French Filly Wins BC Mile

ARCADIA, Calif., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- French invader Goldikova got through traffic, accelerated through the stretch and won Saturday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile on the Santa Anita turf.

Kip Deville was second and Whatsthescript finished third.

Goldikova, a 3-year-old, Irish-bred daughter of Anabaa, raced slightly off the pace under jockey Olivier Peslier, then lacked room turning for home. Halfway down the stretch, Peslier found an opening between horses and Goldikova accelerated quickly to take a commanding lead and won by 1 1/4 lengths.

Kip Deville, the defending champion in this event, gave chase but couldn't close the gap. Whatsthescript, coming off a win in the Del Mar Mile, was best of the rest with a late run from far back.

Goldikova now has won four straight races at 1 mile on the turf. She had won three straight in France before shipping to the Breeders' Cup, the last victory coming in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in Paris Sept. 7. Her career record now stands at four wins, two seconds and one third from seven starts.

Kip Deville, racing only sparingly this year, won at Keeneland and Belmont Park but finished fifth in his final prep for the Breeders' Cup in last month's Woodbine Mile.

The 25th renewal of the Mile was the sixth won by a filly or mare. The first-ever running was captured by Royal Heroine. Miesque won two years in a row, in 1987 and 1988.