Tarnawa wins Breeders' Cup Turf, completes big day for Europe

The Aga Khan's homebred Tarnawa completed Europe's big day at the Breeders' Cup when running down pacesetter Channel Maker in deep stretch to win the $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland Race Course on Saturday.

A 4-year-old filly by Shamardal, Tarnawa provided both veteran trainer Dermot Weld and jockey Colin Keane with their first Breeders' Cup wins. Keane, a two-time champion jockey in Ireland, was not originally scheduled to ride Tarnawa. He received the call after regular rider Christophe Soumillon tested positive for COVID-19 this week. 

Tarnawa and Keane were content to sit near the rear of the 10-horse field as Channel Maker ushered the field through opening fractions of 25.57, 51.06 and 1:15.99 in the 1 1/2-mile race. As Channel Maker and Manny Franco continued to motor on a clear lead into the stretch, they looked poised for a potential front-end theft. But unleashing their bids to the outside came a pair of Irish-breds in Tarnawa and 2-1 favorite Magical. 

Tarnawa, launching from far back off the final turn, surged to the front in deep stretch and crossed the wire a length the best. Magical managed to just edge a stubborn Channel Maker by a nose for second with Lord North completing the superfecta.

“Pretty straightforward to be honest," Keane said. "Mr. Weld said get her out the gates and ride her as you find her. I spoke to Oisin Orr (who had ridden her previously) and he said she’s very straightforward. We just tipped away down the back straight then we got going before the bend then off she went. We got a clean run then and she was very good to the line.” 

Tarnawa completed the trip on firm turf in 2:28.02 and paid $11.40 as the 9-2 third choice. 

Out of the Cape Cross mare Tarana, Tarnawa improved to 4-for-4 on the season and 8-for-13 overall with two seconds and a pair of thirds. She won a Group 3 stakes at Cork in August and came back with consecutive Group 1 scores in the Prix Vermeille and most recently the Oct. 4 Prix de l'Opera, both at ParisLongchamp.

Weld, who first participated in the Breeders' Cup with two runners in 1985, had been 0-for-16 prior to Tarnawa's win. 

European horses swept all four of Saturday's Breeders' Cup races run on grass. In addition to Tarnawa, Glass Slippers won the Turf Sprint; Audary scored in the Filly & Mare Turf; and Order of Australia scratched-in from the also-eligible list and won the Mile while paying $148.40, which is the second-highest win payout in Breeders' Cup history.