BC Juvenile Fillies: Casse pre-enters three

Wonder Gadot, who is owned by film executive Gary Barber, is named for Wonder Woman and for the leading lady of the summer blockbuster, Gal Gadot.

The namesake filly will look to turn in her own blockbuster performance as she steps out of her genre, making her first start on dirt in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 4 at Del Mar. Wonder Gadot was third in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes on the Woodbine turf, beaten less than a length, before rolling by six in the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes on Tapeta.

Wonder Gadot is one of three pre-entries in the Juvenile Fillies for trainer Mark Casse, who has won a juvenile race at each of the last two Breeders’ Cups. He saddled Canadian Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse to win the 2015 Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland, and unanimous Eclipse Award divisional champion Classic Empire to win the 2016 Juvenile at Santa Anita.

Wonder Gadot, a purchase at the OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale, has shown promise from the start.

“Right from the beginning she showed she was special,” Casse said. “When we sent her up [to Woodbine], I told our main assistant David Adams, ‘we’re sending you something special.’ ”

One of Casse’s other entrants is Heavenly Love, a 5 1/2-length winner of the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland in her first trip around two turns on dirt. That filly is among a trio of Grade 1 winners expected to head the Juvenile Fillies field when final entries are taken next week.

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Fifteen were pre-entered for the Juvenile Fillies, but no more than 13 will start. Lady Ivanka, winner of the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga, was declared out of the race Tuesday with a bruised foot. Meanwhile, owner Ron Paolucci’s pre-entry of unstarted Ohio-bred Heavenhasmynikki was “withdrawn by decision of [Breeders’ Cup Limited].” A disgruntled Paolucci – who also has the maiden Tell Your Mama pre-entered – posted an e-mail response to him from Breeder’s Cup on his Twitter account, with the organization citing a rule that states it has the discretion to refuse an entry it deems would “compromise the integrity of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.”

At least one pre-entered filly may start elsewhere. Stainless, runner-up in the Grade 3 Jessamine Stakes on Keeneland’s turf, is cross-entered with first preference in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Princess Warrior, runner-up to Heavenly Love in the Alcibiades, has second preference in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

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Unbeaten dual Grade 1 winner Moonshine Memories is the 3-1 favorite on Daily Racing Form national handicapper Mike Watchmaker’s early line for the Juvenile Fillies, off a win in the Del Mar Debutante at the host track, followed by a successful graduation to two turns in the Chandelier Stakes. She and Heavenly Love both earned automatic, fees-paid berths into the Juvenile Fillies through the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, along with Separationofpowers, who bounced back from a third in the Spinaway to win the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont.

Alluring Star and Piedi Bianchi were second and third, respectively, to Moonshine Memories in the Chandelier. Caledonia Road and Maya Malibu were second and third in the Frizette.

Rounding out the pre-entries are Casse’s third filly, Gio Game, who is coming off a nine-length maiden win around two turns at Keeneland; and Blonde Bomber, a stakes winner against her fellow Florida-breds last out.