Lake Victoria, already a victor in Group One races over seven and six furlongs, lived up to her odds-on favoritism in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf on Friday, thanks to a strategic and patient ride by Ryan Moore. Moore faced limited options from his draw in stall one next to the rail, guiding Lake Victoria towards the lead as they approached the first turn. However, the favorite encountered significant interference on the bend as Totally Justified moved across from Moore’s right, causing her to exit into the back stretch in seventh place.

Moore remained composed, confident that Lake Victoria’s burst of speed would eventually make the difference. Despite staying close to the rail on the final turn, he seized the right moment in the stretch to propel Lake Victoria into the open, overtaking the front-running Thought Process for a comfortable victory. “She entered the race with very strong form, and all she needed was normal racing luck and a clear shot,” Moore explained. “We managed to achieve that, and she proved to be the best.”

Lake Victoria remains undefeated after five starts and is the favorite for next year’s 1,000 Guineas at around 3-1 odds. Earlier in the day, Magnum Force secured the first Breeders’ Cup win for Ger Lyons in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, marking the beginning of 14 Breeders’ Cup races over the weekend. Magnum Force had seven rivals ahead of him with just over a furlong to go, navigating a tight turf track that typically favors horses ridden prominently.

Colin Keane skillfully guided Magnum Force up the inside rail before switching outside the leading Governor Sam, while another Irish-trained runner, Arizona Blaze, finished strongly in second. Governor Sam took third, with Big Mojo, aiming for a second consecutive win for Mick Appleby, finishing a nose away in fourth. Lyons, a Classic-winning trainer in Ireland, reflected on his successes during the Covid epidemic, noting, “We won the Oaks and the Guineas with no crowd, and now I’ll take it. But coming here and experiencing that buzz is priceless.”

Europe dominated Friday’s three turf races, and Moore completed a double on the night as Henri Matisse won the Juvenile Turf from stall 13. The victory marked Aidan O’Brien’s 20th success at the Breeders’ Cup, tying him with the legendary American trainer D Wayne Lukas for the all-time record.

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