Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Stonetastic staying home

Stonetastic has been declared out of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint following a runner-up finish as the favorite Oct. 8 in the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland.

“We needed a lot of scenarios to go right to convince us to go,” said Kelly Breen, who trains Stonetastic for the Stoneway Farm of Jim Stone. “We just couldn’t get enough stars to align. If she would’ve won at Keeneland, we probably would’ve gone, but she didn’t. That was the main thing.”

Stonetastic, 5, was prominent early in the last two editions of the Filly and Mare Sprint, finishing fourth at 3-1 in 2014 at Santa Anita and eighth at 7-1 last year at Keeneland. Her defection removes a key element of speed from the 2016 renewal, which is supposed to have several strong fillies turning back in distance – Curalina, Tara’s Tango, and Paid Up Subscriber – when pre-entries are taken Monday. The race will be run Nov. 5 at Santa Anita.

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Stonetastic “is back at Monmouth doing good,” said Breen. “She’ll run once or twice more here on the East Coast before Mr. Stone has her bred next year. I’m sure we’ll wonder how she would’ve done if speed’s holding Breeders’ Cup Day, but the fact is she didn’t finish in the money the last two times, and seven-eighths probably isn’t her ideal distance. There were more factors working against us than for us.”

Meanwhile, Curalina had her third breeze since her runner-up finish to Cavorting in the Aug. 27 Personal Ensign, going five furlongs in 1:01.20 on Saturday at Belmont Park. Trainer Todd Pletcher has said Curalina will be pre-entered in both the Distaff and Filly and Mare Sprint.

Haveyougoneaway, the winner of the Grade 1 Ballerina for trainer Tom Morley in her last start, sizzled five furlongs in 58.40 seconds at Belmont on Oct. 13.

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In other recent works at Belmont for the Filly and Mare Sprint, all last Saturday at a half-mile: Wavell Avenue, 49.60 seconds; Paulassilverlining, 50 seconds (training track); and Paola Queen, 48.60 seconds.

Likewise, there has been plenty of morning activity recently at Santa Anita, led by Tara’s Tango going five furlongs Sunday in a minute for Jerry Hollendorfer. On Tuesday, By the Moon went five furlongs in 1:00.60, Enchanting Lady sped a half-mile in 46 seconds, and Gloryzapper went a half-mile in 47.40 seconds in her first work since capturing the Oct. 9 L.A. Woman.

A good number of Filly and Mare Sprint prospects have been consigned to auctions in Kentucky after the Breeders’ Cup. Entered in the Nov. 7 Fasig-Tipton sale are Curalina, Haveyougoneaway, Wavell Avenue, Paid Up Subscriber, and Luminance, while Enchanting Lady and Paola Queen are in the Keeneland sale, which starts Nov. 8.