Life Is Sweet romps to Santa Anita glory.
SWEET SUCCESS IN LADIES' CLASSIC
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Life Is Sweet evoked images of mighty stablemate Zenyatta with a ruthless performance in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic at Santa Anita on Friday.
Zenyatta won this race 12 months ago, and was herself under consideration for a repeat bid until connections opted to go for gold in Saturday's Classic.
But Life Is Sweet (9-1) proved a magnificent deputy under Garrett Gomez, who outflanked his rivals with a clinical defeat of 20-1 shot Mushka.
Godolphin's Music Note finished third at 100-30, but John Gosden's Rainbow View was slightly disappointing in fifth.
Cocoa Beach, Godolphin's second representative, claimed sixth spot.
John Shirreffs' Storm Cat filly had chased home Zenyatta three times this year, but faced no such calibre of rival this time round.
Despite having been anchored at the rear of the field for a long way, Gomez was the essence of calm as Careless Jewel set off at a suicidal pace.
Although that contender predictably downed tools some way from the line, Life Is Sweet still had plenty of ground to make up.
But once taken off her tight rein by Gomez, the response was nothing short of jaw-dropping.
The four-year-old filly effortlessly came around the outside of the field deep into the straight to win without ever being extended.
Shirreffs said: "We were just hoping she ran liked she did in the winter.
"She really is a great filly.
"Zenyatta is Zenyatta, but Life Is Sweet is a really great filly."
Gomez summed it up succinctly, saying: "She travelled beautifully."
Owner Marty Wygood added: "It's just a great feeling and John has done a great job with her.
"Her sister (Sweet Catomine) won at the Breeders' Cup and for her to do the same, you just can't put it into words."
Gosden said of Rainbow View: "She was a little too fresh and keen and she had herself travelling three-wide into the bend. She didn't relax enough down the backstretch. Look where the winners come from; tells you everything, doesn't it?"
Rainbow View's jockey Julien Leparoux meanwhile said: "She was a little rank going into the first turn, but she really relaxed on the backstretch. She made a good move in the stretch, but she got real tired. The pace was fast, but there was only one (leading), so we had our chances."
Saeed bin Suroor said of his team: "Music Note was stuck behind with nowhere to go, but when the rider took a chance and moved her, she flew. But the winner was too far ahead by then. Cocoa Beach did not run well. Very disappointing."
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