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Six Perfections unleashes an explosive rally in the stretch to win Saturday's $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita.

After briefly refusing to load for the $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Mile, Six Perfections unleashed an explosive stretch rally to win. The only 3-year-old filly in the field of 13, Six Perfections outfinished the 6-year-old Touch of the Blues by three-quarters of a length. Century City, a 39-1 shot, finished third.

It was the fifth win in the Mile for the Niarchos family, who won with Miesque (1987 and 1988), Spinning World (1997), and Domedriver (2002). Six Perfections is a homebred filly by the British stallion Celtic Swing.

Saturday's win gave French trainer Pascal Bary his second consecutive win in the Mile. On Sunday, Alan Cooper, the racing manager for the Niarchos Family, said Six Perfections will stay in training in 2004 and will be pointed for the Breeders' Cup Mile at Lone Star Park.

Cooper paid tribute to the Santa Anita gate crew for showing patience during Six Perfections's brief tantrum.

"I got a little worried," Cooper said. "Sometimes in Europe, they give up and don't let you start. Thanks to the handlers, we got to run."

Ridden for the first time by Jerry Bailey, Six Perfections ($12.60) started from post 12, a position expected to compromise her chances. But Six Perfections was never wide, even though she raced off the rail throughout.

Bailey had Six Perfections in eighth early, racing off the rail. Peace Rules, the 3-1 favorite, set the early pace of 22.28 and 45.40 seconds, closely tracked by Soaring Free and Designed for Luck.

After six furlongs in 1:09.41, Six Perfections was seventh, but only 3 1/2 lengths behind Designed for Luck, who had a narrow lead over Peace Rules.

Bailey brought Six Perfections to the outside between horses in early stretch, and the filly quickly gave him a response. Six Perfections was two lengths behind leader Soaring Free at the eighth pole, and took the lead with 100 yards remaining.

"She had a great turn of foot and put in an exceptional performance," Bailey said.

The style of the victory was similar to the late rallies that Six Perfections displayed in previous stakes wins, most notably the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp in 2002 or the Group 1 Jacques le Marois in Deauville on Aug. 17.

"She's very special," Bary said. "Even at 2, she had that same acceleration. To be able to do that, she's fantastic."

Six Perfections finished a mile in 1:33.86. She has won 6 of 10 starts and $1,451,544. The Breeders' Cup Mile was her sixth stakes win.

Touch of the Blues, the winner of the Atto Mile at Woodbine last month, closed from 12th. He was alongside Six Perfections in the final furlong but couldn't keep pace.

"He ran a super race," trainer Neil Drysdale said. "She had a bit more left than he did."

Century City closed from eighth with a furlong remaining to just miss Touch of the Blues.

"I think we've found out he's a miler," trainer Beau Greely said. "We didn't win, but it was the most fun we could have had without winning. No one thought he belonged."

Century City was followed by Irish Warrior, Soaring Free, Freefourinternet, Designed for Luck, Special Ring, Perfect Soul, Oasis Dream, Refuse to Bend, Decarchy, and Peace Rules.

Jockey Edgar Prado said the quick pace hurt Peace Rules.

"He was pressured every step, and that didn't help," Prado said.

Neither Designed for Luck nor Special Ring, major stakes winners on turf in California in recent months, offered a challenge in the final furlong.

Designed for Luck, the winner of the Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile on Oct. 5, faded late to finish 4 3/4 lengths behind Six Perfections.

"Entering the stretch, I asked him and he took off to about the eighth pole," jockey Patrick Valenzuela said. "Then those other horses came running, and he couldn't prevail."

Special Ring, who won the Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar, was blocked in midstretch and finished eighth.

"He was trapped," trainer Julio Canani said. "The winner is a good filly, but we never got a chance."

Six Perfections becomes the fourth filly to win the Mile, preceded by Royal Heroine (1984), Miesque, and Ridgewood Pearl (1995).

The brief delay at the gate did not surprise Bary.

"She wants to fight, even with people," Bary said.

As Saturday's race indicated, Six Perfections usually wins.