Odds-on Xigera Rolls in Falls City

Nov 23, 2023 Darren Rogers

Richard Rigney’s Xigera tracked pacesetter Jag Warriorearly on, pounced to the lead at the top of the stretch and drew away down the stretch to easily win Thursday’s 108th running of the $400,000 Falls City (Grade III), the traditional Thanksgiving Day fixture for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs, by a widening 6 ½ lengths.

Trained by Phil Bauer and ridden by Julien Leparoux, Xigera ran 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:50.75 while defeating longshots Music Street, who surged late for second, and Jag Warrior, who was another head back in third. Rigney and Bauer teamed to win last year’s Fall City with the now-retired Played Hard.

“She’s a special type of horse which makes our job easy,” Bauer said. “You hang a bridle on her and she knows what she needs to do. I’m so fortunate to be in the position I am with a great stable and owner. At the time we thought grass was her preferred surface as a 2-year-old but she’s proven us wrong. She has such a quick turn of foot which makes her so dynamic.”

After convincing back-to-back stakes wins in September’s $171,750 Seneca Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs and last month’s $250,000 Mother Goose (GII) at Belmont at the Big A, Xigera was sent to post as the odds-on 1-9 betting favorite in the field of seven fillies and mares.

Breaking from post six, Xigera settled in the clear in third down the backstretch as Jag Warrior dictated the terms through fractions of :24.03, :49.02 and 1:13.38. With a three-wide move on the final turn, Xigera dragged Leparoux to the front and emerged as the leader with a quarter of a mile to run. The only questions were 1) who would run second and 2) how far the winning margin would be.

“We’ve always loved her since she was a 2-year-old,” Leparoux said. “May have made a mistake keeping her in the grass as long as we have but she’s had a great year overall. She’s going to be even better next year. I think she’s a very exciting horse.”

Xigera paid $2.30, $2.20 and $2.10. Music Street, ridden by Gerardo Corrales at odds of 49-1, returned $11.56 and $9.76. Jag Warrior at odds of 52-1 under Brian Hernandez Jr. paid $8.98 to show.

Misty Veil, Shezz Koldazice, Skratch Kat, Bellamore and Distinctlypossible completed the order of finish. Hidden Connection was scratched.

With the Falls City win, Xigera improved her overall record to six wins, one second and one third in 10 starts. Thursday’s $240,455 first prize jumped her earnings to $817,056.

The Grade I La Troienne, to be run next May at Churchill Downs, could be Xigera’s next start after a freshening.

Xigera was bred in Kentucky by Cedar Hill LLC. She is a 3-year-old daughter of Nyquist out of the Black Tie Affair (IRE) mare Argent Affair.

Racing at Churchill Downs continues Friday with the popular day-after Thanksgiving card highlighted by the 149th running of the $600,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (GII) for older horses. The Clark goes as Race 11 of 12 at approximately 5:58 p.m. (all times Eastern). The first race is 1 p.m.

STAR FORTRESS (IRE) DOMINATES GRADE III, $267,500 CARDINAL BY 10 IN U.S. DEBUT

Star Fortress (IRE) dominated Thursday’s 48th running of the $267,500 Cardinal (Grade III) on Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs with a 10-length last-to-first romp over favored Saffron Moon.

Star Fortress (IRE), a 4-year-old filly owned by John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services (Tanya Gunther), ran 1 1/8 miles over “good” turf in 1:51:10 to collect the first stakes win of her career.

Luis Saez rode the winner for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

Breaking from post position two in the field of six fillies and mares, Star Fortress (IRE) settled in last during the early stages as Walkathon set fractions of :23.35, :48.61 and 1:13.90. Full of run while leaving the final turn, Saez tipped Star Fortress (IRE) out to the center of the track and the filly displayed an explosive late kick to collar Saffron Moon and a tiring Walkathon with an eighth of mile to the finish. Her winning margin only widened inside the final stages of the race.

“The plan worked out how we drew it up,” Saez said. “We let the speed go and saved ground. Around the turn we swung out and just really exploded down the stretch.”

The triumph was worth $153,450 and increased her earnings to $175,775. Star Fortress (IRE) boasts a record of 2-1-2 in eight starts.

Star Fortress (IRE) returned mutuels of $14.68, $5.40 and $3.48 as the 6-1 fifth betting choice. Saffron Moon, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $3.60 and $3 as the 9-5 favorite. Third-place finisher Lovely Princess, under Brian Hernandez Jr., was another neck back in third and paid $3.30 to show at odds of 4-1.

The order of finish was completed by Juncture (GB), Walkathon and Joyful Applause. Take a Standwas scratched.

Prior to the Cardinal, Star Fortress (IRE) finished third in a weight-for-age event over 1 ½ miles on turf at Newmarket in July. Her lone win in seven starts in England came in her second outing over Chelmsford City’s all-weather track at 1 ¼ miles on July, 3 2022.

“She was training very well coming into this race and she won very impressively today,” DeVaux said. “We’re not sure where we’ll go next with her. Our plan was to get her to this race and focused on that.”

Star Fortress (IRE), a gray or roan daughter of Sea The Stars (IRE) out of the El Prado (IRE) mare Lady Aquitaine, was bred in Ireland by Sahara Group/Eurowest/Sunderland Hidgs.

FALLS CITY QUOTES

Julien Leparoux (jockey, Xigera, winner): “We’ve always loved her since she was a 2-year-old. May have made a mistake keeping her in the grass as long as we have but she’s had a great year overall. She’s going to be even better next year. I think she’s a very exciting horse.”

Phil Bauer (trainer, Xigera, winner): “She’s a special type of horse which makes our job easy. You hang a bridle on her and she knows what she needs to do. I’m so fortunate to be in the position I am with a great stable and owner. At the time we thought grass was her preferred surface as a 2-year-old but she’s proven us wrong. She has such a quick turn of foot which makes her so dynamic.”

CARDINAL QUOTES

Luis Saez (jockey, Star Fortress, winner): “The plan worked out how we drew it up. We let the speed go and saved ground. Around the turn we swung out and just really exploded down the stretch.”

Cherie DeVaux (trainer, Star Fortress, winner): “She was training very well coming into this race and she won very impressively today. We’re not sure where we’ll go next with her. Our plan was to get her to this race and focused on that.”