DEL MAR, Calif.  – There were more runners in front of Gezora than behind her in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Oct. 5. A 13th-place finish in that historic race could have been the end of a season for many horses. But for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, there was unfinished business. Gezora rebounded quickly from that loss, enough for her to be sent to California for Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar. In her first start outside of France, Gezora delivered perhaps the best race of her already accomplished career. Gezora was always well-placed in the BC Filly and Mare Turf at 1 3/8 miles under jockey Mickael Barzalona, running in fifth for the first mile. With a steady rally, Gezora caught stretch leader She Feels Pretty in the final 100 yards to win by a half-length over that rival. “When that lead horse started to come back, I knew I’d get to the front,” Barzalona said. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Gezora ($20.20) was timed in 2:12.54, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 105, and won the richest race of her career on Saturday. In June, she won the Group 1 French Oaks at Chantilly, a race formally known as the Prix de Diane. The French Oaks was worth $1.5 million. Gezora, owned by Peter Brant, was beaten in two starts after the French Oaks, beginning with a good second in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille against older fillies and mares at Longchamp on Sept. 7. The second loss was the Arc. The 13th-place finish left Gezora the fifth choice in a field of 13 in the BC Filly and Mare Turf. Atsila was withdrawn on Saturday morning on veterinary advice. Trainer Donnacha O’Brien described her withdrawal as “unfortunate.” Gezora broke from post 4 and was sixth early, tracking 46-1 Be Your Best, who set a solid pace of 24.36 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.43 for a half-mile. "I got a good draw, so I was able to get into a good position without too much effort,” Barzalona said. “We went a good gallop. I thought I just needed to maintain my filly and concentrate to be in the race.” She Feels Pretty, the 3-1 second choice, was second or third for the first mile and took the lead on the turn. She led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining but could not sustain the advantage under jockey John Velazquez. “I think she ran awesome,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said. “She gets keen and he had to use her a bit to get position. She had every excuse to give up and she ran awesome.” She Feels Pretty finished three-quarters of a length in front of 9-2 Diamond Rain, who closed from eighth to finish third. “She ran very good,” jockey Billy Loughnane said. “She was a little slow out of the gate and that probably cost her. Diamond Rain was second by a head to She Feels Pretty in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine on Aug. 16 in the last starts for both fillies prior to the BC Filly and Mare Turf. Cathedral, a 90-1 outsider, finished fourth on Saturday, followed by Bedtime Story, Bellezza, Stellify, Cinderella’s Dream, See The Fire, Mission of Joy, Be Your Best, Village Voice, and La Kika, who was pulled up. Cinderella’s Dream was the 3-1 favorite. She was second in the 2024 running but was beaten 6 1/4 lengths on Saturday. Gezora won for the fifth time in 10 starts on Saturday, a victory worth $1,040,000. She has earned $2,037,412. Of her four wins, five have been in graded or group stakes. Graffard had his first American win on Saturday with his 15th runner. He was second in the 2021 BC Juvenile Fillies Turf with Malavath. “It’s a meeting I’ve always loved and I’ve always tried to win one,” he said. “It’s very hard. I saw today how hard it is. You need a horse like Gezora with a big heart and traveling really strong. It’s fantastic to win a race like this. “She proved today she’s a real champion. She’s a classic winner, a Prix de Diane winner, and a Breeders’ Cup winner, which is amazing. I don’t think many fillies have that on their CV.” Graffard is correct. Gezora is the first filly to win both races in the same year. The Brant-owned Sistercharlie was second in the 2017 French Oaks and won the BC Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs in 2018 for trainer Chad Brown. “I never had a horse win the Prix de Diane and the Filly and Mare [Turf]," Brant said. “This is a very special filly. She has a great temperament and a great heart. She drew badly in the Arc. We’ve never been able to figure if she likes soft going or firm going because she has such a good heart. She tries on everything. She’s been fortunate to have some good riders ride her. Barazalona is good on her and really suits her.” Gezora was purchased privately by Brant last November at the end of her 2-year-old season. “It’s very rare you acquire a horse like that for your racing team and they give back to you so quickly,” Brant said. “This filly ticks all the boxes for me. She doesn’t owe me anything anymore. She’s got a great fan here.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.