Six Perfections balks, then blows 'em away

ARCADIA, Calif. - Only when she was ready did Six Perfections show why she has been one of the top milers in Europe this year.

After briefly refusing to load, Six Perfections unleashed an explosive rally in the stretch to win Saturday's $1,375,000 Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita. The only 3-year-old filly in the field of 13, Six Perfections outfinished Touch of the Blues by three-quarters of a length. Century City, a 39-1 shot, finished third.

The victory marked the fifth win in the Mile for the Niarchos family of Europe, who won with Miesque (1987-88), Spinning World (1997), and Domedriver (2002).

Six Perfections gave French trainer Pascal Bary his second consecutive win in the Mile. Bary said Six Perfections is likely to stay in training and will be pointed for the 2004 Breeders' Cup Mile at Lone Star Park.

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