BC Juvenile Fillies

BREEDERS’
CUP PREVIEWS

With the scratch of In the Gold (Golden Missile) on Thursday,
a highly contentious field of 12 will line up for the Breeders’
Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Our first thought was to go with SWEET
CATOMINE (Storm Cat), who has been impressive winning a pair of
graded stakes in Southern California, but we’re going to give a
slight nod to SENSE OF STYLE (Thunder Gulch), who should offer
better odds.

Sense of Style stood out winning her first three starts with
flair, including the Matron S. (G1) at Belmont Park. The Patrick
Biancone-trained filly was virtually blocked during the entire
running of the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades S. (G2) at Keeneland and
was really not persevered with in the last 100 yards when it
became apparent that she could not win the race. Sense of Style
is nicely drawn near the outside for clear stalking trip and we
look for her to return to her winning ways with the addition of
first-time Lasix.

Sweet Catomine could not have been more impressive winning the
1 1/16-mile Oak Leaf S. (G2) at Santa Anita in her last start
with a powerful, sweeping move around the second turn. In her
prior outing, the Julio Canani trainee closed from far back to
break her maiden in the Del Mar Debutante (G1). She is clearly
the horse to beat, but given the quality of this field, our
concern is that she could go forth at underlaid odds.

After winning her first two, BALLETTO (UAE) (Timber Country)
finished determinedly for runner-up honors in the Matron. She
raced with the pace while covered up along the rail and then
closed gamely along the inside to win the 1 1/16-mile Frizette S.
(G1) in her last start. Balletto projects a ground-saving trip
from the inside post and is a dangerous contender for all the
money.

If either SHARP LISA (Dixieland Band) or PLAY WITH FIRE (Boundary)
work out a trip from their extreme outside post positions, they
are major players to light the board at attractive odds.

Sharp Lisa, who was purchased privately after an impressive
first-out victory at Calder, ran a terrific race in the
Alcibiades, advancing nicely from between foes around the second
turn and then diving to the rail and just missing in a photo.

Play with Fire looked Sense of Style in eye before finishing a
close third in the Matron, then closed rather well for fourth-place
money in the Frizette. She has tactical speed and gets a rider
change to Pat Day.

MONA LISA (GB) (Giant’s Causeway) raced with the pace, was
snatched up two furlongs out, then just missed third while
finishing fourth, beaten just 1 3/4 lengths, in the Fillies S. (Eng-G1)
at Ascot in her latest. The Aidan O’Brien trainee, who is still a
maiden, has been keeping top company in Europe and rates our
longshot special with first-time Lasix.

Despite comments to the contrary by trainer Graham Motion,
DANCE AWAY CAPOTE (Capote) got a near-perfect, clear trip in the
Alcibiades where she saved ground on the first turn, advanced
quickly on the outside around the second turn, then finished well
to run a close fourth. She is worth a second look at large odds.
The speedy SIS CITY (Slew City Slew) set fast fractions before
holding on well for third in the Frizette. She was originally
going to skip this race, but now picks up top rider John
Velazquez and is the likely pacesetter.

CULTURE CLASH (Petionville) was wide early, advanced inside on
the second turn, then had to wait briefly before finishing a
decent, but well-beaten fourth in the Oak Leaf. She has some
upset potential at huge odds. CULINARY (El Amante) is undefeated
in two starts at Arlington Park, including an open-length victory
over Alcibiades winner RUNWAY MODEL (Petionville) in the
Arlington-Washington Lassie S. (G3) last out. She’s already been
tabbed the “wise-guy” horse, so we’re going against.
Runway Model proved best at large odds with first-time Lasix in
the Alcibiades and gets a returning Rafael Bejarano aboard. Like
Culture Cash, she has the look of an underlay. HIGHER WORLD (Peaks
and Valleys) figures to add to the early pace and exits a Grade 2
victory in Canada. Like some others, she has class questions.