Banks Hill wins BC Filly & Mare Turf

ELMONT, N.Y., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- French filly Banks Hill came through a hole at the top of the stretch and ran away with the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Belmont Park Saturday.

The 3-year-old daughter of Danehill with Olivier Pesilier in the irons covered the 1 ¼-mile turf course in 2:00.36. Spook Express finished second, 5 ½ lengths back, and Spring Oak was third, back 1 3/4. Solvig came in fourth.

It was Pesilier's first Breeders' Cup win and he couldn't say enough about his filly's ability.

"She has a good turn of foot," he said. "When I asked her, she just kept going."

Pesilier also was impressed with the way she handled the turns.

"The turn was very tight compared to France," he said. "She turned great."

Banks Hill paid $14, $9.20 and $6.10; Spook Express, $11.40 and $7.70; Spring Oak, $11.60. The $2 exacta paid $229.

Banks Hill, trained by Andre Fabre, hadn't finished first since her June 22 Coronation win at Ascot. In her last two starts in Paris, Banks Hill raced against older males, finishing second in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in her last start.

Banks Hill is owned by her breeder, Juddmonte Farms, the racing name of Saudi Arabian Prince Khalid Abdullah, a first cousin of Prince Fahd. The Prince became the second Arab owner to win a Championship event Saturday after Dubai-based Godolphin stables sent out the 1-2 finishers in the Juvenile Fillies.

Juddmonte racing manager Teddy Beckett said the win represents the "holy grail" of racing.

"It is the goal of any owner to win a Breeders Cup but to breed and own a winner means a tremendous amount," he said.

Beckett called Banks Hill's performance "superb" but he said there has been no decision on whether to keep her in training.

He said a portion of the winnings likely would be donated to the American Red Cross to benefit the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.