by Ed DeRosa

Midshipman and Square Eddie finished one-two, respectively, in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) to give their owners an immediate return on their investments on Saturday at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park.

Darley Stable purchased Midshipman from breeder Stonerside Stable earlier this year, and J. Paul Reddam purchased Square Eddie from David Gorton.

The two hooked up for much of the 1 1/16-mile race before Midshipman spurted away turning for home. But Square Eddie fought back gallantly to finish second with Street Hero finishing third.

“I want to thank Mr. [Robert] McNair who bred the horse,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “It’s good to win one for Darley, but it was a great job done by Mr. McNair.”

Midshipman went right to the front under new rider Garrett Gomez, a change in tactics from his previous three races in which he had come from slightly off the pace. Midshipman set fractions of :23.55, :47.08, and 1:10.61 through six furlongs before winning in 1:40.94 on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface.

“I just didn’t want him to get left with too much to do,” Baffert said of Midshipman making the lead early. “I basically told Garrett to break cleanly, go near the front and get a good position. We came into this race fit and ready.”

The deal McNair made with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum requires Midshipman to remain with Baffert unless Darley decides to race the horse in Dubai. Baffert would not speculate on where Midshipman would race next.

Midshipman is by Unbridled’s Song out of the Avenue of Flags mare Fleet Lady. John Adger, bloodstock adviser to McNair, said in August that Midshipman was Stonerside’s best horse since Congaree.

“I knew this horse was special when I got him to Del Mar,” Baffert said of Midshipman’s development.

Horses coming out of the Norfolk Stakes (G1) and Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G1) dominated the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Street Boss and Midshipman finished first and second in the Norfolk and first and third in the Juvenile. Square Eddie had won the Breeders' Futurity. Terrain finishing second in the Breeders' Futurity and fourth in the Juvenile.

Vineyard Haven, winner of the Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1) Stakes, did not race in the Breeders’ Cup. Baffert said that Midshipman deserves the Eclipse Award as champion two-year-old male.

For a video replay of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, click here.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Ed DeRosa is news editor of Thoroughbred Times