Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) winner Dank delivered as the 3-5 favorite in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park, stringing together back-to-back grade I scores on the American lawn under regular rider Ryan Moore. (VIDEO).
Owned by breeder James Wigan and trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the 4-year-old daughter of Dansili put away frontrunner Emollient coming down off the turn and had more momentum than fellow European Romantica, who was half a length behind the winner and edged 15-1 shot Alterite by the same margin for third. Emollient finished fourth by a nose.
"She had everything right today and I could ride her that way," said Moore. "I didn't have to take too many chances because she was the best filly in the race. She wasn't as brilliant today as in her last race, but she still ran a very good race today."
"We knew from (post 1) we wouldn't get pushed on the inside," Stoute said. "She seemed a bit fresh early on but Ryan knew what to do...I'd like to keep her in training next year."
Third as Emollient led through a quarter in :24.02, an eager Dank made her way up to second behind a half in :47.50 and three-quarters in 1:11.52. She still had 2 1/2 lengths to make up on the frontrunner as a mile went in 1:35.26, and did so readily through the final sixteenth. Tiem for the 1 1/4-mile test was 1:58.73.
The winner returned $5, $3.40, and $2.80 while Romantica brought $5.20 and $4 at 9-2 odds. Alterite returned $7 while the $1 exacta brought $11.60 and a $1 tri returned $51.50. Completing the order of finish were Marketing Mix, Tiz Flirtatious, Laughing, Lady of Shamrock, Kitten's Dumplings, and Qushchi.