Gezora surges past She Feels Pretty for the win. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Classic Saturday: Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1)
Breeders’ Cup Release
DEL MAR, Calif. – Peter Brant’s Gezora (FR) ($20.20) surged past She Feels Pretty in deep stretch to post a half-length victory in the 27th running of the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Del Mar to close out the 42nd World Championships.
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, Gezora completed the mile and three-eighths over a firm turf course in 2:12.54. It is the first World Championship victory for Graffard and second for Barzalona.
Longshot Be Your Best (IRE) led the field of 13 through fractions of :24.36, :47.43 and 1:11.17 while being tracked by five-time Grade 1 winner She Feels Pretty. Going into the far turn, She Feels Pretty took command while Gezora began closing in from midpack. She Feels Pretty dug in during the run to the wire only to be passed inside the sixteenth pole by Gezora.
The victory was worth $1,040,000 and increased her earnings to $2,037,412 with a record of 10-5-2-1 that includes two Grade or Group 1 victories. Gezora is a 3-year-old daughter of Almanzor (FR) out of the Silver Hawk mare Germance.
Quotes:
Winning trainer Francis-Henri Graffard (Gezora (FR)) – “It’s a meeting I’ve always loved and tried to win one, but it’s very hard. I saw that again today how hard it is and you really need a horse like Gezora, who has a big heart, travels really strongly and is able to quicken. She’s a champion filly and it’s fantastic to win a race like that, especially for Mr. (Peter) Brant in his famous colors.
“The Arc was 17 runners, a very strong field, soft ground and a mile and a half. It’s a different journey, but she was way too far back in the race and made a move I was hoping she came out really well and she did. She’s a very sweet filly and she tries very hard. She’s not complicated, so she helps us do the job. Today she proved she’s a real champion. She’s a classic winner, Prix de Diane (French Oaks) winner and a Breeders’ Cup winner—which is amazing—and I don’t think many fillies have this on their CV.”
On having horses win the Arc, Champion Stakes, French Oaks and a Breeders’ Cup in one season: “This season has been pretty much incredible. We’ve had very nice horses, but it’s a lot of work but everything went really well with us through the season. We’ve been able to win these amazing races and it’s created a lot of emotion and we’ve enjoyed that very much.”
Winning jockey Mickael Barzalona (Gezora (FR)) – “I got a good draw, so I was able to get into a good position without too much effort in the beginning of the race. The pace went a good gallop, and I thought I just needed to maintain my filly and concentrate to be in the race. I got into a flat spot quite early in the bend, but she was very tough. The leader was coming back to me, and I knew I was going to get to the front. She’s very straightforward and uncomplicated and I think that’s what we need over here.”
Second-place trainer Cherie DeVaux (She Feels Pretty) – “She ran awesome. Johnny got her over beautifully from a tough spot. Just to be beat in the last jump, basically, is disheartening but I’m super proud of her. She continues to put in her best effort every single race.”
Second-place jockey John Velazquez (She Feels Pretty) – “Tough beat. Bad post position with no cover. She needs to cover up, and by the time I got to the three-eighths pole, I had no cover. I took a good hold of her and didn’t want to let her go to the lead too soon, but the horse on the lead was stopping and I couldn’t do anything else other than ‘time to go.’
On riding being her regular rider: “It’s just great to be part of it and to have the opportunity to be on this horse for this long. It’s a blessing.”
Third-place and eighth-place trainer Charlie Appleby (Diamond Rain (GB) and beaten favorite Cinderella’s Dream (GB)) – “Cinderella’s Dream, I would say she’s probably run her last race there. She’ll head to the breeding sheds now and it’s well-deserved, considering what she’s accomplished in her career. Diamond Rain, she delighted us. She’s a big filly to get around those turns and she handled herself well. Hopefully next year we’ll have some fun with her hopefully here in America.”
