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Ventura blazes to Filly & Mare Sprint win

Ventura now owns a 3-0-0 mark from four starts on synthetic tracks (Ed Van Meter/Horsephotos.com) Juddmonte Farm's homebred VENTURA (Chester House) has competed on the turf for much of 2007, but put in her most scintillating run over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride in Friday's $916,000 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Rallying from near the back of the 13-horse field, the four-year-old lass easily overhauled 9-5 favorite Indian Blessing (Indian Charlie) to score by four lengths under jockey Garrett Gomez. Ventura hopped in the air when the gates opened, leaving her running near the back while Indian Blessing moved up to lead through the opening quarter of :22 1/5. Dearest Trickski (Proudest Romeo) wasn't far back and took over through a half-mile in :44, but Indian Blessing wasn't giving an inch while racing just off the pacesetter's flank. The public's choice passed the leader rounding the turn to post six furlongs in 1:07 4/5. For a brief moment, last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) heroine appeared well on her way to becoming the first horse in Breeders' Cup history to take two different events. It wasn't to be, though, as Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte colors suddenly appeared on the outside. Ventura flew past Indian Blessing in midstretch, finishing up the seven-furlong test in 1:19 4/5. "When I heard that she broke slow I was a little worried, but when she was running on the turn I felt a lot better," trainer Bobby Frankel said. "She showed a great, great turn of foot and she really likes the synthetic track. "We didn't want to move too soon into a very quick pace," the conditioner continued. "(Gomez) said he just waited until he felt she was ready to give it to him. When he let her run, she just exploded."

"She ran effortlessly," Gomez agreed. "When we went by those horses, she was just cruising."

Ventura was sent off the 5-2 second pick to pay $7.60, $3.40 and $3 while keying $1 exotics of $12.70 (exacta), $48.70 (trifecta) and $733.30 (12-5-6-10 superfecta). Indian Blessing was best of the rest by two lengths over Zaftig (Gone West), returning $3.40 and $2.40.

"She ran a great race," said Indian Blessing's trainer, Bob Baffert. "She did all she could but the winner just ran a tremendous race, almost a track record. Frankel was right. He was telling me all week that he was going to get me and he did."

Zaftig was making her return off a 139-day break in this spot, last seen taking the June 7 Acorn S. (G1), and was worth $4 as the 5-1 third choice. Miraculous Miss (Mr. Greeley), runner-up in last year's Filly & Mare Sprint, filled out the superfecta this time around, and was followed under the wire by Tizzy's Tune (Tiznow), Intangaroo (Orientate), Magnificience (Stormy Atlantic), Jazzy (Arg) (Mutakddim), Lady Sprinter (Orientate), La Tee (Broken Vow), Dearest Trickski, Dream Rush (Wild Rush) and Tiz Elemental (Cee's Tizzy). Indyanne (Indian Charlie) was an early scratch.

The Kentucky-bred Ventura was first campaigned in England, breaking her maiden in her second start before competing in handicaps with mixed success. She then switched to the Polytrack at Kempton, where she broke through with her first stakes coup in the Hyde S. at the expense of males. That booked her ticket to the United States.

A smart allowance winner on Santa Anita's downhill turf in her American bow, she rallied from far back to claim the Madison S. (G2) on Keeneland's Polytrack. Ventura then switched back to the turf for her next four starts, finishing third in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. (G3) before adding the Just a Game S. (G1) to her line. The dark bay just missed by a nose next out in the CashCall Mile Invitational S. (G2) and filled the runner-up spot once again when taking on the boys in the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1) in her race prior to this one. She's now earned $1,359,315 to go along with her 15-7-5-1 career mark.

Ventura was produced by the multiple French stakes-placed Estala (GB) (Be My Guest), whose youngest offspring is an unraced juvenile colt named Oba King (Mizzen Mast). Estala is herself a half-sister to English Group 3 warrior Vortex (GB) (Danehill); French stakes victress and classic-placed Erudite (Generous); and French Group 3 queens Prove (Danehill) and Danefair (Danehill), the latter the dam of multiple English Group 3 winner Trade Fair (GB) (Zafonic). Ventura's third dam is Cairn Rouge (Ire) (Pitcairn), heroine of the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) and Champion S. (Eng-G1) in 1980.

More Breeders' Cup Recaps:

Take Charge Brandi upsets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at 61-1

30-1 Karakontie lives up to pedigree in Mile

Bayern survives inquiry to win Breeders' Cup Classic

Dayatthespa proves uncatchable in Filly & Mare Turf

Judy the Beauty holds on at wire in Filly & Mare Sprint

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