by Steve Myrick

Alain and Gerard Wertheimer’s star filly Goldikova (Ire) headlines the $2-million TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) on Saturday, returning to Santa Anita Park seeking a repeat of last year's inspiring victory in the race.

The four-year-Anabaa filly, who is based in France, found an opening in traffic at the quarter pole in the 2008 Mile and unleashed a powerful rally to earn a 1 1/4-length victory under Olivier Peslier, becoming the first female to capture the race since Six Perfections (Fr) beat Touch of the Blues (Fr) in the 2003 Mile, also at Santa Anita.

Goldikova has raced exclusively in Group 1 events this year, winning three of five races. She was defeated in her most recent start when she got away from the mile distance in the 1,400-meter (6.96-furong) Total Prix de la Foret (Fr-G1) on October 3 at Longchamp.

The morning-line favorite at 8-to-5, Goldikova drew the outside post in a field of 11. Peslier has the mount.

“You need a bit of luck in a race like [the Mile], but I'm very confident,” trainer Freddie Head said. “I think she's in the best form I've seen her.”

Head sees Godolphin Racing’s Delegator (GB) as the horse to beat. Frankie Dettori will ride the three-year-old Dansili (GB) colt, who won the Totesport.com Celebration Mile (G2) in August at Goodwood and the Banshahousestables.com Craven Stakes (G3) in April at Newmarket. Delegator has fallen a bit short at higher levels during an ambitious 2009 campaign.

Godolphin also will be represented by Justenuffhumor, who launched the season with six consecutive victories, including the Fourstardave Handicap (G2) and Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2). Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, his streak was snapped when his closing rush was absent in a sixth-place finish on sift turf in the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1) on October 10 at Keeneland Race Course.

Robert and Janice McNair’s front-running Giant's Causeway colt Cowboy Cal comes into the Mile in good form. In his most recent start, the four-year-old colt led at every pole to win the Oak Tree Mile Stakes (G1) on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita on October 10.

“Hopefully, he can come back and run another big one,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “This is probably his ideal distance.”

Khaled Abdullah's Zacinto (GB) rates a chance and will be ridden by champion English jockey Ryan Moore. The three-year old Dansili colt has finished either first or second in five career races. His most recent effort was a close second at long odds in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) on September 26 at Ascot.

 “That was his best race of the season, and hopefully he's on his way up,” trainer Sir Michael Stoute said. “He had to show us he belonged, and he earned the trip.”

To view trainer Ben Cecil talking about Mile contender Ferneley (Ire), click here.

To view trainer Angel Penna Jr. talking about Mile contender Court Vision, click here.

Steve Myrick is a Massachusetts-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent