Malibu Moon represented by top contenders in BC Juvenile Fillies

For all his accomplishments, one has been elusive for classic sire Malibu Moon. The Spendthrift Farm stalwart has not yet been represented by a Breeders’ Cup winner, with his best finishes two fourth-place efforts from 19 progeny starts at the event.

But the stallion has them surrounded in this year’s Juvenile Fillies, with three pre-entrants: Multiple Grade 1 winner and expected favorite Moonshine Memories, Grade 1 winner Heavenly Love, and multiple Grade 1-placed Maya Malibu.

Unbeaten Moonshine Memories is the 3-1 favorite on Daily Racing Form national handicapper Mike Watchmaker’s early line for the Juvenile Fillies. She comes off a win in the Del Mar Debutante at the host track, followed by a two-turn victory in the Chandelier Stakes. Trainer Simon Callaghan was pleased with how the filly relaxed in the Chandelier.

“That’s the key to getting these longer distances,” Callaghan said after the Chandelier. “We know she’s got speed, and she’s proven it in these two other races, but today she showed she relaxes, and that makes everyone’s job easier. There’s some pressure when you’re training a filly like this. It’s not any added pressure, but it’s a good position to be in.”

Heavenly Love earned her berth in the Juvenile Fillies with a 5 1/2-length win in the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland, her first time going two turns on dirt. In her previous strat, she won a maiden race on the turf at Kentucky Downs.

“I love Malibu Moon,” said Debby Oxley, who bred and races the filly.

Oxley added that given Heavenly Love’s breeding, “we really didn’t expect her to run on the grass as well as she did.”

“That was a surprise,” she said. “And she had trained well on the dirt.”

Malibu Moon’s other Breeders’ Cup pre-entrants are Ransom the Moon for the Sprint, Carina Mia for the Filly and Mare Sprint, Hollywood Star for the Juvenile, and Moon Dash for the Juvenile Fillies Turf.