Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Experience pays off, and that was the case Oct. 31 as Emphatic utilized her experience on the Keeneland main track to pull off a victory in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

That victory was extra rewarding for Brendan Walsh, who earned his first Breeder’s Cup triumph on his 14th attempt.

“It was nice to win one,” the 53-year-old Irish-born trainer said. “I don’t feel that it’s been a long time not to win one. ... Keeneland’s been very good to me. I’ve had a lot of luck here. It’s our home base, so it’s extra special to win one here for sure.”

Keeneland proved to be a track that the Nyquist filly likes quite a bit after having previously taken the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes Oct. 2 in front-running fashion. That was not the way the trip shook out this time as Lexi’s Charm rushed off to take early command of the 12-horse field.

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, a longtime partner of Walsh’s, was content to race a few lengths back as quick quarter-mile fractions of :22.54 and :45.87 were posted. Emphatic cruised up easily at the three-eighths pole and then Gaffalione asked her to go.

With the short stretch to the Keeneland’s first finish line, Gaffalione’s decision to go when he did left the others far in his wake. Miss Monica, who had broken slowly and raced toward the rear of the field, was the only one giving chase after she finally weaved through traffic, but Emphatic’s lead was insurmountable.

Emphatic finished 1 ½ lengths clear of Miss Monica while Manuka Honey was another 8 ¼ lengths back in third. Emphatic paid $7.92 to win in a final time of 1:42.29 for 1 1/16 miles, only .02 slower than Hughes ran two races later in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by TAA.

“I felt like a winner the entire race,” said Gaffalione, who earned his third Breeders’ Cup win and second in the Juvenile Fillies after winning with Wonder Wheel at Keeneland in 2022. “She broke alertly, put herself in the game early, and when I pushed the button, she really responded.

“I just let her run her race, acted like we were the only ones in there and she gave me confidence the entire race.”

Gaffalione and Walsh have teamed up for many top-level wins over the years, including the 2023 Kentucky Oaks with Pretty Mischievous, and it appears they have plenty more ahead of them.

“He’s a brilliant guy,” Walsh said of his rider. We have a great association we’ve had for quite a few years now. He’s so professional.

“I ask him and he’ll tell me what I’m thinking 99 times out of 100. I think that’s just a great way to have the relationship. Hopefully it lasts for many years to come.”

Another strong relationship is the one between co-owners Antony Beck of Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen. The pair have been partnering for 15 years and are having a terrific season, especially with their fillies given Luster won the King’s Plate Stakes against males for the partnership in the summer.

“We’ve been very lucky,” Beck said of the partnership. “Had a lot of good horses with not buying that many horses. Andrew is an amazing partner and a really good friend. We’ve won some nice big good races together. This is definitely number one.”