LOUISVILLE, Kentucky: Magnificent French mare Goldikova stormed to an historic victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile Saturday, becoming the first horse to win a Breeders' Cup race three times. Goldikova, trained by Freddy Head and ridden by Olivier Peslier, exploded after the turn for home and rolled to victory on the turf track at Churchill Downs, successfully defending the title she won in 2008 and 2009 at Santa Anita in California. She had already made Head the first to both ride and train a Breeders' Cup winner. He rode Miesque to back-to-back Mile victories in 1987-88. Goldikova notched her eighth victory in 11 races against male horses. She owns 15 wins in 21 career starts. Last month she set a record with her 11th Group One victory in the Prix de la Foret. Gio Ponti, runner-up in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic, was second. The Usual Q.T. was third ahead of Ireland-bred Paco Boy. As he headed toward the winner's circle - French flag in hand - Peslier called her “the best filly in the world” - a clear rebuke to those in US racing who have largely overlooked Goldikova in the hype surrounding unbeaten American mare Zenyatta, who was bidding to defend her title in the Classic later Saturday. In one stroke Goldikova reversed European fortunes in this Breeders' Cup. Of 13 prior European runners Friday and Saturday, only the Henry Cecil-trained Midday had finished in the money, but settled for second in defense of her Filly and Mare Turf title. Upsets on Day One The Breeders' Cup opened its $25.5 million two-day event Friday with a string of upsets, more glory for Garrett Gomez, and a fight involving three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel. Unrivaled Belle, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, won the marquee event of the day, the Ladies' Classic, as favorite Life At Ten was visibly distressed and lost contact with the field of 11. The biggest upset was turned in by Shared Account, who won a Grade I race for the first time by holding off heavily favored English raider Midday in the Filly and Mare Turf. Gomez won his 10th career Breeders' Cup race when he guided More Than Real to a two-length victory in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, giving a tasty triumph for owner Bobby Flay. Awesome Feather, with Jeremy Sanchez in the irons, took the $2 million Juvenile Fillies with a two-and-a-quarter length victory. Upsets on a chilly day at historic Churchill Downs were turned in by Dubai Majesty in the $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint and Eldaafer in the $500,000 Marathon. Eldaafer, ridden by Velazquez, won the mile-and-three-quarters Marathon before an unprecedented scuffle erupted involving veteran jockeys Borel and Javier Castellano. Eldaafer won by one-and-three-quarter lengths over Prince Will I Am, who was disqualified after Castellano let his horse stray into Romp and A.U. Miner at the five-sixteenths pole. Gabriel's Hill was moved up to the second spot, and A.U. Miner took third. A.U. Miner jockey Borel threw a punch at Castellano after the race and as the two men clashed furious Borel had to be led away by security.
