The first of 13 World Championship races this weekend at Del Mar was the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) featuring a field of 14 two-year-old fillies going 1 mile on the turf. Happily was sent off as the 5-2 favorite off her wins in the Moyglare Stud (G1) at Curragh and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) at Chantilly. In to challenge her included 3-1 second choice Rushing Fall, winner of the Jessamine (G3) at Keeneland, and 5-1 third choice September, winner of the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot but a close second in the Fillies Mile (G1) at Newmarket last out.
Rushing Fall catches pacesetter Lull in the stretch
34-1 Juliet Capulet and 38-1 Moon Dash contested the early pace of 23.04, 47.23, and 1:11.93 over firm going while stalked by 31-1 Ultima D. Entering the lane, jockey Javier Castellano angled Rushing Fall, 9th early, 6 wide for room and she took over at the 1/8 pole through 7f in 1:24.09. Kept to task by Castellano, Rushing Fall held off late-running 16-1 Best Performance by 3/4 length in 1:36.09 It was a length back to September third, while favorite Happily had to be steadied on both turns and checked in last beaten 16 1/4 lengths.
Rushing Fall wins the Juvenile Fillies Turf
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show
11 Rushing Fall Castellano 8.00 4.60 3.40
1 Best Performance Ortiz 11.80 7.80
10 September Heffernan 4.80
Winning Time: 1:36.09
$1 Exacta 11-1 53.70
$1 Trifecta 11-1-10 371.60
$1 Superfecta 11-1-10-8 1,878.10
Left: Rushing Fall in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Javier Castellano said, "We had a little bit of a rough trip going into the first turn, but I was lucky to be able to save some ground in the first turn and then get to the outside. I had a perfect trip after that.
"She's a very professional filly. I love the way she does things. She's a very special filly. She's 3-for-3 and has won on soft turf and firm turf."
Right: The trophy presentation for the Juvenile Fillies Turf with trainer Chad Brown on the far left. Brown said, |Javier rode a great race. The key was going out of that post and getting a spot in the first half of the field which he accomplished. From there, with a nice pace in front of us, he was comfortable where he was and he moved when he felt the time was right. She has a devastating move when you turn her loose."
Left: Rushing Fall parades with her flowers.
Right: Rushing Fall heads back to the barn after the race. Winning owner Bob Edwards said, "Wow, It's really impressive. She's a turf rocket. Chad was confident. When he saw her last winter, he said, 'I'll take her to the Breeders' Cup.'"
Left: Second place finisher Best Performance in the post parade. Jockey Jose Ortiz said, "She ran very well. Broke well. I was in a good position then was shuffled back a little on the second turn. But when I asked her to go she gave me a good turn of foot."
Right: Third place finisher September returns after the race. Trainer Aidan O'Brien said, "She missed the break but finished well. She had run a good race. I have two nice fillies for next year." Jockey Seamus Heffernan added, "All the Europeans seemed to miss the break. I did and that is the advantage the Americans have over the Europeans."
Left: Last place finisher and beaten favorite Happily heads out to the track before the race. Jockey Ryan Moore said, "She took too long to find a gear and by then it was too late and there was some horses in front of her."
Right: The fillies break from the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
2017 Breeders' Cup Wrap Up - Records set, statistics, first-time winning jockeys and trainers, how previous winners finished, and more for the 34th running of the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar.
2017 Breeders' Cup Saturday - There were nine Breeders' Cup races on Saturday at Del Mar headlined by the Classic (G1) where Gun Runner won over Collected. Also on the card, Talismanic won the Turf (G1), World Approval won the Mile (G1), and Good Magic won the Juvenile (G1). Get the results, charts, and photos for all 12 stakes on the card. More photos: Classic - Turf - Juvenile - Mile - Sprint - F&M Turf - F&M Sprint - Turf Sprint - Juvenile Fillies
2017 Breeders' Cup Friday - There were four Breeders' Cup races on Friday at Del Mar headlined by the Distaff (G1) where Forever Unbridled held off Abel Tasman to win by a half length. Also on the card, Rushing Fall won the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), Battle of Midway won the Dirt Mile (G1), and Mendelssohn won the Juvenile Turf (G1). Get the results, charts, and photos for all 8 stakes on the card. More photos: Juvenile Turf -
Juvenile Fillies Turf - Dirt Mile - Distaff
2017 Breeders' Cup Entries - Entries closed Monday and post positions were drawn for the 13 Breeders' Cup Championship races on November 3 and 4 at Del Mar. The Classic will have a field of 11 with Gun Runner in post 5 the 9-5 favorite over Arrogate in post 1 at 2-1.
Breeders' Cup Weather - Check out the latest weather forecasts for the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar
Review: Crushing the Cup 2017 - by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An invaluable tool for trying to unlock the mysteries of handicapping the Breeders' Cup races at Del Mar. Updated for 2017, this is their 26th anniversary edition and first for Del Mar.
2016 Breeders' Cup Saturday Results - The feature race was the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic won by Arrogate. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 9 races here.
2016 Breeders' Cup Friday Results - Friday was headlined by the $2 million Ladies Classic won by Beholder. 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.
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 since the change.
Left: Rushing Fall in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Javier Castellano said, "We had a little bit of a rough trip going into the first turn, but I was lucky to be able to save some ground in the first turn and then get to the outside. I had a perfect trip after that.
"She's a very professional filly. I love the way she does things. She's a very special filly. She's 3-for-3 and has won on soft turf and firm turf."
Left: Second place finisher Best Performance in the post parade. Jockey Jose Ortiz said, "She ran very well. Broke well. I was in a good position then was shuffled back a little on the second turn. But when I asked her to go she gave me a good turn of foot."
Left: Last place finisher and beaten favorite Happily heads out to the track before the race. Jockey Ryan Moore said, "She took too long to find a gear and by then it was too late and there was some horses in front of her."
