By Alan Carasso
It was a frustrating few days in the lead-up to the Breeders' Cup meeting for Team Ballydoyle, with the likes of Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) forced to miss the event, not to mention Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) having to forego an appearance even farther afield in the G1 Melbourne Cup next Tuesday.
Their biggest moment comes Saturday with City of Troy (Justify) in the $7-million Classic, but Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was first to strike for the Irish-based outfit in the GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf under a typically savvy steer from Ryan Moore.
Pounded into 7-10 favoritism to add the Juvenile Fillies to her previous elite-level conquests in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh and in the Cheveley Park Stud Stakes at Newmarket just 13 days apart last month, Lake Victoria was taken in hand and made best use of her inside draw to save every inch of ground as top American hope Thought Process (Collected)–the only other of Lake Victoria's rivals to jump at single-digit odds–led from Kilwin (Twirling Candy) and a three-wide Abientot (Not This Time). She was nursed along into the second turn by Moore, who went for her in earnest at the five-sixteenths marker as Thought Process continued to hold the call as the Juvenile Fillies Turf field faced the judge. Threading the needle from there, Lake Victoria took a gap between Kilwin and Abientot and just in advance of May Day Ready (Tapit) shortly after turning into the lane stormed down the center and easily took care of business from there.
It was a second Breeders' Cup winner in as many years for Juddmonte's Frankel following Inspiral (GB) at Santa Anita last year, a 15th for Moore and the 19th for trainer Aidan O'Brien.
“She did quite well there,” O'Brien said. “She got crowded and bumped a bit on the first bend, so Ryan (Moore) was very cool on her and obviously ended up farther back than he wanted to be. It was her first time on a turning track and she was uneven on the straight and it was her first time over a mile. We're so delighted for everybody. Just wanted to say our very best wishes to Clem Murphy (Bloodstock consultant for Coolmore), who is usually here. Without him, none of this would ever be happening.”
Of the valiant runner-up, trainer Joe Lee said, “She always shows up, there is no doubt about that. She always seems to find some trouble here and there. That's OK. That's racing. (Lake Victoria) is the best in the world for sure, now. I thought she was the best in the world coming into it, to be honest with you. A real nice horse. No disgrace in defeat.”
Lake Victoria unsurprisingly won her maiden at first asking over seven furlongs at the Curragh June 28, leading home a Frankel 1-2 over Red Letter (GB) and proved a ready two-length winner of the Aug. 10 G3 Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket. With Moore opting for Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Moyglare, Wayne Lordan was in the irons for Lake Victoria's 11-2 upset, but Moore was back in the boot when the bay came away to take the Cheveley Park by a resounding three-length margin.
Pedigree Notes:
One of 35 Group 1/Grade I winners for Juddmonte's Frankel, Lake Victoria is one of three winners from four to race out of Quiet Reflection, popular winner of the 2016 G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and a multiple champion at five to seven furlongs. On behalf of Coolmore, M.V. Magnier went to 2.1 million guineas ($2,971,899) for Quiet Reflection at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares sale.
Quiet Reflection is also the dam of Lake Victoria's yearling full-brother and a weanling full-brother.
LAKE VICTORIA REMAINS UNBEATEN!
She wins the Juvenile Fillies Turf. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/gdKvMcNGUx
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) November 1, 2024
Friday, Del Mar
JOHN DEERE BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF-GI, $920,000, Del Mar, 11-1, 2yo, f, 1mT, 1:34.28, fm.
1–LAKE VICTORIA (IRE), 122, f, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Quiet Reflection (GB) (Hwt.-Eng- at 5 – 7 f., Hwt. Older Mare-Ire- at 5 – 7 f., Hwt.-Eur- at 5 – 7 f., MG1SW-Eng, GSW-Fr, GSW-Ire, $926,853), by Showcasing (GB)
2nd Dam: My Delirium (GB), by Haafhd (GB)
3rd Dam: Clare Hills (Ire), by Orpen
'TDN Rising Star'. O-Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. $520,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Ire, G1SW-Eng, 5-5-0-0, $1,043,427. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–May Day Ready, 122, f, 2, by Tapit
1st Dam: Nemoralia (GSW & G1SP-Eng, MGISP-USA, $544,633), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Alina, by Came Home
3rd Dam: Lady Heroine, by Sea Hero
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($60,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT; $325,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-KatieRich Stables LLC; B-White Birch Farm, Inc. (KY); T-Joseph R. Lee. $170,000.
3–Nitrogen, 122, f, 2, by Medaglia d'Oro
1st Dam: Tiffany Case (SP), by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Biblical Point, by Point Given
3rd Dam: Bibical Sense, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
O/B-D. J. Stable, LLC (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $90,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1, HF. Odds: 0.70, 13.90, 49.60.
Also Ran: Fiery Lucy (GB), Kilwin, Vixen, Correto, Totally Justified, Thought Process, Anshoda (Ire), Heavens Gate (Ire), Scythian, Virgin Colada, Abientot. Scratched: Acquitted, Supa Speed, Tigerish. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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