The $1 million TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) features older fillies and mares sprinting 7 furlongs on the main track. Cavorting was sent off as the 7-2 favorite in the full field of 14 off her 3 race win streak including the Test (G1) and Prioress (G2). In to challenge her included 11-2 defending champion Judy the Beauty, third in the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) last out, and 6-1 Taris, third in the L.A. Woman (G3) after winning the Rancho Bernardo (G3).
13-2 fourth choice La Verdad, 7-1 Stonetastic, and Taris disputed the lead exiting the chute and down the backstretch through fractions of 22.53 and 45.12 while stlked by 58-1 longshot Fioretti. Entering the stretch, La Verdad held the lead through 3/4 in 1:09.54, but 10-1 Wavell Avenue, 11th early and 6 lengths back, came through traffic and rallied to win by 1 3/4 length in 1:22.39. It was just a neck back to Taris third, and 1 3/4 more to late-running favorite Cavorting fourth.
Left: Wavell Avenue in the winner's circle. Jockey Joel Rosario said, "I had a perfect trip. It was a very good race. She always tries hard. We were always able to get a good position even when we were back far. I was comfortable because they were going fast up front. She gave me a big kick down the lane. It’s great to win a great race like this."
Right: Wavell Avenue heads back to the barn. Trainer Chad Brown said, "We thought there'd be a strong pace up front. Joel (Rosario) has gotten along with this filly so well. He's really been instrumental in her development, as much as me. It's really been a team effort. I have to give Steve Young a lot of credit - he found the filly at the farm and put her in our care. It was a great find. From there, she just fit well in the system and she keeps getting better. Joel has given me terrific feedback every time he's ridden her. We were really confident if she got a strong pace she could get there. It's a thrill to be here. I'm so proud of her."
The trophy celebration presentation for the Filly and Mare Sprint. Winning co-owner David Simon said, "Her last three races have been dynamite, including this one. She ran second to La Verdad closing and another few steps, she would have beaten her. She just has improved almost like day to day. Really, you could tell from Chad and from the workout she was really getting better from over the last month or so. She really came to blossom today. It's been quite a dream. I've been an owner since 1978, so it's been a long time for me to get back to a situation like or to get to a situation like this. It just feels wonderful.
Left: Second place finisher La Verdad walks over before the race. Jockey Jose Ortiz said, "It was very good. My filly broke very sharply. I took the lead like she wanted. I think she's awesome. Wavell Avenue is a nice filly and last time we met we beat her by half a length. She beat me by maybe two lengths today and maybe the 7f made the difference. My filly is more of a 6 to 6 1/2f sprinter. We tried to make 7f and we did pretty good. This is one special horse for me."
Right: Third place finisher Taris returns after the race. Jockey Gary Stevens said, "My filly ran a hell of a race. Simon (Callaghan) had her perfect for the race. I would have liked to have been farther out in the gate because we were stuck down inside. I thought she was the best. The other horse (La Verdad), came over on me. I guess you call that race riding."
Fourth place finisher and beaten favorite Cavorting in the post parade. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said, "Tough post for me (14). Then my filly didn't break that sharp. She was moving in the gate. I tried to give her every chance I can and save some ground." Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin added, "It’s a tough post position out there, but she did finish up well to be fourth."
Breeders' Cup Saturday Results - There were 9 races Saturday highlighted by the $5 million Classic where American Pharoah was an impressive winner in his final start before retiring to stud. Also on the card, Found won the Turf, Nyquist won the Juvenile, and Tepin won the Mile. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 9 races here. Get more photos and comments for each race here.
Breeders' Cup Friday Results - There were 4 races Friday highlighted by the Distaff where Stopchargingmaria won by a neck over Stellar Wind and the Dirt Mile won by Liam's Map. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 4 races here.
Thursday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 38 horses out on Thursday morning at Keeneland on both the main and training tracks, including American Pharoah. Beholder was also out, but was found to have bled when scoped and is scratched from the Classic.
Wednesday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 46 horses out on a very rainy Wednesday morning at Keeneland on both the main and training tracks, including Keen Ice, Frosted, and Golden Horn. No American Pharoah yet, hopefully he comes out tomorrow.
2015 Breeders' Cup Entries - Check out the entries, post postitions, and morning line odds for the 13 Breeders' Cup World Championship races to be held at Keeneland on October 30 and 31.
Tuesday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 31 horses out on a rainy Tuesday morning at Keeneland including Stephanie's Kitten, Grand Arch, and Private Zone.
Monday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 28 horses out Monday morning at Keeneland including Rachel's Valentina and a timed work by Beholder.
Sunday Breeders' Cup Photos - Photos and comments for 10 horses out Sunday morning at Keeneland including Liam's Map and Lea
Breeders' Cup Weather - Check out the latest weather forecasts for the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland
Review: Crushing the Cup 2015 - by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An invaluable tool for trying to unlock the mysteries of handicapping the Breeders' Cup races at Keeneland updated for 2015.
2014 Breeders' Cup Saturday Results - The feature race was the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic won by Bayern. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 9 races here.
2014 Breeders' Cup Friday Results - Friday was headlined by the $2 million Ladies Classic won by Untapable. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 4 races here.
Breeders' Cup History - Historical info, past results, and photos from previous runnings
The Breeders' Cup Championship Day - The official page for the Breeders' Cup championship races. Just about anything you need to know about it: results, video clips, and race calls for past years, and eventually nominations, entries, and results.
Free Prep Replays - for major prep races in the Breeders' Cup Challenge. The ones with camera logos have video available.
Blazing Silks, Breeders' Cup Edition- an interactive social network game that allows horse racing fans and social gamers to train and care for Thoroughbred horses.
TV Schedule - for all the preps and other programming leading up to the big day
Breeders' Cup Postcards - Breeders' Cup theme virtual postcards to send your friends including many past winners
Breeders' Cup Supplemental Entries - The old official policy on supplemental entries plus all the supplemental entries and how they fared, mostly it was a losing proposition. There are no more supplements now, only late nominations making it impossible to track now.
Left: Wavell Avenue in the winner's circle. Jockey Joel Rosario said, "I had a perfect trip. It was a very good race. She always tries hard. We were always able to get a good position even when we were back far. I was comfortable because they were going fast up front. She gave me a big kick down the lane. It’s great to win a great race like this."
Left: Second place finisher La Verdad walks over before the race. Jockey Jose Ortiz said, "It was very good. My filly broke very sharply. I took the lead like she wanted. I think she's awesome. Wavell Avenue is a nice filly and last time we met we beat her by half a length. She beat me by maybe two lengths today and maybe the 7f made the difference. My filly is more of a 6 to 6 1/2f sprinter. We tried to make 7f and we did pretty good. This is one special horse for me."
