Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Judy the Beauty sharpening focus

If only out of deference to her last two performances in this race – she was the runner-up in 2013 and the winner last year at Santa Anita – Judy the Beauty leads the roll call for the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. After all, she’s the champ until proven otherwise.

“Everything we’ve done since she left the winner’s circle last year at Santa Anita has been with the intention of winning the race again,” said owner and trainer Wesley Ward.

Toward that end, Ward has taken it pretty easy for most of the year with Judy the Beauty. The 6-year-old mare has raced just twice since her narrow victory over Better Lucky last fall, finishing second May 2 in the Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs and third July 29 in the Honorable Miss at Saratoga.

Now, however, is crunch time, and Ward is on it.

“She’s been firing bullets in the morning,” he said.

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Indeed, Judy the Beauty shows five works at Keeneland since returning from Saratoga, all of them quick.

“We’re tightening the screws, that’s for sure,” Ward said.

Ward seriously considered sending Judy the Beauty to Belmont Park for the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom on Saturday “because that would’ve given me another week out from the Breeders’ Cup,” he said. Instead, he settled on using the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes a week later, Oct. 3, at Keeneland as her Breeders’ Cup prep.

“We don’t have to ship, we get a race over the track, and she won [the TCA] two years ago before running big in the Breeders’ Cup,” said Ward.

More than a month out from the seven-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint, the other logical favorites include La Verdad and Cavorting from New York and Taris from Southern California.

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Linda Rice said owner Sheila Rosenblum intends to pay the $100,000 supplementary fee to make La Verdad eligible to the Breeders’ Cup, assuming the New York-bred mare runs well in the Gallant Bloom. Meanwhile, Princess Violet will not make the race, said Rice.

Taris, trained by Simon Callaghan, had another sharp five-furlong workout last weekend at Santa Anita as she continues to prepare for the Oct. 4 L.A. Woman Stakes there, for which she will be heavily favored.

Cavorting, a 3-year-old trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, is among several prospects who will train directly into the Filly and Mare Sprint, along with Unbridled Forever, Kiss to Remember, and maybe Stonetastic or Leigh Court. Trainers Kelly Breen (Stonetastic) and Mike Stidham (Leigh Court) both said they are considering the TCA as a prep.

Jerry Hollendorfer said he is still deciding whether Super Majesty will stick with 3-year-olds in the Oct. 17 Raven Run at Keeneland or forge ahead to the Breeders’ Cup.

Trainer Gary Mandella termed Presque Isle Masters winner Living The Life “doubtful” for the Breeders’ Cup. She finished last of 10 in the race last year.

Trainer John Kimmel has not ruled out Bar of Gold from the Filly and Mare Sprint but said the Raven Run is more likely because “I don’t think I want to run against Cavorting again.”