BC Filly & Mare Turf: Dank seeks repeat

ARCADIA, Calif. – The biggest mystery of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare has little to with post position and everything to do with current form.

Dank returned $5 as a popular winner of the 2013 Filly and Mare Turf, but her odds will be higher when she faces 10 rivals Saturday in the 1 1/4-mile turf race.

Since winning the race a year ago, Dank has started twice. She finished third by eight lengths in Dubai and was fifth in June at Ascot. If Dank does start favored again this year, her support will be tepid.

Dank is trying to become the first Filly and Mare Turf winner to repeat the following year. Ouija Board won in 2004, finished second in 2005, and won again in 2006. The questionable form of Dank makes the Filly and Mare Turf among the most intriguing handicapping puzzles of the Saturday card.

There is little doubt, however, about pace. Dayatthespa looks like the controlling speed, and if she stays 1 1/4 miles, she could be gone. Dayatthespa, who has not raced beyond 1 1/8 miles, has won 10 of 17, including a Grade 1 last out at one mile.

Chad Brown trains Dayatthespa; Brown’s more highly fancied entrant is Stephanie’s Kitten. She won the Grade 1 Flower Bowl last out at Belmont Park and enters with eight wins and more than $2.2 million in earnings from 18 starts.

The only revelation at the Filly and Mare Turf draw was somewhat expected. Parranda, whose connections toyed with the idea of entering the Distaff, instead showed up in the Filly and Mare Turf. It makes sense.

Parranda has won 10 of 25 on turf. She finished second in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive last out on turf and would have been racing for the first time on “fast” dirt in the Distaff.

The cross-entered L’Amour de Ma Vie will run in the Distaff.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2014: Post positions and odds

The Filly and Mare Turf is race 5 on the 12-race Saturday card, making it the final leg of the pick five. Post time for the Filly and Mare Turf is 12:43 Pacific.

The 11-runner field, in post-position order, with riders: Abaco, Jose Ortiz; Just The Judge, Jamie Spencer; Dank, Ryan Moore; Dayatthespa, Javier Castellano; Secret Gesture, Patrick Smullen; Fiesolana, William James Lee; Emollient, Rosie Napravnik; Irish Mission, Joel Rosario; Parranda, Elvis Trujillo; Stephanie’s Kitten, John Velazquez; and Rusty Slipper, Aaron Gryder.