Rushing Fall Breaks Away For Juvenile Fillies Turf Score

DEL MAR, CA – e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Rushing Fall became the first winner of the 2017 Breeders’ Cup, breaking away late to win Friday’s Grade 1, $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Off well from post 11 under jockey Javier Castellano, Rushing Fall settled in the back half of the 14-horse field while Juliet Capulet and Moon Dash took turns setting initial fractions of :23.04, :47.23, and 1:11.93. Moving up four-wide on the second turn and six-wide into the stretch, Rushing Fall unleashed a strong rally to peek her head in front in midstretch before inching away to hit the wire first by 3/4 of a length ahead of a closing Best Performance. The final time for the mile-long turf event was 1:36.09.

“So very lucky that my filly, she broke well out of the gate,” Castellano said. “She charged a little bit and she put me in a good spot in the race. I took my time with her. I followed the front-running horses, and turning for home, it was amazing. Just asked her and she exploded.”

After a breaking slowly, September was able to make a late move and finish third, 1 length behind Best Performance. Significant Form edged out Fatale Bere by a head at the wire for fourth. Dixie Moon, Capla Temptress, Now You’re Talking, Orbolution, Moon Dash, Juliet Capulet, Ultima D, Madeline, and the favorite Happily completed the order of finish. Retro and Goodthingstaketime were scratched as also-eligibles.

The daughter of More Than Ready remains unbeaten in three career starts, including the Grade 3 Jessamine at Keeneland, with earnings of $685,000. The win was a repeat for her owner, jockey, and trainer Chad Brown, who teamed up to win last year’s event with New Money Honey.

“We’ve had a great team,” said owner Bob Edwards. “After her maiden, she was explosive. She got a little bit better in Keeneland, and same explosive speed. She turned on that speed and took off.”

Rushing Fall returned $8 to win, $4.60 to place, and $3.40 to show. Best Performance brought back $11.80 to place and $7.80 to show, while September paid $4.80 to show.

Be sure to check the Results page for details on every thoroughbred and quarter horse race in North America, including how our PREMIUM PICKS performed!