Photo of Tuesday by Courtney Snow for Past The Wire
Breeders’ Cup Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg Limited’s Tuesday (IRE) ($10.38) collared longtime leader In Itialian (GB) passing the sixteenth pole en route to a 1-length victory in the 24th running of the $2 million Makers’ Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Tuesday completed the 1 3/16 miles on a firm turf course in course-record 1:51.88. The victory is the third of the weekend for the O’Brien-Moore pairing.
The victory is the first in the race for O’Brien, who now has 16 World Championship victories, and the second for Moore who won the 2013 running on Dank (GB). Moore has 12 World Championship victories.
In Italian went right to the front in the field of 12 and led her rivals with an uncontested advantage as Tuesday raced in midpack. On the far turn, Tuesday began picking off horses with a four-wide move and was in the clear by the top of the stretch with dead aim on In Italian.
Lady Speightspeare, who had challenged In Italian at the head of the stretch, finished a half-length back of In Italian in third and 2 lengths in front of the favored Nashwa (GB).
The victory was worth $1,040,000 and improved Tuesday’s earnings to $1,828,827 with a record of 10-3-3-1.
Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Quotes
Winning Trainer Aidan O’Brien (Tuesday): “It’s incredible for everyone that’s involved in the whole place. She’s a filly that won the (Epsom) Oaks when she was barely 3 and we were conscious of that, and we let her dally through the rest of the year. We had our eye on this race for her. She’s an amazing filly from an unbelievable pedigree as well. Totally 100 percent homebred which makes this incredible and a privilege for us. Ryan (Moore) gave her a stunning ride.
(On running his horses in the Breeders’ Cup) “This is a very special place, and this is the top of the world here. All of the top horses from around the world meet here. It’s the best races and no one gives an inch. Every single race means so much. Only the very special horses make it here.”
Winning Jockey Ryan Moore (Tuesday): “The race was very straight forward. Pace was strong and even. She was in a good rhythm. I was always confident and finished up very well. Aidan (O’Brien) had her in an unbelievable place today. The horse has been magnificent and has been most of year. She has bounced back.”
Second-place Trainer Chad Brown (In Italian): “She ran great but was going way too fast. I’m really disappointed with the fractions, but what am I going to do. 1:10 for three-quarters is just punishing there. She ran her heart out and I’m really proud of her effort. The winner ran quite well. It was a good horse race – I just wish we could have hit that three-quarter marker in something other than 1:10.
(On Rougir and Virginia Joy) – I’ll have to watch the replay, but it was pretty clear turning for home that our only chance was In Italian.”
Second-place Jockey Joel Rosario (In Italian): “It was good ride. She did what she wants to do every time, just go forward. She did everything right it’s just too bad we got beat by that horse. The winner ran a record time to beat us. It was a good performance for my horse. You always want to win, but sometimes it’s just tough.”
Third-place Jockey Luis Saez (Lady Speightspeare): “I’m pretty happy with the way she ran. She was trying; she never gave up. All the perfect trip, got out the right way. I would have loved to have been on the lead but I knew what the pace was. She got tired, but she never gave up. She never stopped trying.”
Fourth-place trainer John Gosden (Nashwa, favorite): “Obviously we were a little slow way from the gate, and lost the benefit of our post position. We got a little bit too far back on what is a fast track with a tailwind. Then pinned down on the inside, couldn’t get out. Finally got out and the race was over but she was running on very well there. It would be sharp enough for her, this distance. She’s a grand filly and we’ll be looking at next year with her.
“She broke well and they got tight down inside. She managed to switch outside and got going, but the race had slightly got away from us by then – just got away from us. That’s all. She ran a nice race and she’s come from a long way back to be fourth. It just all happened a little bit quick for her, that’s all, on this ground. She’s run a nice race. An extra sixteenth would help her. You just can’t get that far back around here.”
