Breeders’ Cup: Gezora’s late surge wins Filly & Mare Turf

Not quite four weeks after finishing 13th on soft ground in the Grade 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, 3-year-old filly Gezora found the firm turf in Southern California much more to her liking Saturday.

After racing in mid-pack early, she charged to the front in the final furlong to deny She Feels Pretty and win at 9-1 odds in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, a three-turn, 1 3/8-mile race that completed the championship card at Del Mar.

A stablemate of Arc winner Daryz, the victorious daughter of Almanzor became racing’s newest millionaire. She is trained in France by Francis Graffard and was ridden Saturday by Mickaël Barzalona for U.S.-based owner Peter Brant.

Be Your Best led the field of 13 through the first two turns and splits of 24.36, 47.43, 1:11.17 and 1:35.66. All the while Gezora raced in sixth and then fifth before starting her forward move before the final turn.

She Feels Pretty, who had stalked her way around under John Velázquez, moved into the lead through a mile at 2:00.43, and she appeared to have the race won as the field reached the eighth pole.

That was where Gezora found something extra while flanking She Feels Pretty to the outside. Barzalona took Gezora into the late lead to finish a half-length to the good at a final time of 2:12.54.

She Feels Pretty finished second, Diamond Rain third, Cathedral fourth and Bedtime Story fifth.

Other than a fourth-place finish in her debut in July 2024 and last month’s Arc, Gezora never has finished worse than third in 10 career races. Her most recent win had been June 15 in the Prix de Diane (G1) at Chantilly. She prepped for the Arc by finishing second Sept. 7 in the Prix Vermeille (G1).

Brant bought Gezora privately from breeder Haras d’Etreham in April.

Since 2012 only one favorite has won the Filly & Mare Turf. That was Inspiral at 5-2 two years ago.