Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Judy the Beauty, Taris make final prep starts

La Verdad punched her ticket last weekend as one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, while Judy the Beauty and Taris will try to do the same this weekend in critical final preps for the seven-furlong race.

Trainer Linda Rice confirmed after La Verdad led throughout to win the Gallant Bloom last Saturday at Belmont Park that owner Sheila Rosenblum is inclined to supplement the New York-bred star for $100,000 to the Filly and Mare Sprint. The respective two-three finishers in the Gallant Bloom, Wavell Avenue and Dame Dorothy, also are prospective starters.

Also last weekend, Flutterby became a Filly and Mare Sprint possibility for her 94-year-old owner and trainer, Jerry Bozzo, in winning the non-graded Added Elegance on Sunday at Gulfstream Park. Kiss to Remember, trained by Marty Wolfson, was second as the odds-on favorite in the Gulfstream race and remains on target for the Filly and Mare Sprint.

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Looking ahead, Judy the Beauty, the reigning Filly and Mare Sprint winner and divisional champion, is expected to face Leigh Court and Sweet Whiskey in the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland, while Taris will be heavily favored in the L.A. Woman Stakes at Santa Anita the following day.

Also Saturday, Stonetastic will be a decisive favorite in the Roamin Rachel at Parx Racing after trainer Kelly Breen decided to get another prep into her following a Sept. 1 allowance romp that earned a 109 Beyer Speed Figure for the gray 4-year-old filly.

Another top Filly and Mare Sprint contender, the 3-year-old Cavorting, shows no works since winning the Sept. 6 Prioress at Belmont, but “she trains aggressively every day, and we’re planning on working her three times into the race, on Oct. 9, 16, and 23,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Cavorting will be making her first start against older horses in the Filly and Mare Sprint.

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Two other 3-year-olds, Super Majesty and Bar of Gold, both are being pointed to the Oct. 17 Raven Run at Keeneland and are unlikely to wheel back in two weeks in the Filly and Mare Sprint, according to their trainers.

Meanwhile, Unbridled Forever, the winner of the Grade 1 Ballerina, shows no works since that Aug. 29 race at Saratoga and is now “50-50 to make the race, maybe less,” said trainer Dallas Stewart. “She’s been training and galloping until recently, when we had to send her over to WinStar for a little rehab. It’s minor, but obviously the timing isn’t very good.”