Arlington-Washington Lassie winner Eliza cemented her claim for 2-year-old filly champion honors with a record-setting one-length victory in the Breeders` Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Before the race, Eliza didn`t look much like a champ. The favorite was washed out as she ambled through the post parade. But her wet look didn`t worry trainer Alex Hassinger.
”(Jockey) Patrick (Valenzuela) took his feet out of the stirrups and she went back to a walk and relaxed very well after that in the post parade,”
Hassinger said. ”She walked right into the gate.”
The plan had been to keep Eliza off the pace, but the headstrong miss had a better idea. After a half-mile, she made it clear she wanted the lead.
”She was pulling so hard down the backstretch, I had to let her out a notch,” said Valenzuela. ”I think that`s what won the race for me.”
Hassinger thought the race`s telling moment came on the far turn.
”After she made her move from the three-eighths-mile pole, it was pretty much over with,” he said. She`s incredible.”
Eliza proved that point on the teletimer. Her time of 1:42 4/5 for the 1 3/16-mile event clipped two-fifths of a second off Brave Raj`s Breeders` Cup record. She paid $4.40, $3.20 and $2.60.
Educated Risk, second early, maintained her spot as Eliza surged to the lead, but couldn`t catch the winner. Florida-based Boots `n Jackie closed strongly for third.