BC Filly & Mare Turf
Hoisting the historic colors of owner/breeder Lord Derby, OUIJA BOARD (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) traveled smoothly in midpack for much of Saturday's $2,015,200 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), then cruised into contention beneath a patient Frankie Dettori at the top of the stretch and swept to an emphatic 2 1/4-length victory under a hand ride. By finishing the 1 3/8 miles on firm turf in 2:14 2/5, the Ed Dunlop-trained superstar became the first horse to earn her second title in this event, having taken the 2004 edition at Lone Star Park.
"She's proven herself the 'Queen of Racing,'" Dettori beamed. "Getting clear to the wire, I just enjoyed the ride. She felt better than she ever has." Film Maker (Dynaformer) stayed on stoutly to save second from a late charging Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval), with Wait a While (Maria's Mon) fourth. Next came Satwa Queen (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]); My Typhoon (Ire) (Giant's Causeway), who had boldly struck the front around the six-furlong mark and held the lead entering the stretch; Mauralakana (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]); pacesetter Dancing Edie (Moscow Ballet), responsible for the opening fractions of :25, :49 3/5 and 1:14 4/5; Quiet Royal (Royal Academy) and a rank Germance (Silver Hawk).
Dispatched as the 7-5 favorite, the winner returned $4.80, $3.40 and $2.60. Film Maker, who was placing in the Filly & Mare Turf for the third straight year, gave back $5.80 and $4.40 at 8-1, while Honey Ryder yielded $4.40 to show, also at odds of 8-1. The exotics totaled $33.20 (exacta), $121.20 (trifecta) and $262 (2-4-5-7 superfecta).
Ouija Board is out of the Welsh Pageant mare Selection Board, who is herself a full sister to 1985 Arlington Million S. (G1) hero Teleprompter (GB). This is the family of champions Red Camellia (Polar Falcon) and Ibn Bey (GB) (Mill Reef), a multiple Group 1 winner who was second in the 1990 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Europe's Horse of the Year in 2004 and England's highweight older mare at 11-14 furlongs in 2005, Ouija Board advanced her mark to 21-10-3-4 while padding her bankroll to $5,765,646. The five-year-old dark bay boasts five other Group 1 triumphs in addition to her two Filly & Mare Turf crowns, namely tallies in the 2004 Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1) and Irish Oaks (Ire-G1), 2005 Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) and 2006 Prince of Wales's S. (Eng-G1) and Nassau S. (Eng-G1). Ouija Board also lists five Group/Grade 1 placings on her resume, most notably her runner-up efforts in this year's Coronation Cup (Eng-G1) and Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1) and 2005 Filly & Mare Turf, as well as a troubled third in the 2004 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1).
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"I've never had a horse like this in training, and the odds suggest I'll
probably never have another horse as good as this," Lord Derby said. "She's
quite literally changed the lives of all the connections. She's touched us all."
If all goes according to plan, Ouija Board will have two more bids for glory
in the Far East, taking in the November 26 Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) and then
concluding her illustrious career in Hong Kong on December 10. She will then be
retired and begin her new life as a broodmare by visiting Kingmambo in Kentucky
in the spring.
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