Although both In Italian and Whitebeam will prep for the Breeders’ Cup in Saturday’s Grade 1 First Lady Stakes traveling one mile at Keeneland, both will likely be pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Filly and Mare Turf at 1 1/4 miles. In Italian finished second in last year’s Filly and Mare Turf at 1 3/16 miles. She won Grade 1 races at a mile and 1 1/16 miles earlier this year and was second by a nose to Whitebeam in her last start in the Grade 1 Diana at 1 1/8 miles. “I think I’ll likely cross-enter,” trainer Chad Brown said. Dayatthespa “comes to mind as a stone miler, and she was able to [win the Filly and Mare Turf] at Santa Anita. In Italian is every bit as good as her.” Whitebeam nipped In Italian on the line in Saratoga’s Diana on July 15. “Very similar situation,” Brown added. “We’ve always liked her. Always trained very, very well. I’m not surprised she made it to the Grade 1 level.” Brown also might have Filly and Mare turf aspirations for First Lady entrant Gina Romantica, who captured last year’s Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Keeneland. She finished second in the Grade 1 Beverly D. on Aug. 12 at Colonial Downs. :: BREEDERS’ CUP 2023: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more for each division “She got a late start” this year, Brown noted. “She ran a pretty good race in the Beverly D. and had a little bit of trouble. I’m not saying she would have won, but it was untimely when that happened. She seems to be rounding back into form. She likes Keeneland and if we’re looking at the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup for her, we need some kind of prep for her on a course that she likes.” Brown mentioned Consumer Spending as a “rapidly improving horse. She was miles the best in the Ballston Spa, and just absolutely got buried inside. I’m going to run her in the E.P. Taylor” – a Grade 1, $750,000 race on Oct. 8 at Woodbine. “Depending on how she does there, it wouldn’t surprise me if she ended up” in the Filly and Mare Turf. Brown also runs McKulick in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Waya at Aqueduct. :: Bet the races with a $250 First Deposit Match + $10 Free Bet and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets. “If she gets pace in front of her, she’s very dangerous at 1 1/4 miles,” Brown said. “She handles all types of turf, soft or firm.” Bill Mott’s War Like Goddess, a close third in the 2021 Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar and third against males in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf, preps against the boys in Saturday’s Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.