Royal Delta won the $2 million Ladies' Classic by 2-1/2 lengths under the lights Friday at Churchill Downs, capping an opening day of the Breeders' Cup that included three upsets, with John Velazquez riding two of them.
Royal Delta rallied in the final furlong to give Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott his second straight win in the Ladies' Classic and fourth overall in the race. The 3-year-old filly was the slight 2-1 favorite over Plum Pretty.
"It's nice just to win one of these, let alone two in a row," Mott said.
European-based horses were shut out during the six-race Breeders' Cup card, while Canada and Saudi Arabia had a win apiece in front of 40,677 on a sunny but chilly day.
In the Ladies' Classic, Royal Delta ran 1-1/8 miles in 1 minute, 50.78 seconds under Jose Lezcano and paid $6.40 to win.
"She broke real good and she was very comfortable and relaxed," Lezcano said. "When I asked her, she gave me a very good kick."
It's Tricky finished second and Pachattack was another 2-1/4 lengths back in third. Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty, trained by Bob Baffert, was fourth in the 10-horse field.
The day's biggest upset came in the Filly & Mare Turf, with Velazquez aboard 27-1 shot Perfect Shirl for owner Charles Fipke and trainer Roger Attfield, both based in Canada. He also rode 6-1 Stephanie's Kitten to a win by three-quarters of a length in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf.
The other surprise was 20-1 Musical Romance winning the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint by 1-1/4 lengths.
In the Ladies' Classic, Plum Pretty took the early lead as expected while running slow fractions, with Royal Delta in fourth. Turning for home, Plum Pretty began fading and Lezcano swung Royal Delta four-wide to come charging down the stretch and earn her fifth win in eight career starts.
"I started to get a little worried because the speed seemed to be carrying very well," Mott said. "About the time I started to worry, I saw her starting to gain momentum. Once she got to 'em, it was adios, see you later."
The win clinched year-end 3-year-old filly honors for Royal Delta, whose owner, Saudi Prince Saud bin Khaled, died in February. She is set to be sold in an auction that begins Monday at Keeneland in a complete dispersal of the prince's racing stable.
Celebrity chef Bobby Flay was 0 for 3 as an owner Friday, although Her Smile finished third in the Filly & Mare Sprint. MTV host Rob Dyrdek also had a third-place as co-owner of Weemissfrankie in the Juvenile Fillies.
Filly & Mare Turf
Perfect Shirl rallied in a wild stretch scramble, surging to win the Filly & Mare Turf at 27-1. John Velazquez was aboard for his second win of the day.
Juvenile Fillies
My Miss Aurelia won by three lengths to stay undefeated. Ridden by Corey Nakatani, My Miss Aurelia ran 1-1/16 miles in 1:46 flat and paid $6.20 to win as the 2-1 favorite.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Musical Romance pulled off a 20-1 upset as Breeders' Cup rookie Juan Leyva guided the 4-year-old through an opening on the rail. Musical Romance beat Switch by 1-1/4 lengths and paid $42.40 to win.
Juvenile Fillies Turf
Stephanie's Kitten rallied in the final furlong to overtake Stopshoppingmaria and win by three-quarters of a length. Ridden by John Velazquez, 6-1 shot Stephanie's Kitten ran one mile in 1 minute, 38.80 seconds and paid $14.20 on a win bet.
Juvenile Sprint
Secret Circle defeated Shumoos by a length to give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his eighth win in the world championships. Secret Circle paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 favorite.
