FREE VIDEO

Mile Singletary blitzes his way to victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

/

updated 4:03 p.m. ET Oct. 31, 2004

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Singletary, a 4-year-old colt named for former Chicago Bears linebacker Mike Singletary, broke away from the back at the top of the stretch and won the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Saturday, setting off a boisterous celebration.

The 17-1 long shot bought for $3,200 by an unheralded group of 13 owners was ridden by David Flores, a winner with his only mount of the day.

Flores took Singletary from fourth to the lead coming off the final turn. He was ahead by about a length when Antonius Pius made a late move, only to fall a half-length short.

Antonius Pius finished ahead of Six Perfections, who was looking to repeat as the race’s winner. Favorite Artie Schiller finished 12th in the 14-horse field.

Singletary paid $35 to win. He earned $873,600 for the exuberant owners at Little Red Feather Racing, led by Billy Koch, a film producer whose grandfather, Hollywood producer Howard W. Koch, owned thoroughbreds.

Koch picked the namesake for this horse because of his love for the Bears, the team he began rooting for while attending Northwestern. Flores’ silks are patterned after the logo on the Bears’ helmets.

Koch has been e-mailing Singletary’s wife and spoke to the Hall of Famer on Friday. Singletary, an assistant coach for the Baltimore Ravens, couldn’t watch the race because he was traveling with the team to Philadelphia for a game Sunday.

More news

Seth Wenig / AP

Under lock and key

Horses in the Belmont Stakes on June 8 will face tighter security for the second straight year.

Alastair Grant / AP

Godolphin scandal widens with more failed tests

The Godolphin doping scandal deepened Monday, with British racing authorities announcing that seven more horses have tested positive for steroids, including the winner of the world's oldest classic.

Headlines

• Label

Under lock and key

Godolphin scandal widens with more failed tests

Preakness win justifies Stevens' return to saddle

Replay: Oxbow ends Orb's Triple Crown bid

Fiftyshadesofhay wins Black-Eyed Susan  |  Watch

Oxbow upsets Orb, ends Triple Crown hopes

Stevens reacts after third Preakness win

Lukas sets record  |  'Paid to spoil dreams'

Orb's Triple Crown bid ends  |  Disappointing end

Preakness Stakes trophy presentation

Normandy Invasion passing on Preakness

Freedom Child wins Belmont's Peter Pan Stakes