Favored Ouija Board rolled to her second victory in the $2,015,200 Emirates Arline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT), adding a 2 1/4-length triumph Saturday at Churchill Downs to her victory at Lone Star Park in 2004. The European star was making her third appearance in the race after finishing second last year at Belmont Park. She is the fifth two-time winner of a Breeders' Cup World Championship event."She's a super mare," declared Ouija Board's rider, Frankie Dettori. "She's definitely the best filly in the world, without a doubt."Carrying the colors of Lord Derby and trained by Edward Dunlop, the 5-year-old mare Ouija Board covered the 1 3/8 miles in 2:14.55. Racing sixth after a mile, she angled five or six paths wide at the quarter pole to win with authority."She's the best; there's no other way to say it," Dunlop said. "She's an absolute champion."Film Maker, ridden by Edgar Prado, finished second, just like she did against Ouija Board in the 2004 edition of the Filly & Mare Turf. Film Maker was a neck in front of Honey Ryder and John Velazquez this year while second choice Wait a While finished 1 3/4 lengths farther back in fourth under Garrett Gomez. Early leader Dancing Edie faded to eighth after posting fractions of :25.14, :49.77 and 1:14.80. My Typhoon, who surged to the front on the final turn, dropped back to sixth.Dettori picked up the fifth Breeders' Cup Day victory of his career. He has the most Breeders' Cup wins of any foreign-based jockey.Ouija Board, a British-bred daughter of Cape Cross, paid $4.80, $3.40 and $2.60 for her 10th win in 21 starts. Saturday's win, worth $1,188,000, boosted her lifetime earnings to $5,787,390.Film Maker, now second in her last three starts, returned $5.80 and $4.80. Honey Ryder, who nipped Film Maker in winning the Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT) last time, was $4.40 to show."I thought I had a hell of a chance when the rail opened up," Prado said of the runner-up. "My filly was trying real hard to get there. The winner is just really nice.""Our filly ran a tremendous race, but Ouija Board is one of the all-time greats," said Graham Motion, trainer of Film Maker. "That's three years in a row we've tried to beat her. I thought if ever we could beat her, it would be today. Edgar gave her every chance, and if Oujia Board had been stopped anywhere, my filly could have won. I'd like to come back again when Ouija Baord is retired."Wait a While was followed by Satwa Queen, My Typhoon, Mauralakana, Dancing Edie, Quiet Royal and Germance.(Chart, Equibase)
Ouija Board scores second FM Turf win.
Order This Photo