DEL MAR, Calif. – More Than Looks’ fastest final quarter-mile in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Mile got him only sixth. He did it again Saturday at Del Mar, and this time it got him the money and the glory. Last in the early stages, More Than Looks unleashed a furious final burst through the final furlong to win the $2 million Mile. The Mile’s scintillating stretch run befit a race of its stature, with Johannes pouncing on the leaders in upper stretch, English 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech launching an attack on Johannes, and, finally, More Than Looks, under an excellent ride from Jose Ortiz, sweeping past both. More Than Looks, posting his first victory of 2024, won by three-quarters of a length, with Johannes nosing out Notable Speech for the place. The Japanese mare Ten Happy Rose, who came into the paddock looking like she’d wandered out of the Australian outback, turned in a strong performance, too, pressing fast splits of 22.73 and 45.90 and holding fourth. Nearly two lengths behind her came the other Japan-based horse, Geoglyph, who was followed by Carl Spackler, Chili Flag, Porta Fortuna, pacesetting Goliad, and Win for the Money. Two overseas shippers, Ramatuelle and Diego Velazquez, were scratched Friday. That 45-and-change half-mile looked good to trainer Cherie DeVaux, who won her first Breeders’ Cup race. “The pace was fast, which is what we were hoping. When we had the 45 up there, I felt confident,” DeVaux said. More Than Looks possesses no gate speed, but Ortiz, riding the 4-year-old colt for the second time, asked his mount out of the gate, just trying to engage More Than Looks in the race. DeVaux had emphasized in the lead-up to the Mile that More Than Looks needed to establish some position before making his final run; in the BC Mile a year ago as well as the Turf Mile last month at Keeneland, even his powerhouse kick couldn’t bridge the gap on horses with a tactical advantage. “I knew I had no speed leaving the gate, but as soon as I broke, I saw [William] Buick inside of me, so I thought right away that’s the horse I wanted to follow,” Ortiz said Buick sat aboard favored Notable Speech, and while racing at the back of the field alongside Chili Flag, Ortiz got into Notable Speech’s slipstream. Buick, meanwhile, said he followed Umberto Rispoli and Johannes, and when Win for the Money began retreating into the far turn, Buick pulled out and began moving forward. That gave Ortiz his cue to send More Than Looks into the fray, but after straightening up for the wire with momentum, More Than Looks briefly lost his rhythm. “I was a little worried when he’s coming down the stretch and lugging in trying to switch his leads, but once he did, he just mowed them down,” DeVaux said. More Than Looks got his final quarter-mile in 22.77, his last half-mile in 45.54 – real racehorse times - clocking 1:32.65 (105 Beyer Speed Figure). He paid $15.80 as the fifth choice. Johannes, after ruling the West Coast middle-distance turf division this year, proved he’s more than big fish in a small pond. Rispoli gave him a perfect trip, Johannes beat back Notable Speech, and he was defeated by a horse he didn’t see until it was too late. “We were unlucky on the wire, but he showed up. This is a world stage, and to run against these milers, we’re very proud of him,” trainer Tim Yakteen said. Notable Speech, too, ran bravely, bouncing back from a sub-par showing over turf too soft for his liking about two months ago in France. “He ran a super race,” Buick said. “First time on a track like this. I was very happy with his run. To be honest I thought it was between [Johannes and Notable Speech], and then the winner came on the outside.” DeVaux, who won the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last month with She Feels Pretty, trains 4-year-old More Than Looks for Victory Racing Partners. Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms, More Than Looks is by More Than Ready out of Ladies’ Privilege, by Harlan’s Holiday. Lightly raced, More Than Looks’ record stands at 11-5-3-1. More Than Looks hurt himself in his stall late this winter at Fair Grounds after he’d been entered to make his first start of the season. His campaign didn’t begin until August, but DeVaux took consolation in the fact she brought a fresh horse to Del Mar. “He had an abbreviated season. Sometimes things work out the way you hope,” DeVaux said. More Than Looks saved his best for the last part of the year – and the last part of the Breeders’ Cup Mile. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.