Iridessa (IRE)

Despite her 13-1 odds, Mrs. C.C. Regalado-Gonzalez’s Iridessa proved she was one of the world’s top grass fillies by holding off second-choice Vasilika by a neck after a duel in deep stretch to win the 2019 Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Wayne Lordan, Iridessa, earned her fourth Grade/Group 1, covered the  1 ¼ miles on a firm turf course in 1:57.77. It was the first Breeders’ Cup victories for both O’Brien and Lordan.

Longshot Mirth raced to an uncontested lead in the 12-horse field, with Vasilika tracking in second and Iridessa just behind her. On the turn, Iridessa and Vasilika moved as a team and at the sixteenth pole stormed past Mirth with Iridessa moving fastest only to have Vasilika fight back along the rail and just miss at the wire.

Defending champion and 4-5 favorite Sistercharlie finished another 2 ¼ lengths back in third.

That was fantastic,” said O’Brien. “Wayne (Lordan) gave her a great ride and got into a really nice position early on. I’ve got a great team  back home that work for me. This is unbelievable.”

“Unbelievable feeling,” echoed winning rider Lordan. “She was so tough to dig deep and hold on. It was some performance.”

Iridessa is a 3-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Ruler of the World (IRE) out of the Danehill mare Senta’s Dream (GB).

Iridessa earned an automatic berth into the Filly & Mare Turf through the international Breeders’ Cup Challenge series by winning the Group 1 Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes at Leopardstown in Ireland on Sept. 14. She came into the Breeders’ Cup off a third place finish in the Group Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket in England on Oct. 5. Adding to her sparkling season was another Group 1 win in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in June.