Horsephotos

Favored Islington (left), feeling Kieren Fallon's whip, slips by L'Ancresse in deep stretch to win the Filly and Mare Turf.

Islington's victory also provided a measure of vindication for jockey Kieren Fallon, who rode Islington to a troubled third-place finish in the 2002 Filly and Mare Turf.

Islington was the second of three European winners on Saturday's eight-race World Thoroughbred Championship program. Six Perfections won the Mile and High Chaparral finished in a dead heat with Johar in the Turf. Islington joins Banks Hill (2001) as the only European winners in the five-year history of the Filly and Mare Turf.

"Other than the French, none of the European horses have done well in the past in California," said Stoute. "I'm glad we're finally learning how to do it. The loss last year was nobody's fault. She got knocked off her feet after the start and was six slots further back than we wanted right from the beginning."

Fallon had no such problems getting good early position with Islington on Saturday. He placed his filly along the inside among the second flight of horses chasing Bien Nicole, who opened a long early lead after setting extremely fast fractions. Islington had to wait briefly for an opening around the final turn, then burst quickly from between horses to challenge the 45-1 L'Ancresse, who had caught the weary Bien Nicole and forged to a short advantage in early stretch.

L'Ancresse dug in gamely when challenged by Islington through midstretch, but Islington won by a neck under a furious ride by Fallon. Yesterday raced near the back of the pack for more than six furlongs, then finished well enough to outlast Heat Haze by a nose for third.

Completing the order of finish were Megahertz, Riskaverse, Voodoo Dancer, Tates Creek, Bien Nicole, Mezzo Soprano, Musical Chimes, and Dimitrova.

Islington, a 4-year-old filly by Sadler's Wells, is owned by the estate of the late Lord Weinstock. She covered the 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.13 over the firm turf and paid $7.80.

"Last year I got knocked over by one of our own riders, got too far back, and the trip didn't suit," said Fallon, who spent six winters learning the U.S. style of race-riding while working for trainer Bobby Frankel during the European racing off-season. "Today I got the position I wanted around the first turn and got my filly to relax. I was very confident going into the race because I knew I had the best horse, and I was a little surprised it took me so long to get by L'Ancresse. It was just a great run."

Islington's victory gave Stoute, who celebrated his 58th birthday earlier in the week, his third Breeders' Cup victory. He also won the Turf with Pilsudski in 1996 and with Kalanisi in 2000.

"The key to winning a Breeders' Cup is to come in fresh," said Stoute. "In the early days it was sort of an afterthought [for Europeans to enter the Breeders' Cup]. A trip like this takes a lot of planning and teamwork, and my team did a marvelous job to pull this off."

Stoute said Islington would be retired to stud next season, but might start once more before the year is out - in the Japan Cup.

Edgar Prado, who rode L'Ancresse, said he was proud of his filly's effort even in defeat.

"My filly was very game," said Prado. "The winner gradually gained on us and my horse really tried to fight back when headed. She was just second best."

Heat Haze was the best of the Americans, finishing fourth while never a serious threat to win the race. She got shuffled to near the back of the pack in the run down the hill.

"She had no excuse," said Jerry Bailey, who rode Heat Haze for trainer Bobby Frankel.

Heat Haze was one of three fillies Frankel ran in the race, along with Megahertz (5th) and Tates Creek (8th). Frankel sent out Starine and Banks Hill in the 2002 Filly and Mare Turf, and they finished one-two.