Enable Exudes Turf Class, Royalty

LOUISVILLE, KY – Juddmonte Farms’ homebred filly Enable put her world-class turf talent on full display Saturday, digging in and prevailing through a lengthy stretch drive to capture the Grade 1, $4,000,000 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.

Sent off as the 4/5 favorite from post 2 under Frankie Dettori, Enable was patiently handled in mid-pack early while Glorious Empire posted opening fractions of :24.65, :49.11, 1:14.22, and 1:40.55 for the opening mile. Shifted out wide as she emerged onto the front stretch for the final time, Enable continued to be floated wide while fighting gamely with Magical to her inside. The two international invaders battled heads apart until the reigning queen of European racing inched away in the shadow of the wire. The John Gosden trainee hit the wire with a 3/4-length advantage in a final time of 2:32.65 for the 12-furlong event over the good turf course.

“On the first turn, I was trying to get position, and then I went right,” said Dettori, who also rode Expert Eye to victory in the Mile earlier on the card. “I went four-wide. She was moving well. I knew she was fighting for me. She was strong today.”

Though unable to keep pace late with the winner, Magical was much the best of the rest. Sadler’s Joy rallied from the rear to take third, though he was 9 lengths away from second. Arklow took fourth over Waldgeist, while last year’s winner Talismanic faded late to sixth. Robert Bruce finished seventh, 3/4 of a length past a weakening Hunting Horn, while Quarteto de Cordas, Channel Maker, Liam the Charmer, and an empty Glorious Empire completed the order of finish.

Enable’s win was her ninth straight and came on the heels of her second straight Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victory, making her the first-ever Arc champion to also win a Breeders’ Cup event. The 4-year-old daughter of Nathaniel now carries a record of 11-10-0-1 with earnings of $10,705,631.

“She was wonderful,” said Gosden, who won his fifth Breeders’ Cup event but first in the Turf. “I thought coming into the straight, when Ryan (Moore, aboard Magical) came up on her, we had a race on our hands. She’s had a hard race, and as usual, she showed enormous courage to go and win. I’m just delighted for her owner and breeder, Prince Khalid, who is such a great supporter of the Breeders’ Cup.”

Enable returned $3.60 to win, $3 to place, and $2.60 to show. Magical brought back $6.80 to place and $4.80 to show, while Sadler’s Joy paid $8.80 to show.