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Gorella supremely game in First Lady Martin Schwartz's GORELLA (Fr) (Grape Tree Road [GB]) had to overcome adversity, but the brilliant chestnut dug down deep to fend off a stubborn Karen's Caper (War Chant) by a nose in Saturday's $400,000 First Lady S. (G2) at Keeneland. Justifying her 4-5 favoritism, the Patrick Biancone trainee finished the mile in 1:34 on firm turf to book her ticket to the November 4 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). Before the race, there had been uncertainty surrounding Gorella's Breeders' Cup target, as she was reportedly under consideration for both the Mile and the Filly & Mare Turf (G1). In the aftermath of the First Lady, Biancone left no doubt that the Mile's the objective. "When a horse can run a mile in 1:34 and change, I think the answer is easy to find," the horseman said. As usual, regular partner Julien Leparoux dropped Gorella at or near the tail of the field in the early going. Up front, Stella Blue (Fr) (Anabaa) carved out fractions of :23 2/5 and :46 2/5 while pressed by Mea Domina (Dance Brightly). The stalking My Typhoon (Ire) (Giant's Causeway) collared the top pair through six furlongs in 1:11, but Karen's Caper was cruising up on the outside and Gorella had not broken a sweat as she effortlessly ranged up between those foes. Karen's Caper seized a narrow advantage, getting seven furlongs in 1:22 3/5, but Gorella wasn't in the shadow of that brawnier rival for long, as she struck top gear to thrust her head in front. Karen's Caper refused to wilt, however, and she kept coming with everything she had, but Gorella resolutely knuckled down under her 125-pound burden to preserve the victory. "You do whatever you want with this filly," Leparoux said, referring to splitting foes. "When you've got a good horse, you can go where you want. She's a very good filly. Today she was a little bit fresh (after her two-month break). That's why she didn't win by 10 (lengths), I think." "I think what we have to notice today is the ride of Julien because he won the race with the filly with the minimum she could do because we have to be fresh in three weeks (for the Breeders' Cup)," Biancone noted. It was another 5 1/2 lengths back to My Typhoon in third, with Dash of Humor (Distorted Humor) three lengths farther adrift in fourth. Mea Domina checked in fifth, trailed by Chic Dancer (Joyeux Danseur), Wend (Pulpit) and Stella Blue. Sweet Talker (Stormin Fever), Our Love (Combat Ready) and the also-eligible Bag of Quarters (Cimarron Secret) were withdrawn. Gorella paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.10 while spearheading exotics worth $9.60 (exacta), $26.20 (trifecta) and $229.40 (4-3-1-6 superfecta). Karen's Caper gave back $3.60 and $2.80 as the 3-1 second choice, and 5-1 My Typhoon returned $3.20 to show. The winner was adding yet another laurel to her outstanding season, following stylish victories in the Just a Game H. (G2) at Belmont Park and Beverly D. S. (G1) at Arlington Park last time out. Gorella has yet to lose to fellow distaffers in 2006, her only setback coming against males in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. (G1) when she wound up a troubled fifth. Last year, she garnered the Prix de Sandringham (Fr-G2) and placed second versus older males in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-G1), third in the Prix d'Astarte (Fr-G1), and an agonizingly close third in both the Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). Her record now stands at 16-7-2-5 with a bankroll to the tune of $1,456,209. Bred in France by E.A.R.L. Elevage de la Source, the winner was sold as a yearling for $27,000 at the 2003 Deauville October Sale. She is the first registered foal from Exciting Times (Jeune Homme), making her a half-sister to 2006 Prix Omnium II winner and Group 1-placed Porto Santo (Fr) (Kingsalsa), who lost a photo-finish when second in the La Jolla H. (G2) at Del Mar this August. Gorella's fourth dam is Crepellana (Crepello), 1969 champion three-year-old filly in France.
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