Wootton Bassett Filly Impresses in Saratoga Debut Victory
Fille d’Oro (IRE) captured her racing debut Friday at Saratoga, winning the $100,000 maiden special weight on turf by 1 1/2 lengths for trainer Brad Cox.
The 2-year-old daughter of Wootton Bassett went off at just under 6-1 odds in the 1 1/16-mile contest, completing the distance in 1:42.48 over firm turf under jockey Manny Franco.
Despite being forced three-wide early, Franco wisely guided the filly to a ground-saving position as the leaders maintained an even pace up front. Fille d’Oro tracked in fifth position before moving into the slipstream of favored Counterintuitive.
When the favorite vacated the inside path in upper stretch, Franco seized the opportunity, guiding his mount through the opening before angling out at the furlong marker. Though switching to her wrong lead late, Fille d’Oro ran down Repole Stable’s Celebrity Warrior to secure the victory.
The winning filly, purchased for €330,000 by agent Clay Scherer at last year’s Arqana August Yearling Sale in Deauville, races for owner Gregory M. Hoffman. She was bred in Ireland by Ecurie des Charmes & Haras d’Etreham.
Wootton Bassett has emerged as a global stallion sensation, recently represented by a €2.3-million colt and a €1.2-million filly at the just-concluded Arqana August Sale. His progeny have excelled worldwide, with 69 black-type winners including 47 at the group/graded level and 15 Grade/Group 1 winners.
His top performers include Whirl (IRE), winner of both the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland and G1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, along with GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Audarya (Fr) and Royal Patronage (Fr), who captured the G1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick in Australia this March.
Fille d’Oro’s dam, D’oro Diva, is a winning half-sister to dual Irish group winner Brooch, who produced 2021 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun. This female family also includes G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Bluestocking and Qirat, the 150-1 upset winner of last month’s G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
D’oro Diva’s other recent offspring include a yearling filly by Lope de Vega and a filly foal by Pinatubo.
✨ #7 FILLE D'ORO ($13.80) was golden in the 6th race at Saratoga! The juvenile Wootton Bassett filly was piloted by @jockeyfranco for trainer @bradcoxracing. pic.twitter.com/K5QM1uiwJH
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing)
✨ #7 FILLE D'ORO ($13.80) was golden in the 6th race at Saratoga! The juvenile Wootton Bassett filly was piloted by August 22, 2025
