Julien Leparoux celebrates after Informed Decision won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Informed Decision denied Ventura back-to-back victories in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita.

Trained by American-based Englishman Jonathan Sheppard, the four-year-old was given a peach of a ride by Julien Leparoux, who was scoring for the second time at the meeting after his win on She Be Wild in the Juvenile Fillies.

Garrett Gomez was content to sit way off the pace on Ventura, whereas Leparoux was second in the early stages and kicked on over a furlong out. Try as Ventura might, she just could not get on terms.

Leparoux said: "She broke very good and had a comfortable race. She came back very nice for me in the finish. I know Ventura got a nice kick, but I didn't want her to come too close to me. I got it in the end."

Sheppard added: "We have put the blinkers on and she's been great ever since. It's nice to have such a nice horse and great to do it for (owner) George Strawbridge - I couldn't do it without him."

Strawbridge said: "It's just exhilarating - plain and simple. We (Strawbridge and Sheppard) go back together so long so it's nice to share moments of supreme victory."