BC F&M Turf: Mona Lisa must hope favorite falters
ELMONT, N.Y. - Defending champion Ouija Board will break from post 13 in the $1,060,000 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Belmont Park on Saturday. Her presence toward the outside in a field of 14 gives hope to the owner of the promising Mona Lisa, John Magnier.
Second in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera in Paris on Oct. 2, Mona Lisa breaks from post 11. She is one of several fillies and mares in the field that could play a prominent role if Ouija Board does not duplicate her impressive performance in 2004 at Lone Star Park.
"She's tough, very tough," said Magnier of Mona Lisa. "It's whether she's good enough. We're talking about Ouija Board and she's a different grade."
Mona Lisa races for Michael Tabor and Magnier's wife, Susan. Mona Lisa is part of Magnier's vast Coolmore operation, one of the most powerful racing teams in the world.
In the Prix de l'Opera, Mona Lisa was beaten a half-length in her one of her best performances of the year.
"She ran a lot better and she has been improving," Magnier said of the race in Paris. "But she has a good bit to find."
In August, Mona Lisa finished a troubled seventh in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park, a race preceded by a minor stakes win in Ireland.
Saturday's 1 1/4-mile race includes the second- and third-place finishers from 2004, Film Maker and Wonder Again. Film Maker breaks from post 2, while Wonder Again starts from post 7. Trainer Bobby Frankel has two well-regarded starters who have drawn toward the outside - Megahertz in post 8, and Intercontinental in post 10.
Riskaverse, eighth a year ago, drew post 4 for her fourth consecutive appearance in this race.
Since last year's running, Ouija Board has started twice in England, finishing seventh in the Prince of Wales's Stakes against males at York in June and winning the Group 3 John Doyle Stakes at Newmarket on Sept. 24. She has been plagued by minor injuries this year.
The latest win came on good ground, but Saturday's race is likely to be on soft turf. Last year, Ouija Board won the Filly and Mare Turf on a yielding turf course, experience that could work to her advantage on Saturday.
The field
Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf
Purse: $1,060,000; 1 1/4 miles, turf; Grade 1
| PP | HORSE | JOCKEY | WT. | ODDS |
| 1 | Luas Line | C. Soumillon | 119 | 15-1 |
| 2 | Film Maker | P. Valenzuela | 123 | 12-1 |
| 3 | Sundrop | F. Dettori | 123 | 30-1 |
| 4 | Riskaverse | J. Santos | 123 | 15-1 |
| 5 | Wend | J. Velazquez | 123 | 10-1 |
| 6 | Flip Flop | G. Gomez | 123 | 20-1 |
| 7 | Wonder Again | E. Prado | 123 | 8-1 |
| 8 | Megahertz | A. Solis | 123 | 5-1 |
| 9 | Favourable Terms | M. Kinane | 123 | 20-1 |
| 10 | Intercontinental | R. Bejarano | 123 | 8-1 |
| 11 | Mona Lisa | K. Fallon | 119 | 15-1 |
| 12 | Karen's Caper | R. Albarado | 119 | 15-1 |
| 13 | Ouija Board | J. Bailey | 123 | 5-2 |
| 14 | Angara | G. Stevens | 123 | 20-1 |
* Track odds