JUVENILE FILLIES DIARY
NOVEMBER 4, 2009
by James Scully
The Juvenile Fillies (G1) is the only Breeders’ Cup race without any
European-based contenders, and the 12-horse field looks extremely contentious.
The Juvenile Fillies Turf is the only event on Friday to draw a full field, with
two runners on the also-eligibles list, and I’ll side with a well-regarded
European.
JUVENILE FILLIES
Favorites have been on quite a roll in the Juvenile Fillies, with the last
seven runnings of the 1 1/16-mile event going to the public’s choice, and the top two
finishers in the October 4 Oak Leaf S. (G1) at Santa Anita, BLIND LUCK (Pollard’s
Vision) and ALWAYS A PRINCESS (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]), figure to compete for the
honor this year. Both rate as serious win contenders, but I’ll give top billing
to Alcibiades S. (G1) upsetter NEGLIGEE (Northern Afleet), who is listed at 6-1 on
the morning line.
1st — NEGLIGEE has never run a bad one in her three career starts,
breaking her maiden and recording a close second in the Ontario Debutante over
Woodbine’s Polytrack, and the Kentucky-bred lass was sold and transferred to
trainer John Terranova prior to her 12-1 victory in the Alcibiades at Keeneland.
She displayed an excellent turn of foot last time, registering a 101 BRIS Late
Pace number for the half-length decision, and turned in a superb workout at
Santa Anita on Sunday, drilling four furlongs in :46 4/5 over the Pro-Ride.
Negligee appears poised to for another strong showing.
2nd — ALWAYS A PRINCESS didn’t receive a favorable draw in post 11,
but the Bob Baffert-trained miss might be good enough to overcome the outside
starting position. She recovered from a poor start to win her debut smartly at
Del Mar, launching her rally past nearly the entire field on the far turn,
and wound up setting the pace last time in the Oak Leaf, gamely holding for
runner-up honors after giving way to Blind Luck in deep stretch. The chestnut
has been training forwardly in the mornings, and she obviously has plenty of
room for improvement with only three starts under her belt. Look for her to be
on or close to early lead with Garrett Gomez.
3rd — BLIND LUCK will be no surprise in the winner’s circle. A 13
1/4-length debut winner over maiden claimers at Calder, she showed an affinity
for synthetic tracks after being sent to Jerry Hollendorfer out west, easily
winning a starter allowance before her runner-up finish in the Darley Debutante
(G1) at Del Mar. The chestnut was a little rank in the latter, but she put it
all together last time in the Oak Leaf, drawing off to a 2 1/2-length decision.
Blind Luck’s BRIS Speed ratings are a little low (93 last time) and I’ll try to
beat her for the win at a short price, but she’s difficult to knock in this
spot.
Longshot — BIOFUEL (Stormin Fever) is stuck in post 12, but the
late-running miss will drop back and should be able to save ground into the
first turn. A convincing 4 1/2-length winner of the Mazarine S. (Can-G3) at
Woodbine last time, she’s receiving little respect (15-1 morning line) but
is trained by Reade Baker, who is dangerous on big race days. I’ll spread with her in the horizontal exotics.
JUVENILE FILLIES TURF
1st — LILLIE LANGTRY (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) captured the Debutante
S. (Ire-G2) three starts back and exits an easy 2 1/4-length score in the 14-horse
Tattersalls Timeform S. at Newmarket. Her only disappointing showing this season
a was third in the Moyglare Stud S. (Ire-G1) over soft turf two back, and she won’t
have to deal with those kind of conditions at Santa Anita. The Coolmore filly
rates at Aidan O’Brien’s top hope for next season’s One Thousand Guineas
(Eng-G1), and she appears capable of overpowering her mostly unproven rivals on
Friday.
2nd — HATHEER (Storm Cat) gained valuable stakes experience when
finishing fourth in the off-the-turf Jessamine S. last time, and the maiden
winner should appreciate the return to turf in the Breeders’ Cup. Out of 2002
champion turf mare Golden Apples (Ire), the Kiaran McLaughlin pupil recorded a
sharp 1 1/2-length when stretching out to two turns for the first time two
starts back, and the bay filly owns good tactical speed. She’ll probably be up
close stalking the pace with Alan Garcia and figures to get the jump on the top
choice. She looms as an interesting upset candidate.
3rd — JUNIA TEPZIA (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) is two-for-two,
romping in a pair of Italian starts, and will pick up the services of Kieran
Fallon for her U.S. debut. After easily knocking off a fairly well-regarded
group of rivals at Milan last time, Team Valor decided to supplement the
promising bay filly to the Breeders’ Cup, and these connections (Team
Valor/Fallon) have already has success at Oak Tree, winning the Goodwood S. (G1)
with an 18-1 outsider. Junia Tepzia looks very legitimate in this spot.
Longshot — LISA’S KITTEN (Kitten’s Joy) won’t get much respect off a
win in the La Senorita S. at Retama Park, but the Mike Maker-trained lass has really
come on in her last two starts, registering BRIS Late Pace ratings of 94 and
112. Julien Leparoux will return to the saddle aboard the improving filly, who
will look to offer another solid showing from far off the pace.