Top 5 greatest training achievements in BC history
 

#5 - Michael the cross dressing genius Dickinson wins the '98 BC Mile with Da Hoss. He had just one prep race in two years.

#4 - Rick Dutrow Jr. wins two Breeders Cup races the same year with the likes of Saint Liam and Silver Train. Two horses who were complete and utter bums before Dutrow made them run well.

#3 - Richard Mandella wins 4 Breeders Cup Races the same day in 2003. Including a win by the immortal Action This Day.

#2 - Andre Fabre starts his first ever BC Classic horse in the '92 Classic ... a 3yo filly named Jolypha. Never having tried dirt before - and making only her 6th lifetime start - Jolypha probably would have been 100/1 or more if she wasn't coupled in the betting with a pair of Bobby Frankel trained Grade 1 winners.

Jolypha ran 3rd to AP Indy and was always in the hunt. The following year, Fabre returned with Arcangues. He wasn't coupled with the Frankel horses - and this time his horse won and paid $269.20.

Interestingly ... Dick Mandella took over the training of Arcangues after his BC Classic win. He did no better with him than Frankel would do with Jolypha.





#1. Richard Mandella would saddle Phone Chatter for the BC Juvie Fillies in 1993.

All hope appeared gone when Indian Charlie showed up at the windows and bet $50 on her.

But somehow it wasn't enough to stop Phone Chatter.

IC celebrated with his winnings by buying a case of The Natty and catching a Gators home game with GPK.

Jealousy is unbecoming of you Doug. Don't hate just because I look good in cut off jorts...

Who is the one with Down syndrome?

No wonder John Smoltz can't throw worth a crap anymore if this is what he's doing all the time.

Speaking of Gator fans in tight jorts...where has Cajun been lately?

My choice would be Bob Baffert getting the much injured Midnight Lute to win the BC Sprint in 1:07:08 in his 2nd start of the year off of a 10th place finish in the Pat O'Brien.

Just outside the top 5 IMO would be Frankel squeezing a 3rd out of Badge of Silver in the Mile off like a 9 month layoff.

I think William Livingston deserves a mention.

Dickinson in 1996 with Da Hoss. He had one route to get to the BC; the Preston brothers' advisor had another, richer route. Dickinson's plan won out. There would have been major egg on his face if Da Hoss had flopped at WO.

Funny Frankel was 0-42 in BC before S Squirt won the sprint, he was an abysmal failure up until that point. I don't think I will ever forgive him for not having Milwaukee Brew healthy to run in the BC Classic in the 2003, I was waiting to bet him in that race and the way it would have unfolded with his affinity for Santa Anita, he more than likely would have had a great chance at winning at overlaid odds.

I would also include Dallas Stewart overcoming his own inability as a trainer to get a win for Unbridled Elaine in 2001.

Miesque's Approval
 

2006 turf-Marty Wolfson takes horse who recently ran in claiming and was about to be retired to win the turf, has to be considered

Had to be the shoes.

Strictly a good worming.

Mandella actually won 4 races on the 1993 card. Phone Chatter and Kotashaan in BC, Memo in the Smile, and Region in the Sunday Silence.

Also in 1993, Gilded Time came off a full year layoff, his last start being a win in the Juvenile at GP, and ran a sharp 3rd in the Sprint.

I think the best of all has been overlooked. Neil Drysdale getting Prized to win the 89 Turf as a 3yo in his first career turf start was pretty darn impressive.

he was wearing tan loafers that day!

I thought it was a thorough tooth brushing

One rather major training accomplishment that often gets forgotten is Neil Drysdale's feat of getting Prized to win the Breeders Cup Turf in his first ever start on the grass........and as a three-year-old to boot!

Pretty stunning stuff!