Zagora sat in a perfect position throughout en route to a 9-1 upset in Friday's Grade I Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita Park.
Consistent filly Marketing Mix, winner of the G1 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita on Sept 29, finished a fine 2nd under Garrett Gomez.
The Fugue, heavily back at 8-5, was hemmed in throughout under William Buick and ended up 3rd after finding a clear path in late stretch.
Zagora, a 5-year-old French bred mare out of Green Tune, paid $20.40 to win. She is trained by Chad Brown and was ridden to victory by Javier Castellano.
Quotes:
Chad Brown (trainer, Zagora, 1st) – “She
had everything go her way today. She got the turf she likes, she got a great
trip, and she’s been training great. I’ve never seen her look
better health wise. Everything came together for her today and it
couldn’t happen to a horse that deserved it more.”
“I’m so pleased, especially
for the Schwartzs for being terrific supporters. They gave me a great horse to
train. She’s been a model of consistency since she came into my barn.
She’s a very reliable horse in the mornings and afternoons, and she gave
me my first grade I win last year (in the Diana). She’s a special horse
to me.”
Javier Castellano (jockey, Zagora, 1st) – “I
had a beautiful trip. 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. It’s a
pleasure to a part of this. Chad
(Brown) gave me a great opportunity to ride her.”
Tom Proctor
(trainer, Marketing Mix, 2nd – “The
filly that won has been a good filly all year. Take nothing away from her. Our
filly ran good; the other filly just ran better. This is an exceptional filly,
and we’re proud of her. She will be going to Florida in a day or two to spend some time
on the farm and she will be back in training next year.”
Garrett Gomez (jockey, Marketing Mix,
2nd) – “I thought I was in a good spot all the way
around. At the three-eighths pole, the tempo quickened, and when Victor
(Espinoza on Star Billing) went and I went with him. But then the two (Zagora),
she just ran right by us.”
John Gosden (trainer, The Fugue, 3rd) – She was
a bit unlucky. She didn’t have any room and William (Buick) was sitting
there with nowhere to go. It was until the last sixteenth that she got out, and
she finished well. That’s racing.”
William Buick (jockey, The Fugue,
3rd) – “I think she was very unlucky and it just
wasn’t her day.”
Mikel Delzangles (trainer, Ridasiyna, 4th) –
“She needs pace and there wasn’t any. But she showed a good turn of
foot.”
Christophe Lemaire (jockey, Ridasiyna, 4th) –
“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.”
Mike Smith (jockey, Lady of Shamrock, 5th) –
“I had a really rough trip; trouble out of the gate and then more trouble
at the three-eighths and the quarter-pole. Despite all that, I thought she ran
well.”
Ryan Moore (jockey, Up, 7th) – “She
didn’t run badly, but we could have done with a bit more pace.”
Roger Varian (trainer, Nahrain, 10th) – “We
put on the blinkers and they fired her up. She raced over-keenly and without
cover.”
Frankie Dettori (jockey, Nahrain, 10th) –
“She was messing about in the paddock and hit the girl that was leading
her up in the nose. I think this was one race too many.”