off at 44-1 and was the longest shot in the 10-horse field.

DANCING TO VICTORY

Dancing in Silks pulled off a huge upset in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint, winning a four-horse photo finish by a nose. The 4-year-old gelding edged Crown of Thorns. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Dancing in Silks ran six furlongs in 1:08.14.

Carla Gaines became the third woman to train a Breeders' Cup winner and the first since Laura de Seroux saddled Azeri to a victory in the 2002 Ladies' Classic.

Sent off at 25-1 odds, Dancing in Silks paid $52.60, $19.20 and $12. Crown of Thorns returned $13.20 and $8.60, and Cost of Freedom was another head back in third and paid $9.20 to show.

Capt. Candyman Can, owned by David Zell of Hollywood, finished eighth. Capt. Candyman's four 2009 stakes victories included the Hutcheson Stakes (Grade 2) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 30.

NOTABLE

• Whether Goldikova is better than her predecessor is up for debate. But following the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park, there is no doubt she is the equal of one of the sports great champions.

Goldikova emulated the efforts of fellow French-based filly Miesque from more than two decades earlier, putting in a remarkable rally from next-to-last in the 11-horse field to earn her second victory in a row in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Goldikova is trained by former jockey Freddie Head, who guided Miesque to her back-to-back Mile victories in 1987 and '88.

``It's something I don't have the words to say what I feel because having ridden a horse like [Miesque] and now train a horse like her, it's something you can't dream of,'' Head said.

• In other Breeders' Cup races, Conduit successfully defended his title in the $3 million Turf; Pounced ran down pace-setter Bridgetown in the stretch to win the $1 million Juvenile Turf; and California shot to the lead shortly out of the gate and never looked back to win the Turf Sprint by 1 3/4-lengths over Gotta Have Her.

-- JIM FREER AND

MIAMI HERALD WIRE SERVICES

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