FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY
OCTOBER 17, 2009
In this edition, we’ll survey five significant preps for the Breeders’ Cup.
After recapping the three that have taken place recently, we’ll cast a glance at
the two coming up on Saturday — the E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine and
the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland.
Diamonds are forever: That advertising slogan, for all of its
philosophical emptiness, offers a handy way to link the outstanding efforts
turned in by both the winning DIAMONDRELLA (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire])
and third-placer FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to Me) in last Saturday’s First
Lady S. (G1) at Keeneland.
First, Diamondrella vindicated the decision of her new IEAH Stables ownership
to pitch her into this spot. Not only was the Angel Penna Jr. mare unfazed by a
two-turn mile, but she passed the test comfortably on soft turf, no less, in a
race run at a fast pace for the conditions. As it turned out, the First Lady
would have exposed any flaws in this diamond’s ability to see out the trip, and
she simply sailed through convincingly.
The First Lady was contested at a much quicker tempo than the Shadwell Turf
Mile (G1) two races later at the same course and distance, registering half-mile
and three-quarter splits that were two full seconds faster than the males.
Compared to Shadwell winner and fellow IEAH stalwart Court Vision (Gulch),
Diamondrella was actually running at a faster clip for longer, as revealed by
the Trakus data, yet she was doing it with apparent ease.
Diamondrella’s winning move began on the backstretch. Seventh in the early
going, just ahead of an unhurried Forever Together, Diamondrella steadily closed
into the taxing fractions and improved her position in the strung-out field.
Meanwhile, Forever Together continued to lope along in the rear, and that
massive deficit — as many as 20 lengths — proved too much to overcome.
Crucially, at the six-furlong mark, Diamondrella was 12 lengths behind the
pacesetter, but five lengths in front of Forever Together.
Turning for home, Diamondrella was still well adrift of the three front
runners, but she quickened stylishly to overhaul them in deep stretch. Judging
by the chart, she threw in a sub 12-second final furlong to overcome a 6
1/2-length deficit. The Trakus times, which do not comport with the chart, yield
a :12.38 final furlong, which would still be commendable in the circumstances.
Unlike Court Vision, who was in an all-out stretch duel in the Shadwell,
Diamondrella won going away by three-quarters of a length and appeared to be in
hand as she crossed the wire. Both clocked a final time of 1:38 3/5, but the
First Lady was a more testing race from flag-fall to finish than the Shadwell.
Champion Forever Together was behind horses leaving the far turn and had to
switch out wide for the drive, just when Diamondrella was taking off after the
leaders. Forever Together accelerated sharply herself to make up a great deal of
ground, but she fell a total of 1 1/2 lengths short. While it might be viewed as
disappointing that she could not reel in runner-up TIZAQUEENA (Tiznow)
and settled for third, Forever Together is not quite the same on soft going.
With the ground and race scenario weighted heavily against her, and with Julien
Leparoux giving her a patient ride, the Jonathan Sheppard mare did quite well.
In my last diary, I had noted that if Forever Together didn’t defend her
First Lady title decisively, her Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1)
credentials would take a hit. In light of the way the First Lady unfolded,
however, I must revise and extend my remarks. Forever Together does not enter
the Breeders’ Cup on a high as she did one year ago, and the fact that she has
lost three of her last four — with her lone victory in that span being a close
call in the Diana S. (G1) — necessarily raises questions. At the same time,
extenuating circumstances have arisen in these races, a constellation of factors
that are unlikely to repeat themselves in the Filly & Mare Turf at Oak Tree.
Diamondrella, who has now beaten Forever Together twice this season (both
times on rain-softened ground), has an array of Breeders’ Cup options.
Her connections have mentioned the Turf Sprint as a possibility, but there’s no
guarantee that she’ll enjoy the unique downhill course. Should she step way up
in trip to 1 1/4 miles for the Filly & Mare Turf? The way she won the First Lady
suggests that she stays farther than a mile. With her blistering speed, however,
I’d vote for the Mile (G1), even though IEAH has Court Vision earmarked for that
race as well. Diamondrella probably has a more devastating late kick than Court
Vision. Granted, reigning Mile champion Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) overshadows the
race, but in totality, the Mile is not coming up particularly deep.
Hardy perennial: The Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) over 1 1/4 miles at
Belmont Park has historically yielded prime Breeders’ Cup clues. Despite being
contested in bog-like conditions, the October 3 renewal promises to uphold the
tradition. The redoubtable PURE CLAN (Pure Prize) stayed on strongly to
defeat CRITICISM (GB) (Machiavellian) by 2 3/4 lengths in an eye-catching
display. So emphatic was her victory that it prompted her connections —
owner/breeder Lewis Lakin and trainer Bob Holthus — to rethink their original
plans to skip the Breeders’ Cup.
Pure Clan enjoyed a better trip than the one she endured in the Beverly D. S.
(G1) last time out, where she was far back off a slow pace, came charging too
late, and checked in third to DYNAFORCE (Dynaformer). In the Flower Bowl,
Leparoux rated Pure Clan in fifth, within striking distance of the crawl. As
deliberate as it was, the tempo was still faster than the 1 1/2-mile Joe Hirsch
Turf Classic Invitational (G1) one race later.
For the first six furlongs, the Flower Bowl appeared to be setting up well
for Criticism and Dynaforce, the defending champion who had romped in yielding
conditions last year. Criticism was in her favorite spot, prompting the pace in
second, while Dynaforce was also cruising in third. Then the two parted ways.
Criticism moved forward, but Dynaforce mysteriously dropped back on the far
turn. It was subsequently reported that Dynaforce threw a shoe about this point
in the race, so her dismal sixth can be forgiven.
As Criticism blew past the early leader and surged to a clear lead, Pure Clan
was making headway herself, proving that the soft going was no hindrance to her. Striding out powerfully, she
caught Criticism in full flight — not an easy thing to do — and stamped her
authority in no uncertain terms. Pure Clan has now won two top-level events in
starkly contrasting conditions: her 2008 American Oaks Invitational (G1) coup
came on firm turf at Hollywood. But for a traffic nightmare in last year’s
Garden City S. (G1) on yielding ground, she would have earned three Grade 1
scores by now.
Pure Clan deserves to line up in the Filly & Mare Turf, where she can erase
the unpleasant memory of her trailing throughout in last year’s edition. That’s
the only time she has ever been unplaced from 15 career starts, and it ought to
be ignored as a transparently uncharacteristic effort.
With Leparoux already committed to Forever Together in the Breeders’ Cup, Daily Racing Form
reports that Pure Clan will need a new rider if she runs.
Criticism is expected to go on to the Breeders’ Cup. The Tom Albertrani mare
is eligible to quicken better on firm turf, but she won’t have the luxury of
waltzing through the opening stages either. Dynaforce is under consideration for
the festivities at Oak Tree. The Bill Mott veteran usually doesn’t look as
formidable on that kind of ground, though.
Fantasy and reality: Unlike the Flower Bowl, the Yellow Ribbon S. (G1)
at Oak Tree has not served as an informative guide to the Breeders’ Cup. No
Yellow Ribbon winner has gone on to win the Filly & Mare Turf in its 10-year
history. Moreover, only two distaffers coming out of the Yellow Ribbon have even
placed in the Filly & Mare Turf. (That’s whittled down to one if you remove Wait
a While, who crossed the wire third in last year’s Filly & Mare Turf but was
eventually disqualified and placed 10th).
Those are daunting statistics for last Saturday’s Yellow Ribbon heroine,
MAGICAL FANTASY (Diesis [GB]). Nevertheless, the Southern California star
has gone from strength to strength over the course of her four-race winning
streak, and she has a serious closing kick, as revealed once again in the Yellow
Ribbon. The Paddy Gallagher filly reeled off her final quarter in a little less
than :23 to subdue VISIT (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]) by a half-length, with
the reliable BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) a close third.
On paper, that form doesn’t look nearly as strong as Diamondrella’s, or
Forever Together’s, or Pure Clan’s. On the other hand, Magical Fantasy has projected
the image of being in complete control, and possibly she did just enough to win
without knocking herself out in her Breeders’ Cup prep. She has beaten all
comers since returning to the turf in March, and you can’t ask for more than
that.
Visit clearly benefited from a change in tactics in the Yellow Ribbon. The
Bobby Frankel filly has often disappointed with mild rallies from off the pace,
and I’m glad that she pressed the pace here. Visit, who was elevated to third in
last year’s Filly & Mare Turf, can be read as an indicator of how much Magical
Fantasy has improved this campaign. Visit defeated Magical Fantasy in the 2008
Matriarch S. (G1), in which they finished third and fourth respectively, but
Visit hasn’t found a way to beat Magical Fantasy in three tries this season.
E. P. Taylor: Woodbine’s 1 1/4-mile feature can produce a major
contender for the Breeders’ Cup, especially since the European invasion is even
stronger here than it is in Saturday’s Canadian International (Can-G1). Last
year’s Oaks (Eng-G1) romper, LOOK HERE (GB) (Hernando [Fr]), has been
competing against tough males and may find this a welcome reversion to distaff
company. Indeed, I thought she’d stack up pretty well in the Canadian
International.
Third to subsequent Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) hero Conduit (Ire) (Dalakhani) in the
St Leger (Eng-G1) in her 2008 finale, Look Here opened 2009 with an agonizing
loss in a three-way photo in the Coronation Cup (Eng-G1). Who just outfinished
her that day? Ask (GB) (Sadler’s Wells), who had missed by a nose in the 2007
Canadian International, and beloved bridesmaid Youmzain (Sinndar), who finished
runner-up in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) for the third straight year
when chasing home Sea the Stars last time out. Look Here wound up third to the
top-class Dar Re Mi (Singspiel [Ire]) in the Pretty Polly S. (Ire-G1), where the
race didn’t set up well for her, and reported home a subpar sixth to Conduit in
the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. (Eng-G1).
Freshened for a couple of months, the Ralph Beckett filly turned in a much
more characteristic effort in the September 18 Arc Trial (Eng-G3) at Newbury,
only to be nailed late by Doctor Fremantle (Sadler’s Wells). The form will be
tested when the classy Doctor Fremantle lines up in Saturday’s Champion S.
(Eng-G1) at Newmarket.
RAINBOW VIEW (Dynaformer), last year’s European champion two-year-old
filly, finally earned her first victory as a sophomore in the September 5 Matron
S. (Ire-G1) at Leopardstown. Prior to that breakthrough, the John Gosden filly
had been chasing the likes of Midday (Oasis Dream [GB]), Goldikova, Ghanaati
(Giant’s Causeway) and Sariska (Pivotal). Interestingly, the Augustin Stable
homebred is a half-sister to Canadian International contender Just as Well (A.P.
Indy), so Saturday could be a banner day for the family.
Rounding out the European contingent are EASTERN ARIA (UAE) (Halling)
and LAHALEEB (Ire) (Redback). While Lahaleeb is no stranger to Group 1
company, and finished a close second on bottomless ground in the Irish One
Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) earlier this season, the Mick Channon trainee has
never raced beyond the vicinity of one mile and looks up against it here.
The remarkable Eastern Aria, who will be making her 16th start of the year,
has some appeal as a dark horse. She doesn’t have the established form in the
book, but the tough filly has been improving for trainer Mark Johnston. Eastern
Aria captured a listed race at Saint-Cloud in her latest venture, but more
tellingly for her E. P. Taylor chances, she was runner-up to the highly-regarded
colt Mawatheeq (Danzig) in a Doncaster handicap two back. Mawatheeq went on to
land the Cumberland Lodge S. (Eng-G3) in impressive fashion, and he is a
supplementary entry to the Champion. Should he do well Saturday morning (U.S.
time) at Newmarket, Mawatheeq would make Eastern Aria look better at Woodbine.
[Saturday update: In a form boost for Eastern Aria, Mawatheeq finished
a terrific second in the Champion, beaten a half-length after a less than clear
trip. The Champion did not give Look Here a form boost, as Doctor Fremantle
failed to run up to his best and finished an abysmal 11th, but I wouldn’t want
to read too much into that.]
The North American-based squadron is led by Juddmonte Farms’ homebred
TREAT GENTLY (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]), whom I’d covered in a couple of past
diaries this season. Based in France last year, the well-bred bay garnered a
Group 2 event, beating Dar Re Mi, and crossed the wire third to Zarkava and Dar
Re Mi in the Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1). (Treat Gently was subsequently disqualified
from her Vermeille placing). Unfortunately, Treat Gently has managed to race
only once since joining Frankel this campaign, but that was a good-looking
allowance/optional claiming score at Belmont in July. She was under
consideration for the Beverly D., but popped a splint and has not been ready to
return until now. On raw talent, Treat Gently is a threat.
SALVE GERMANIA (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), who shocked the Ballston Spa
H. (G2) in her U.S. debut, will be making her first start for IEAH Stables and
Todd Pletcher. Her European form is a far cry from that of the others in here,
and the E. P. Taylor is a tougher test. Still, Salve Germania finished like a
freight train at Saratoga, and I don’t want to underestimate her again. With a
strong performance here, she can book her ticket to the Filly & Mare Turf,
and maybe free up Diamondrella for the Mile.
PRINCESS HAYA (Street Cry [Ire]) is in a similar position, since she
exits a photo-finish upset of Forever Together in the Canadian S. (Can-G2) over
the course. The Michael Matz filly picks up 11 pounds off that surprising
victory, though, and faces a tall order to follow up in her 1 1/4-mile debut.
Queen Elizabeth II: Like last year, Keeneland’s signature race for the
three-year-old filly turf set shapes up as a rematch of the Garden City at
Belmont. Garden City winner MISS WORLD (Bernstein), runner-up SHARED
ACCOUNT (Pleasantly Perfect) and badly-hampered fourth GOZZIP GIRL (Dynaformer)
will renew rivalry in the 1 1/8-mile affair. Gozzip Girl, who had emerged as the
divisional leader after her smashing triumph in the American Oaks Invitational,
must turn the tables to regain her status. If the Albertrani filly does so, she
would probably advance to the Filly & Mare Turf.
Although Pucker Up S. (G3) victress HOT CHA CHA (Cactus Ridge);
BLIND DATE (Not for Love), who had beaten Shared Account in the Virginia
Oaks (G3) over the summer; and the streaking Woodbine shipper LADY
SHAKESPEARE (Theatrical [Ire]) all lend substance to the QEII field, the
absences of a few notable names in the division are disappointing.
The only Southern California representative is San Clemente H. (G2) third
HAMEILDAEME (GB) (Storming Home [GB]), who could do no better than fourth in
the Del Mar Oaks (G1) and Pucker Up. Regrettably, Del Mar Oaks winner
INTERNALLYFLAWLESS (Giant’s Causeway) opted to take on older rivals in the
Yellow Ribbon instead and faded to finish last of eight. WELL MONIED (Maria’s
Mon), runner-up to Gozzip Girl in the American Oaks and a wide-trip third in the
Del Mar Oaks, was bound for the QEII, but the DRF revealed that a lung infection
has ruled her out.
In a similar vein, MARAM (Sahm), last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Turf queen, suffered foot trouble that has altered her fall plans. Rerouted to
this past Monday’s Pebbles S. at Belmont, the Chad Brown filly was unlucky to be
handed her first defeat. Maram got away a step slowly and didn’t seem to be
traveling all that happily down the backstretch, was fanned out very wide
turning for home, but rallied stoutly and just missed to MISS CATALYST (Mr.
Greeley) and PULL DANCER (Pulpit).
The lack of international invaders in the QEII is also unfortunate. The QEII
has often served up a clash between recently arrived Europeans and the cream of
the American crop, but not this time. It was thin in that department last year
as well, and we can only hope that this is an accidental blip and not a trend.
On the horizon: Our final installment will revolve around selections
for the Filly & Mare Turf.