JUVENILE FILLIES DIARY
OCTOBER 30, 2009
by James Scully
With the Breeders’ Cup fast approaching, we’ll take a look at the final
premiere preps for the Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Home field advantage: The top two in the October 4 Oak Leaf (G1) at
Santa Anita, BLIND LUCK (Pollard’s Vision) and ALWAYS A PRINCESS (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]), will loom large in the Juvenile Fillies. Blind Luck,
who finished a commendable second when making her stakes debut in the September
5 Darley Debutante (G1), rallied from off the pace to win going away by 2 1/2
lengths, and her 93 BRIS Speed rating stacks up favorably with unbeaten
counterpart and likely Juvenile (G1) favorite Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike),
who registered a 94 number for his Norfolk S. (G1) score a couple of races after the Oak
Leaf.
After selling for $11,000 at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling
sale, Blind Luck opened her racing career in a $40,000 maiden claimer at Calder,
winning by 13 1/4 lengths. She was sold and transferred to Jerry Hollendorfer
following her sparkling debut, and the improving chestnut looks completely
at ease in routes. The late runner netted a 114 BRIS Late Pace rating in the Oak
Leaf.
Always a Princess made a strong impression when capturing her career bow at
Del Mar. After breaking poorly, the Bob Baffert pupil launched her rally on the
far turn and flew through the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length, and
she was made the lukewarm 3-1 favorite in the Oak Leaf off the encouraging
effort. However, the chestnut drew the rail and broke running under Garrett
Gomez, establishing moderate early splits on a half-length lead, and was really
no match for the winner. She still held gamely for second, but I expect to see
an improved performance with a change in tactics next time. Always a Princess
figures to be stalking the speed on November 6.
Third-placer BICKERSONS (Silver Deputy) showed speed in her first three
starts on dirt, including a well-beaten third in the Spinaway (G1), but she
settled just off the pace in the Oak Leaf and was never a serious factor. Don’t
be surprised to see the Kelly Breen runner show more speed next time under Joe
Bravo.
Keeneland contingent: Four of the top five finishers in the October 9
Alcibiades S. (G1), including 12-1 upsetter NEGLIGEE (Northern Afleet), will
travel west for the Breeders’ Cup, and I won’t be surprised to see the Keeneland
prep have a serious impact. Negligee ran two good races at Woodbine before striking in her graded stakes debut, rallying from midpack to win by a
half-length over the Polytrack, and John Terranova excels with shippers, winning
at a 22 percent clip over the past two seasons. Negligee could be overlooked
again in the wagering at Santa Anita.
SHE BE WILD (Offlee Wild) made her two-turn debut in the Alcibiades and raced
close to the pace before seizing the lead on the far turn. She was caught late
by Negligee, but finished a clear second and is eligible to keep improving off
this effort for Wayne Catalano. The dark bay raced further off the pace in her
previous two stakes wins at Arlington, and there will be more speed to set up
her late rally in the Juvenile Fillies.
BEAUTICIAN (Dehere) struggled through a tough trip at Keeneland, eventually
checking in fifth after having nowhere to run on the far turn and into the
stretch, and the Grade 1 runner-up is eligible to show more in her second start
over a synthetic track next time. Fourth-placer ZILVA (Successful Appeal) is
under consideration for the Juvenile Fillies, but she appears headed
to the Juvenile Fillies Turf, which is her first preference. We give her a chance
to run well in either spot. After dropping far back in the Alcibiades, she
offered a stout, albeit belated late run, and the Pennsylvania-bred looks like
an up-and-coming filly for Graham Motion. She’s one to consider for the bottom
of the exotics at long odds.
Frizette Devil: The October 10 Frizette S. (G1) at Belmont Park will
produce only one contestant for the Juvenile Fillies, DEVIL MAY CARE (Malibu
Moon), and she would be one of the top contenders if the race was held on dirt.
The unbeaten Todd Pletcher runner is an extremely promising prospect for events
like the Kentucky Oaks (G1) next season, but she’ll be forced to make her synthetic debut in the Breeders’ Cup.
Her half-brother, Super Derby (G2) and U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) hero Regal
Ransom (Distorted Humor), ran poorly when trying a synthetic surface in the 2008
Norfolk S. (G1), and Devil May Care is a candidate to follow in his hoofsteps.
She’s started slowly in both career starts, overcoming the tardy beginning to
defeat medium-sized fields, but a bad break could cost her dearly against a
large cast.
She’s talented, but it’s difficult to get excited about Devil May
Care’s chances in the Breeders’ Cup.
Juvenile Fillies Turf: LILLIE LANGTRY (Ire) (Danehill Dancer), winner
of the Debutante (Ire-G2) and third in the Moyglare Stud (Ire-G1), looms as the
probable favorite for Coolmore/Aidan O’Brien. She’s got the class to be a
serious factor against a mostly unproven bunch of American-based fillies.
HOUSE OF GRACE (Limehouse), SMART SEATTLE (Smart Strike) and HATHEER (Storm
Cat), the top three respective finishers in the off-the-turf Jessamine S. at
Keeneland, are all contenders in the one-mile turf affair, and we’re especially
intrigued by Hatheer, who is the second foal to race out of 2002 champion turf
mare Golden Apples (Ire) (Pivotal). She counts Grade 3 turf scorer Habaya as a full
sister, and Hatheer should relish getting back to the turf in the Breeders’ Cup.
A grass maiden winner at Saratoga two back, the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee gained
valuable stakes experience last time.
LISA’S KITTEN (Kitten’s Joy), a fast-closing winner of the La Senorita S. at Retama Park on October 24, will also merit consideration..
Next week: We’ll provide our top selections and longshot for each of
the two-year-old filly races in the Breeders’ Cup.