Val Royal sets Mile record French-bred Val Royal won the $1.14 million-dollar Breeders` Cup Mile today, motoring from back in the field to win in record fashion on the turf at Belmont Park. Val Royal, ridden by Jose Valdivia, surged past Forbidden Apple in the final 100 yards. The 6-1 choice clocked 1:32.05, breaking the mark of 1:32.60 set by Royal Heroine in 1984. The Christophe Clement-trained Forbidden Apple was second under Corey Nakatani, and Bach, with Michael Kinane aboard, was third. Owned by 'NYPD Blue' television show producer David Milch, Val Royal was 11th in the 12-horse field on the backstretch. But Valdivia prompted the five-year-old horse and he responded, charging into contention as the leaders entered the stretch. Forbidden Apple pulled away from fading Balto Star at the eighth pole and appeared to have the victory wrapped up. But on his right, Val Royal raced past him and won by two lengths. 'When I turned him for home, I had the utmost confidence hewould run him down,' said Valdivia, who celebrated his first Breeders` Cup victory. 'This is an amazing animal,' said trainer Julio Canini. 'He has so much courage. He`s had a series of injuries and took 14 months to get over, and now he`s a very sound horse.' Val Royal went unraced in 2000 but came back to win the Oak Tree Breeders` Cup at Santa Anita after placing in his return to the track in the Kilroe Handicap. He has been first or second in all but one of his 10 starts, with seven wins.
