Ageless lives up to name in Royal North defense

Ageless didn’t let a little thing like being six-years old and making her 21st start from defending her title in Sunday’s Royal North S. (Can-G3) at Woodbine.

And not just defending her title, but doing so while setting a new course record of 1:07.17 for six furlongs over the firm E.P. Taylor turf.

"She's getting better all the time. Today, she won very impressively," jockey Julien Leparoux said. "Today, the way she came after those horses was great."

Ageless bided her time as Leigh Court led the way up front. That five-year-old mare was returning off a fifth-place finish in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Leigh Court managed to turn back all challengers but Ageless was just getting underway. The bay mare easily flew past Leigh Court and continued on to finish three parts of a length the better as the 3-5 favorite.

Trainer Arnaud Delacour was, understandably, pleased with his filly’s repeat win at Woodbine. 

"She's very versatile. She can usually run well on softer turf, but today the turf was firm and she didn't seem to mind," Delacour said. "She always comes with a good run at the end and that's what she did today."

Last year, Ageless followed her Royal North victory with a third-place effort in the Presque Isle Downs Masters S. (G2) and closed out 2014 with a near-miss, three-quarter length fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) against the boys.

Based on Sunday’s stellar effort, Ageless is ready and willing for another shot at Breeders’ Cup glory.

Ageless photo courtesy of WEG/Michael Burns Photography