2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: Diamond Wow, Zain Claudette dropped from field
An active campaign since late August has taken a toll on the 2-year-old filly Diamond Wow, who will miss the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 5.
Trainer Patrick Biancone said a decision was reached on Thursday not to send the Florida-based Diamond Wow to California.
“After her last work, we found her a little stiff and the blood was not good,” he said. “We didn’t want to cross the country with a horse that was not 100 percent perfect. It’s disappointing for the team, but the horse’s health is important.”
Diamond Wow won her first two starts – a maiden special weight race at five furlongs on Aug. 28 and the Our Dear Peggy Stakes at seven furlongs on Sept. 18, both at Gulfstream Park. Diamond Wow finished a fast-closing second by a head to California Angel in the Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Keeneland on Oct. 13.
“She ran three races every three weeks, with traveling to Kentucky,” Biancone said. “I think her body said, ‘Hey boss, slow down please.’ ”
Biancone said the focus will be on preparing Diamond Wow for a 3-year-old campaign in 2022.
“The first thing is to have her 100 percent,” he said. “No more stiffness and soreness.”
Also Thursday, Breeders’ Cup officials said Zain Claudette, the winner of the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York Racecourse in England in August, will not be sent to California for the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.
With Diamond Wow and Zain Claudette out of consideration, Haughty and Helens Well will gain berths from the also-eligible list. The Juvenile Fillies Turf drew 18 pre-entries earlier this week, but will be limited to 14 starters. Entries will be finalized on Monday.
Haughty has finished first in two maiden races on turf. Trained by Chad Brown, Haughty was disqualified and placed third in her debut on Sept. 17 at Belmont Park for causing interference. Haughty won a maiden special weight race at odds of 3-10 by four lengths going 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland on Oct. 17.
Helens Well was bred in Ireland and made her first start there. She has run three times in the United States, all in races at a mile on turf. She won a maiden special weight race at Del Mar on Aug. 15 before two second-place finishes in stakes – a nose loss in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 5 and a second by 2 1/4 lengths to Cairo Memories in the Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 3. Cairo Memories is part of the Juvenile Fillies Turf field.
Trainer Phil D’Amato recently sent Helens Well to Del Mar.
“I know she’s really likes it down here at Del Mar,” D’Amato said “She got beat a nose in the stakes. I think she’s better suited to this turf course than she was on the faster turf course at Santa Anita.”
Umberto Rispoli will ride Helens Well, replacing Flavien Prat, who is booked to ride the Maryland stakes winner Consumer Spending. Rispoli rode Helens Well in her maiden race win.