Iridessa upsets Fillies Mile

Iridessa came between horses – and came between a lot of people and their wagers – winning the Group 1 Fillies Mile on Friday at Newmarket.

At 14-1 on the North American tote, Iridessa was the second-longest price in an eight-runner field, but it looked likely the Fillies Mile was coming up light for a top-level race and might be open to some degree of chaos. Iridessa provided it.

Fifth of nine and third of 16 in two Irish stakes starts following a debut victory, Iridessa slipped under the radar Friday in this straight-course mile for 2-year-old fillies, then slipped through a hole with about a quarter-mile to run and beat mild favorite Hermosa by 1 1/2 lengths. Wayne Lordan rode the winner for trainer Joseph O’Brien, whose father, Aidan, trains Hermosa.

Pretty Pollyanna ran decently in her first start beyond six furlongs, but didn’t truly see out the one-mile trip. Antonia De Vega, fairly promising after two wins to start her career, never got out of last place.

Iridessa became the first Group 1 winner for her first-crop sire, Ruler of the World. She was produced by the Danehile mare Senta’s Dream.

O’Brien said he thought Iridessa might be more a filly for the Epsom Oaks over 1 1/2 miles than the English 2000 Guineas over one mile next spring. He made no mention of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf for Iridessa, though one could imagine that race being an option for runner-up Hermosa.

Earlier on the card, Mot Juste got a cagey ride from William Buick and captured the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes, a seven-furlong race also for 2-year-old fillies. Roger Varian trains the winner, an American-bred daughter of Distorted Humor.