Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Cavorting will track from the outside
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Likely favorite Cavorting was assigned the far outside post in a full gate of 14 when entries were drawn Monday at Keeneland for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
Cavorting will be coming off victories in the Grade 1 Test and Grade 2 Prioress when trying to buck history for Stonestreet Stables and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Irad Ortiz Jr. will be back aboard for the seven-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint, which goes as the fifth of 12 Saturday races (post time, 1:25 p.m. Eastern).
“I wouldn’t want to trade places with anyone,” said McLaughlin. “I do feel like we are the favorite. From out there we can stay out of trouble and track the leaders. We’re fine. It’s way better than the 1- or 2-hole. I much prefer the outside.”
Since its 2007 inaugural, no 3-year-old has won the Filly-Mare Sprint, a drought encompassing 24 starters and four post-time favorites. Cavorting and Super Majesty are the lone 3-year-olds in this renewal.
Fifteen were pre-entered in the Filly and Mare Sprint, but with Curalina opting for the BC Distaff, Sweet Whiskey got in, joining her Todd Pletcher stablemate Dame Dorothy.
Judy the Beauty, the 2014 Filly and Mare Sprint winner and 2013 runner-up, was assigned post 11, which suited owner-trainer Wesley Ward just fine. Frankie Dettori will be aboard the 6-year-old mare for the first time.
“Hopefully Frankie can work out the right trip,” said Ward, who sent out Judy the Beauty for a five-furlong in breeze 59.80 seconds on Monday morning at Keeneland. “I like where we are – both in her training and in the starting gate.”
La Verdad has not been fully committed to the Filly and Mare Sprint by trainer Linda Rice after easily defeating New York-breds on Saturday at Belmont Park. A one-week layoff is very rare for BC starters, although Proud Truth won the 1985 Classic after racing the previous Saturday.
From the rail, this is the field:
Fioretti, Dame Dorothy, Taris, La Verdad, Artemis Agrotera, Super Majesty, Wavell Avenue, Stonetastic, Sweet Whiskey, Kiss to Remember, Judy the Beauty, Room for Me, Merry Meadow, Cavorting.