Finest City Upsets the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

In what proved to be the finest hour for trainer Ian Kruljac, his four-year-old filly, Finest City, came through with her finest performance in winning the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint by 3/4 of a length.

Involved in a three-way battle going down the backside, Finest City was on the outside of Gloryzapper and Paulassilverlining, and the trio slugged it out around the far turn. They were joined by last years Filly & Mare Sprint champ, Wavell Avenue, who was making a bid at the leaders from the back in the pack out in the four path. 

As the field turned into the stretch, Gloryzapper backed away and Finest City made the lead, but Wavell Avenue came calling on her outside, while Paulassilverling battled to her inside down along the rail. Mike Smith, aboard Finest City asked his mount for more and the filly responded, maintaining her lead through the Santa Anita stretch, safely holding off the determined bid of Wavell Avenue. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Paulassilverling in third in a winning time of 1:22:37 for the seven furlong affair.  Race favorite, Carina Mia, finished a disappointing ninth.

For conditioner Kruljac, who has been a licensed trainer for just two seasons, it was his first Breeders' Cup win, while it was the 24th Championship victory for jockey Smith. 

"She sends herself out of there (gate) and Mike chose not to take her back and it was absolutely perfect. She has high cruising speed and I could tell she was in hand. It is such an honor to compete with all these top trainers and have a top filly," said Kruljac.

Winning rider Smith was pleased for the man who gave him the mount. "I was happy for the trainer and his first big opportunity".

The winner is owned by Seltzer Thoroughbreds LLC. Finest City, a four-year-old Pennsylvania-bred daughter of City Zip, won for the first time in six starts at Santa Anita. She now has a record of 14: 4-4-2 with earnings of $925,924. 

Sent off at 8.70-1, Finest City paid $19.40, $10.00, $6.60 across the board. Wavell Avenue paid $13.80 and $8.80 and the $2 exacta paid $216.40.