New Money Honey cashes in as European raiders fail

Report: USA, Friday

Santa Anita: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | (Grade 1) | 1m | turf | 2yo fillies

There was no movie-script conclusion to Joseph O'Brien's first trip as a trainer to the Breeders' Cup as his Intricately finished down the field in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, with his father's pair faring little better as the European challenge stumbled on the opening day.

The finish was dominated by the home team as US turf king Chad Brown's New Money Honey beat Coasted, with the French-trained Cavale Doree best of the Europeans in third.

Intricately could finish only 11th while Aidan O'Brien pair Roly Poly and Hydrangea came ninth and last respectively to complete a disappointing opening day at Santa Anita for a European party with high expectations.

"It was just too sharp for her, which was the worry we had," said Joseph O'Brien. "Hopefully she'll come back in one piece. We'll give her a good break now."

O'Brien snr offered encouragement in the aftermath, pointing out he'd won an Oaks with a filly who flopped in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

He said: "It was a lot for Joseph's filly to come here but it will do her good. We brought Qualify to run here and she ran the same kind of race and it made her grow up."

Of his own pair, Roly Poly broke well and entered the straight in a position to challenge but weakened.

O'Brien said: "Ryan [Moore] thought his filly was just a little bit tired after a long season. Seamus [Heffernan, on Hydrangea] felt the same with his filly, he thought that her action might not have been as good as it has been and he looked after her.

"The two of them have had hard seasons and we felt it was worth letting them come here for a shot at a Group 1, but they'll be fine next year."

Brown won the race in 2014 with miracle filly Lady Eli, who subsequently survived laminitis to make a winning return to the track.

"She's a terrific chapter in a terrific story," he said. "She's made of steel. I'll tell you, I think the sky's the limit for her."