Shared Account pulled off the biggest upset in the history of the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) (VIDEO), out-finishing odds-on favorite Midday in a thrilling stretch drive to win at odds of 46-1 Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs.
Receiving a perfect stalking trip in the $1,818,000 event under Edgar Prado, Shared Account sat behind the leaders for much of the way, split horses in upper stretch, and held off Midday in the final yards to win by a neck. Keertana, sent off at 31-1, closed willingly from the center of the course to finish another neck behind Midday in third.
Owned by Sagamore Farm and trained by Graham Motion, 4-year-old Shared Account scored her first grade I victory. She entered the 1 3/8-mile race off a fifth-place finish in the Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT) on a yielding course Oct. 2 at Belmont. In four starts this season prior to the Breeders’ Cup, she won once, that coming in June in the All Along (gr. IIIT) at Colonial Downs.
This was her sixth lifetime victory in 15 starts. The $1,080,000 winner’s share upped her career earnings to $1,640,360.
Prado won his fourth Breeders’ Cup race, but his first in the Filly & Mare Turf.
French invader Plumania set the pace under Oliver Peslier, going through easy splits of :25.64, :50.32, 1:15.94, and 1:40.95. Eclair de Lune pressed the pace with Junior Alvarado aboard, and took over from the leader turning for home. There were a wall of horses in contention at the top of the stretch in a tightly-bunched group, but defending titleholder Midday finally edged past Eclair de Lune and second choice Red Desire at the eighth-pole and appeared headed for a repeat victory under Thomas Queally.
Shared Account, who tracked the leaders while saving ground along the hedge for more than mile, came up to challenge in upper stretch and surged ahead of Midday approaching the sixteenth-pole. She desperately held on in the final yards to pull off the major upset.
“It worked out like we planned," Prado said. "I tried to get the filly nice and relaxed in the first part of the race. She broke so good, and I dove right into the rail and. I was able to cover her up. I was very happy where I was. I was hoping the hole would stay open until I got there, and luckily the filly was running pretty good.
"Once she saw the clear, she kept grinding. I think she really wanted to win today. I knew who was next to me, but I figured as long as I kept my head in front I was really happy.”
The winner is by Pleasantly Perfect out of the Smart Strike mare Silk n’ Sapphire. She was bred in Kentucky by William A. Carl. She was a $170,000 Keeneland yearling purchase in September 2007.
“I’m speechless. I’m very emotional," Motion said. "I love this filly. I’m not surprised she won. I’m really surprised she was overlooked (by the bettors). She only had one bad race. I’m so glad for Edgar.”
Shared Account paid a whopping $94, $21.80, and $6. The exacta (5-7) returned $295.20 with the 9-10 choice and the trifecta (5-7-4) was $3,830.40.
Red Desire, who narrowly led with a furlong remaining, finished fourth, followed by Hot Cha Cha. Eclair de Lune and Forever Together dead-heated for sixth, then came Hibaayeb, Miss Keller, Harmonious, and Plumania.
