ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) -Careless Jewel was on a mission, and there was very little jockey Robert Landry could do to dissuade her.
As expected, the 3-year-old filly jumped right to the lead in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic on Friday at Santa Anita. That's her style, a tactical advantage that produced five straight dominant wins.
This time was different. The 9-5 favorite would not relax into a comfortable rhythm.
``At the first quarter, she was going OK,'' Landry said. ``Then she locked on the bridle and went as far and as fast as she could. That's not her.''
A reasonable two-length lead quickly ballooned to nine. Midway on the final turn, Careless Jewel was running out of gas, her stride visibly shortening. Eventual winner Life Is Sweet and the rest of field charged by in the lane as Careless Jewel faded to last.
``Naturally, I'm a little disappointed,'' trainer Josie Carroll said. ``She's only 3, and she has her whole career ahead of her.''
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CAN'T WIN 'EM ALL: It was a tough opening day for some high-profile trainers.
Todd Pletcher was winless in four tries, leaving him 3 for 60 in the Breeders' Cup.
Irishman Aidan O'Brien had a winner, Man of Iron in the $500,000 Marathon, and one loser.
Saeed bin Suroor, head trainer for Dubai's powerful Godolphin Stable, went 0 for 4 while Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, unable to attend because of an undisclosed illness, had a second- and two fourth-place finishers from three starters.
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RESTING UP: Zenyatta had a quiet Friday morning at Santa Anita, one day before she puts her 13-race unbeaten streak on the line against the boys in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.
Zenyatta will bid for history as the first filly or mare to win the richest race in North America. It will be a demanding 1 1/4-mile test against a deep and talented field that includes Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird and Rip Van Winkle, a top runner from Ireland.
``She is going to have to have her 'A' game and be lucky, too,'' exercise rider Steve Willard said after taking the mare for an easy gallop. ``The distance will be right down her alley but, there are five or six really good horses in there and no slouches. I just want her to have a safe race, come home good and make babies.''
This will likely be Zenyatta's final race. The 5-year-old mare is headed to retirement and a new career as a broodmare.
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YOUTH SERVED IN MARATHON: Man of Iron, a 3-year-old colt, nipped veteran Cloudy's Knight by a nose in the $500,000 Marathon.
It was a brave effort by Cloudy's Knight, a 9-year-old gelding making only his third start after missing a year with a soft-tissue injury. It was also his first run over a synthetic surface at Santa Anita.
``You don't want to feel you're being greedy,'' trainer Jonathan Sheppard said. ``His last race was only 15 days ago. But it all came together beautifully, at least until all but the last jump or two. We're very proud of him.''
Rosemary Homeister Jr., aboard her first Breeders' Cup mount, urged Cloudy's Knight to the front midway through the final turn of the 1 3/4-mile race. It was a winning move, except for the relentless rally by Man of Iron, who closed from ninth.
``He kept trying and forging forward,'' Homeister said. ``When we hit the wire, me and the (other) rider both looked at each other. I'm like, 'Did you get it?' and he goes, 'I don't know.' The horse gave such a gallant effort and for him not to win, it just brings you down a hair. But the horse was still happy. He had his ears up.''
Homeister came within a head bob of joining Hall of Famer Julie Krone as the only women to ride a Breeders' Cup winner.
For Man of Iron, the victory was his fourth in 10 starts. His first race outside Ireland was also his debut on a surface other than grass.
``I just let him go without any hurry,'' jockey John Murtagh said. ``I just wanted to stay out of trouble. He got the win right on the wire, so it worked out just right.''
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STARRY SIGHT: A handful of celebrities came to check out the ladies - fillies and mares - at the Breeders' Cup on Friday.
Among them was Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre, who owns thoroughbreds, and longtime friend Don Zimmer, a senior adviser for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Los Angeles Angels pitcher John Lackey, who recently became a free agent, sat with a group of friends in the private Trophy Lounge. Also on hand was Bo Derek, a member of the California Horse Racing Board.
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CHANGING KITTENS: Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker called an audible Friday, informing the Breeders' Cup they would scratch Kera's Kitten from Saturday's $1 million Juvenile Turf.
That opened the door for Dean's Kitten, their other horse, to join the field.
``We would have been comfortable running either one of them, but were forced to pick,'' Maker said. ``It was a tough call. Dean's Kitten has more seasoning. He's been running against better competition. We're running the horse we feel gives us the best chance to win.''
Dean's Kitten drew the No. 12 post and will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez.
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PICKING UP: The opening day of Breeders' Cup weekend attracted 37,651 fans, an improvement over the 31,257 on Friday last year. This is the second straight year the event has been held at Santa Anita.
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Associated Press Writer Greg Risling contributed to this report.
