Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Groupie Doll figures slight favorite in title defense

Just a few minor surprises were in store on pre-entry day in regard to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Three longshot prospects whose names had not been mentioned were among the 13 named to the seven-furlong race, while the only defections were two horses who would have been outsiders anyway.

The three new names include Street Girl, a Florida-based 3-year-old whose first preference is listed as the $2 million BC Distaff – a race badly in need of warm bodies as she is one of just six pre-entered in that event. The other two are Ismene, a California-bred 4-year-old who hasn’t won since she was 2 and most recently was second in the Oct. 12 California Distaff versus statebreds, and Renee’s Titan, whose form has gone badly awry since she upset Beholder in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez at Santa Anita in January.

The two who were not pre-entered after being seriously considered were Executiveprivilege, who has not progressed in her training to the satisfaction of trainer Bob Baffert since she was a so-so fourth behind Teddy’s Promise in the L.A. Woman earlier this month, and My Pal Chrisy, a Florida mare who would have required supplementing to the race.

Baffert still has a major threat in Book Review, a 4-year-old filly coming into this off a series of workouts since returning to California after a narrow defeat to Dance to Bristol in the Aug. 23 Ballerina at Saratoga.

[BREEDERS’ CUP 2013: See DRF’s top contenders]

Meanwhile, Groupie Doll, the defending champion and likely lukewarm favorite, was flown Tuesday from her Kentucky base to California and is scheduled to have her final pre-race drill Saturday at Santa Anita with trainer Buff Bradley on hand.

Much of the pre-race speculation will focus on Groupie Doll, who won the Filly and Mare Sprint as an odds-on favorite last year but whose form is less imposing this time around.

Besides Groupie Doll and Book Review, other major contenders in what is being touted as a wide-open race include Dance to Bristol, Judy the Beauty, Sweet Lulu, Teddy’s Promise, Summer Applause, and Dance Card.

Marty Wolfson, trainer of My Pal Chrisy, still has a fringe contender in Starship Truffles, winner of the Grade 1 Princess Rooney at Calder in July.

The Filly and Mare Sprint traditionally has been a Friday event since its 2007 inception but has been moved to the Saturday schedule for this year.