Frankie Dettori rode Raging Torrent to a 2 1/2 length victory in the Grade 1 Met Mile.
The win came on a muddy sealed track at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
What happened?
Dettori aggressively took the lead from the outside five post and cruised down the backstretch.
He fought off odds-on favorite Fierceness in a stretch-long battle to win.
Fierceness held second, with Just A Touch another 2 1/4 lengths back in third.
Why it matters for Frankie Dettori
The Met Mile was Raging Torrent's seventh win in 14 starts and awarded an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
Dettori's post-race celebrations are well-known, and this win was no exception.
Raging Torrent carried 123 pounds and covered one mile in 1:35.89.
What comes next?
Raging Torrent paid $18 to win as the second longest shot in the field.
The Doug O'Neill-trained Maximum Mischief colt will now head to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
Dettori's win was a significant upset, with Fierceness heavily favored to take the top spot.
And the victory marked a major milestone for Raging Torrent, who has now earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup.
But the road to the Breeders' Cup won't be easy, with tough competition ahead.
So Dettori and Raging Torrent will need to stay focused and keep performing at a high level.
Raging Torrent was bred in Kentucky by Rodney J. Winkler and Alfonso Mazzetti.
The colt is produced from the Violence mare, Violent Wave, and races for Yuesheng Zhang and the Great Friends Stable of Craig Dado.
Dettori's experience and skill were on full display in the Met Mile.
He hustled Raging Torrent to the front and was able to duck over to the rail in front of Fierceness.
The Hall of Famer John Velazquez was seeking a sixth Met Mile win, but came up short.
Raging Torrent's win was a testament to Dettori's ability to perform under pressure.
The Italian riding legend has a long history of success in major races.
And this win was just the latest example of his skill and dedication.