French filly Goldikova in Breeders' Mile double

ARCADIA, California, Nov 7 (Reuters) - French filly Goldikova came from well off the pace to win the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile for the second straight year on Saturday.

Goldikova, ridden by Olivier Peslier, was seven lengths behind at the top of the stretch but picked off her rivals one-by-one and won by a half-length over Courageous Cat.

The daughter of Anabaa covered the distance on a sunny but cool day at Santa Anita Park in 1:32.26. Trained by Freddie Head, Goldikova returned $4.80 for a $2 win ticket.

Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Justenuffhumor finished third in the field of 11.

Goldikova, winning for the fourth time in six starts in 2009, emulates the filly Miesque, who won the Breeders' Mile in 1987 and 1988 with Head, then a jockey, in the irons.

(Editing by Dave Thompson. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)