1998 Breeders' Cup Mile - Da Hoss + Post Race

Regardless of the odds it is not wise to dismiss any horse trained by Michael Dickinson.

The lesson was manifested dramatically this afternoon as Da Hoss, at 11-1 odds and in only his second start after a 22-month layoff, won the $1 million Breeders' Cup Mile for the second time in three years.

With a half-furlong remaining the 6-year-old gelding appeared beaten as another long shot, Hawksley Hill, pushed his nose in front on the outside. But under the jockey John Velazquez, who had never had a Breeders' Cup mount before this year, Da Hoss rallied and prevailed by a head at the wire.

The final time for the race on a turf course rated firm was 1:351/5 , three-fifths of a second faster than the clocking when Da Hoss won the Breeders' Cup Mile at Woodbine in Toronto in 1996 under Gary Stevens. This time, he returned $25.20 for a $2 win ticket.

Miesque, a champion in both Europe and North America, won consecutive runnings of the Mile in 1987-88, as did Lure in 1992-93. But in many respects Da Hoss's twin triumphs are more extraordinary, because the only start he made between them was a three-quarter-length victory in allowance company at Colonial Downs in Virginia on Oct. 11.

Da Hoss has been plagued with physical problems since he was a foal. ''A fetlock when he was a foal,'' Dickinson said, ''a pair of bone spurs as a yearling, another fetlock in June of last year, some lameness last fall. There have been some vet bills. His groom spends six hours a day with him, massaging, using ice."

http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/08/spo...