In another exciting Breeders’ Cup stretch run, Wavell Avenue closed quickly down the lane to a 1 3/4 length victory in the Grade One $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint on Saturday. The 4-year-old daughter of Graded Stakes winner Harlington (by Unbridled) is trained by Chad Brown and was ridden by Joel Rosario.
La Verdad was the fastest out of the gate, leading the field through a first quarter in 22.53 and the half in 45.12. Taris followed one length off the lead, and Stonetastic was just a neck behind that filly. Meanwhile, Wavell Avenue sat back in tenth behind a wall of horses. Stonetastic passed Taris at the half mile pole and posed a brief challenge to La Verdad at the head of the lane. Eventual winner Wavell Avenue began to pick off horses on the inside, and had to angle out around the five-sixteenths pole. She surged past the leaders, blistering through the final quarter mile in 24.18 seconds, and stopped the clock in a final running time of 1:22.39 for the seven furlong contest on Keeneland’s dirt course.
La Verdad hung on gamely for second, besting Taris by a neck for the place. Post-time favorite Cavorting got up for fourth. Gary Stevens, riding Taris, called a claim of foul on Jose Ortiz riding La Verdad, alleging interference near the 3/4 pole early in the race. Stevens could be seen sharply checking his filly when Ortiz moved over to the rail, but the stewards disallowed the claim of foul and the results were allowed to stand.
Wavell Avenue is an Ontario bred out of the multiple stakes placed Silver Deputy mare Lucas Street. She was bred by Eugene Melynk, and is owned by Michael Dubb, David Simon, Head of Plains (S. Kumen) and Bethlehem Stb (M. Caruso). She marks trainer Chad Brown’s sixth Breeders’ Cup winner, and jockey Joel Rosario’s fourth win in the Championship event.
Last year’s defending champion Judy the Beauty finished fifth after being shuffled back early.
Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint Quotes:
Chad Brown (trainer , Wavell Avenue, 1st) – “We thought there’d be a strong pace up front. Joel (Rosario) has gotten along with this filly so well. He’s really been instrumental in her development, as much as me. It’s really been a team effort. I have to give Steve Young a lot of credit – he found the filly at the farm and put her in our care. It was a great find. From there, she just fit well in the system and she keeps getting better. Joel has given me terrific feedback every time he’s ridden her. We were really confident if she got a strong pace she could get there. It’s a thrill to be here. I’m so proud of her.”
Joel Rosario (jockey, Wavell Avenue, 1st) – “I had a perfect trip. It was a very good race. She always tries hard. We were always able to get a good position even when we were back far. I was comfortable because they were going fast up front. She gave me a big kick down the lane. It’s great to win a great race like this.”
Linda Rice (trainer, La Verdad, 2nd) – “She held on pretty well considering how fast they went. Seven furlongs is a bit of a reach for her but I am not disappointed that we came.”
Jose Ortiz (jockey, La Verdad, 2nd) – “It was very good. My filly broke very sharply. I took the lead like she wanted. I think she’s awesome. Wavell Avenue is a nice filly and last time we met we beat her by half a length. She beat me by maybe two lengths today and maybe the seven furlongs made the difference. My filly is more of a six – six and a half sprinter. We tried to make seven furlongs and we did pretty good. This is one special horse for me.”
Simon Callaghan (trainer, Taris, 3rd) – “She didn’t get the best of trips. She was stuck inside, She was a little slow away. She got crowded at a crucial point. She certainly would have been closer.”
Gary Stevens (jockey, Taris, 3rd) – “My filly ran a hell of a race. Simon (Callaghan) had her perfect for the race. I would have liked to have been farther out in the gate because we were stuck down inside. I thought she was the best,. The other horse, the four-horse (La Verdad), came over on me. I guess you call that race riding.”
Kiaran McLaughlin (trainer, Cavorting, 4th) – It’s a tough post position out there, but she did finish up well to be fourth. It’s a tough post to overcome.”
Irad Ortiz, Jr. (jockey, Cavorting, 4th) – “Tough post for me. Then my filly didn’t break that sharp. She was moving in the gate. I tried to give her every chance I can and save some ground.”