LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mrs. A.M. Swinburn’s Audarya (FR) ($37.60) gradually wore down favored Rushing Fall, surging to the front in the final yards to post a neck victory in the 22th running of the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.
Trained by James Fanshawe and ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, Audarya covered the 1 3/16 miles on a firm turf course in a course-record 1:52.72. It was the first Breeders’ Cup win for Fanshawe and Boudot.
Cayenne Pepper set the pace with Mean Mary and Rushing Fall in closest pursuit. Approaching the half-mile pole, Boudot moved through on the inside to take fourth and tracked the leading trio to the top of the stretch where Cayenne Pepper gave way.
Boudot took Audarya off the rail at the head of the lane, swung three wide and gradually wore down Rushing Fall who had put Mean Mary away at the sixteenth pole. Harvey’s Lil Goil rallied to be third, a head in back of Rushing Fall.
Audarya is a 4-year-old daughter of Wootton Bassett (GB) out of the Green Tune mare Green Bananas (FR). The victory was worth $1,100,000 and improved Audarya’s earnings to $1,289,046 with a record of 13-5-4-1 that now includes two Grade 1 victories.
Race quotes:
Winning trainer James Fanshawe (Audarya (FR)) – “First of all thanks to all the team at home. The (traveling crew) has looked after her superbly since she’s been here. She’s done everything right since she’s been here. I just can’t believe it, some race to win. I’m just so thrilled. PC gave her a superb ride. Breeders Cup has looked after us amazingly.”
Second-place trainer Chad Brown (Rushing Fall) – “That’s what it sounds like talking to Javier (Castellano) (the distance got her). I thought she was going to be able to pull it off in deep stretch there but it wasn’t to be. She’s had an outstanding career. She’s definitely the horse of a lifetime for anybody including me. Javier has done a super job riding her her entire career. I just thanked him for that. Sad to see her go (be retired) because you’re not going to replace her easily or if ever. Bottom line is I was super proud of her effort today. She gave it all she had. I think it would be fitting (if she won the Eclipse Award) because she deserves it.”
On Sistercharlie, My Sister Nat, Nay Lady Nay; “Not that I can tell (no obvious excuses). Sistercharlie is another one where it was her last race, she just had a remarkable career for us. Her 6-year-old year didn’t really come together the way we hoped. Mr. (Peter) Brant gave it a shot. He’s a real sportsman. She’ll go on to his broodmare band. Nay Lady Nay will run next year, we’ll see how she comes back.”
Third-place trainer Bill Mott (Harvey’s Lil Goil) – “She ran a great race. (Junior Alvarado) rode a great race. The timing didn’t bother me (from her last race). You know, it’s a 3-year-old against tough (older) fillies and two more jumps and she’s second. Put it this way, I’m glad we ran. I know there’s some skepticism of ‘should you be running in there’ or whatever, but she’s doing great and she was third in the Breeders’ Cup.”
Third-place jockey Junior Alvarado (Harvey’s Lil Goil) – “She ran awesome. It was a tough race. She was stepping up in company against older mares. We had a great trip. We followed the winner the whole way around. Its was a great third for her. A couple more jumps and we would have finished second for sure and gotten closer to the winner. I was very happy with her effort today.”
Fourth-place trainer Richard Baltas (Lady Prancealot (IRE)) – “I knew she was up against it today but she made a very good account of herself. She has been great to us. (Jockey Manny Franco) kept her on the outside and tucked back and made a run turning for home and she just kept running. He told me that she belongs with the best horses. She won a Grade 1 (American Oaks last year) but it was against 3-year-olds. She had never run against Breeders’ Cup-type horses so I am very, very happy with her performance.”
Fourth-place jockey Manny Franco (Lady Prancealot
(IRE)) – “I had a perfect trip. I just rode her with confidence to see if we could pick up some pieces. That’s what we did. She closed for me and ran a great race.”
Press Release
Audarya, ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, wins the Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf on Breeders’ Cup Championship Saturday at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky on November 7, 2020. /eb305e//Breeders’ Cup/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM
