Round Pond
Awesome Again-Gift Of Dance by Trempolino
Owner: Fox Hill Farm (Rick Porter)
Trainer: Michael Matz

Last Race: Breeders' Cup Distaff
Next Race: TBD

ROUND POND WINS THE BREEDERS' CUP DISTAFF !

Under jockey Edgar Prado, the 4-year-old filly Round Pond registered a 4 ¼-length win at odds of nearly 14-1, completing the distance in 1:50.50. Michael Matz, who saddled Barbaro for victory in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) in May, conditions Round Pond for owner Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms.

Round Pond found the winner's circle for the first time since taking the Azeri Breeders' Cup (gr. III) at Oaklawn in March. There were few smiles in the winner's circle from Matz and Prado, who endured similar heartbreak when Barbaro took a devastating misstep in the Preakness Stakes in May.

Barbaro's injury ended his career, and he is still recovering.

"I've been in that situation and nobody ever likes to see that happen. It's very hard," Matz said.

"She was a little anxious, especially on the turns, but she settled in nicely and ran very hard to win," Prado said of the winner.

Round Pond was out of action for more than five months after winning the Azeri, returning Aug. 27 for new trainer Matz with a second-place finish in the Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Monmouth. She faded to third, seven lengths behind the winning Fleet Indian and Balletto in Belmont's Beldame (gr. I) on Oct. 7.

"The Molly Pitcher was my fault, I made the call the to put regular shoes on her, and I should have kept the glue-on shoes on her," Matz said. "It was my fault and she paid the price. We've corrected that situation since then. She has trained well since. She's a very, very nice filly with a huge heart."