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Jockey Javier Castellano rides Zagora to victory in the Breeder’s Cup Filly & Mare Turf race at Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia, California.
ARCADIA, California - Zagora, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Javier Castellano, won the $2 million, 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
Marketing Mix was second and favorite The Fugue, trained by John Gosden at Newmarket, settled for third as jockey William Buick found little room to run in the stretch.
“I had a beautiful trip,” Castellano said. “I was just where I wanted to be behind the speed. Turning for home, I went to the outside and she gave me a good kick.”
With Star Billing setting the pace followed by Marketing Mix and In Lingerie, Castellano had Zagora lying fourth much of the way.
As they turned for home, The Fugue was trapped inside and Castellano took full advantage to power home.
“She was a bit unlucky,” Gosden said. “She didn’t have any room and William was sitting there with nowhere to go. It was until the last sixteenth that she got out, and she finished well. That’s racing.”
Ridasiyna, another highly regarded European runner, closed strong to finish fourth as the 5-1 second choice.
Trainer Mikel Delzangles, who saddled Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Flotilla, said Ridasiyna suffered from the lack of pace.
“She needs pace and there wasn’t any,” he said. “But she showed a good turn of foot.”
Added jockey Christophye Lemaire: “My filly likes to relax and to come from behind. She made a good attempt, a very good attempt, but unfortunately in front they didn’t give up and they kept going.”
The winner did boast a French connection. Zagora was bred in France and brought to the United States by owner Martin Schwartz.
He credited Brown with guiding the filly through the transition.
“I’ve bought a lot of European horses and I’ve been with Chad two years and when we brought Stacelita over and she ran last July in the handicap, she didn’t miss a beat,” Schawartz said. “He is a meticulous guy.”
