John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

A 3,700-mile trip to make the race, an added furlong for her race, and seeing turns for the first time proved no problem for Sun Goddess, who added a clear victory in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to complete one of the greatest juvenile seasons of the 21st century.

The victory is the fourth Group 1 or Grade 1 score for Sun Goddess, who also extended her win streak to six races over three countries. She is campaigned by the Coolmore-affiliated owners Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Westerberg, and trained by Aidan O’Brien.

“It’s a life-changing experience for a lot of people when fillies like this come along,” said Coolmore’s M.V. Magnier. “It’s special for everyone. We’re just very lucky to have a group of lads and ladies that want to buy these horses and have them in training with Aidan and everything. It’s a fantastic result.”

That outcome Friday proved something to see on a perfect fall day in Lexington. With Ryan Moore asking for a bit more than usual early in the race, Sun Goddess raced just behind front-running Seneca Park, who entered off a runner-up finish in the Jessamine Stakes earlier this month at Keeneland. After Seneca Park completed six furlongs in 1:13.29, Moore asked Sun Goddess for her best and she delivered, seizing control of the 1-mile race in a seemingly effortless move.

The daughter of Sioux Nation opened up 2 ½ lengths on the field in midstretch and a late run from recent Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Pouliches winner Green Empress did not seriously threaten the winner, who registered a three-length victory while completing the race in 1:36.10 on firm turf. Group 3 winner Curracloe earned her first Grade 1 placing by rallying for third in a race that saw European-trained runners land the top seven spots.

Jockey Dylan McMonagle, who was aboard Green Empress, said he likely should have placed his runner closer to the pace as the field completed a half-mile in :48.83. She raced in sixth through the first half of the race.

“It was a slow time,” McMonagle said. “I was probably one spot too far back, but had to just deal with it. She’s came home good and she’s ran a cracker.”

Favored Sun Goddess paid $3.70, $2.88, and $2.42 across the board, while Green Empress, send off at 12-1, returned $7 and $5.28 to place and show, respectively.

Sun Goddess’ previous longest race had been seven furlongs, a win in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes in September, and all of her previous races had been straight sprints.

“Going up to a mile here, she was very comfortable,” said Moore, adding that the slow early pace dictated her early running position in second. “They felt way slower than what we would do normally on a Breeders’ Cup mile race here.”

As if Sun Goddess needed any additional indication of her class ahead of Friday’s race, Libertango captured the day’s opening Breeders’ Cup race, the Juvenile Turf Sprint. In Sun Goddess’s previous race, she defeated that one by a length in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes Sept. 26 at Newmarket.

O’Brien said Sun Goddess has been a natural and it hasn’t mattered if the race is six furlongs, seven furlongs, or a mile. Not only does she bring the class on the course, she carries it every moment of the day. In the days leading up to the Breeders’ Cup, O’Brien said she doesn’t walk, “she prowls.”

“She is unusual. And her movement is very unusual when you see the way she walks and trots and canters and does everything,” O’Brien said. “As a physical specimen, she is very different.”—Frank Angst