There was a heartbeat of silence before the roar. As the rail opened and Balantina (IRE) surged through with a burst of class and courage, Del Mar lit up in disbelief. Few saw her coming — at odds of $43.20 — but the filly from Donnacha O’Brien’s yard turned the $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) into a statement of European precision and poise.
Under a masterful ride from Oisin Murphy, the daughter of Ten Sovereigns stopped the clock at 1:35.07 over firm turf, defeating Pacific Mission (GB) by a length and a quarter, with Ground Support clinging to third. It was O’Brien’s first Breeders’ Cup victory and Murphy’s second — both men visibly moved by the scale of the moment.
A Ride to Remember
The race began with a frenzy as Switch in Love (JPN) blazed through fractions of :22.33 and :45.96, stretching the field and forcing rivals to chase a punishing tempo. Ground Support loomed large on the far turn, but as they hit the stretch, Murphy saw daylight on the inside rail — and Balantina responded like a seasoned professional.
“She was slow away,” Murphy recalled, “but once I got her to the rail, everything fell into place. She’s a great athlete, so agile and responsive. When that gap came, I had the filly to go and win it.”
Trainer Donnacha O’Brien echoed the pride of a man whose European strategy paid off perfectly: “This is very special. Oisin was majestic on her. We needed a bit of luck, and we got it. But you still need a filly good enough to take the chance — and Balantina was brilliant.”
Tough Luck for the Challengers
Pacific Mission (GB), drawn wide in post 12, produced a storming late run under Colin Keane, only to fall short by a length and a quarter. “With a better draw, she might have won,” Keane admitted. Trainer Andrew Balding remained upbeat: “It was a terrific run. She’ll be a good filly next year.”
Ground Support’s trainer Kelsey Danner was all smiles after a gallant third. “She ran fantastic,” Danner said. “She’s been improving all season, and to see her hold her own against the best here was thrilling.”
The Ones Who Missed Out
Frankie Dettori’s mount Imaginationthelady finished fourth for Brendan Walsh, while the heavily favored Ultimate Love never fired for Mike Trombetta, fading into fifth. Trombetta was reflective rather than disappointed: “No excuses. She’ll be better over more ground. Today wasn’t quite her trip.”
A Million-Dollar Moment for Team O’Brien
The victory added $520,000 to Balantina’s tally, taking her career earnings to $572,440 with a record of 6-2-1-1. Out of Balankiyla (FR) by Montjeu (IRE), she represents the best of modern European breeding — and on this California afternoon, her brilliance found the perfect stage.
As the sun dipped over Del Mar, O’Brien’s team celebrated with quiet joy. For Murphy, it was another reminder of what defines champions: “She’s all heart. That’s what wins these races.”
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