Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: New York will be well represented
New York will be in the house for the $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.
Five Empire State-based runners are potential starters in the seven-furlong race: Goodnight Olive, Obligatory, Frank’s Rockette, Caramel Swirl and Lady Rocket.
Goodnight Olive will be chasing after her sixth straight win when she runs in the Filly and Mare Sprint. She earned a berth into the race by winning the Ballerina, which is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series. It was run Aug. 28 at Saratoga and marked the stakes debut for Goodnight Olive.
“She stepped right up into a Grade 1, finished off the race the right way,” said trainer Chad Brown.
Goodnight Olive has had some stops and starts during her six-race career. Brown said the patience of her ownership, First Row Partners and Team Hanley, has made a difference in the development of the 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with her,” he said. “She’s got a lot of ability. It’s so rewarding to see her come around and show her stuff.”
Brown said Goodnight Olive has settled in nicely at Keeneland.
Obligatory, like Goodnight Olive, is a Grade 1 winner at the seven-furlong distance of the Filly and Mare Sprint. She has been working on the Saratoga training track. Trainer Bill Mott said earlier this month that the Filly and Mare Sprint is next for Obligatory and her stablemate Caramel Swirl, who is 2 for 2 at Keeneland.
“I think they both deserve a chance on the day,” he said.
Mott trainee Frank’s Rockette will be pre-entered in the Filly and Mare Sprint, Kathleen Moore, racing manager for breeder and owner Frank Fletcher, said late Tuesday.
Frank’s Rockette worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 on the Saratoga training track Saturday. The millionaire is coming off a win in the $250,000 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon at Charles Town.
The seven-furlong race was run around two turns and Frank’s Rockette equaled her best Beyer Speed Figure, a 103. She first earned the number one start prior, when a close second to Kimari in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss in July at Saratoga.
Fletcher is a co-owner of Lady Rocket, who is possible for the Filly and Mare Sprint, trainer Brad Cox said Monday. She also is owned by Ten Strike Racing.
Lady Rocket has made her last few starts in New York, with her latest a runner-up finish to Kimari in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom at Aqueduct.
“I’ve got her back from Belmont, want to watch her train,” Cox said from Churchill. “I’m going to talk it over with the [ownership]. We’ll see how she’s doing over the next week or so.”
Lady Rocket earned a Beyer of 104 in the Gallant Bloom.
◗ The champion Ce Ce, who won last year’s Filly and Mare Sprint, was back on the work tab Saturday, going a half-mile in 49.40 at Santa Anita. It was her first move since winning the track’s Grade 3 Chillingworth for the second year in a row Oct. 2.
“She’ll have two more works here and we’ll go,” said trainer Michael McCarthy.
McCarthy said he was working on shipping plans Monday.
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