2001 Goodwood BC Handicap - Freedom Crest Video

Freedom Crest outdueled front-running Skimming to win the $488,000 Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2) by one length at Santa Anita Park on Sunday.

Reigning Horse of the Year Tiznow, the 1.10-to-1 favorite in the field of six, was within striking distance on the turn for home but was unable to gain ground and finished third, a half-length behind Skimming.

"He just couldn't go by those two horses," Tiznow's trainer Jay Robbins said. "He didn't put in that big a punch, and they were slowing down big the last part. We'll have to see how he is (before committing to the Breeders' Cup Classic [G1] on October 27 at Belmont Park). We'll sit down and think about it right now. (Jockey) Chris (McCarron) said, 'I don't know what to tell you. He feels perfect, but those two (horses) didn't come back to him and I couldn't get to them. The fractions were good early (:22.30, :45.53, and 1:09.59 set by Skimming) and slowed down late. They should have benefited Tiznow."

Tiznow won last year's Classic en route to year-end honors as Horse of the Year. The four-year-old son of Cee's Tizzy went to the sidelines with back problems after winning the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) on March 3. He returned to finish third in Woodward Stakes (G1) at Belmont on September 8.

Freedom Crest, the next-to-longest price on the board at 39-to-1, completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.86 with Kent Desormeaux in the saddle.

He enjoyed his biggest pay day in the Goodwood and took his earnings to $616,810 with the winning purse of $300,000. The five-year-old son of To Freedom has won seven times in 22 career starts including the San Pasqual Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita on January 7. He is owned by Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran and trained by Richard Baltas.

Donated by Jeff Mende..