Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf: Classic Q likely to stretch out, stay with females
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No North American trainer of recent vintage has run females against males in big races more frequently than Mark Casse, and there are few more noteworthy examples than Tepin, who won the First Lady Stakes in 2015 and made it a Keeneland autumn double when she captured the Breeders’ Cup Mile four weeks later.
The Casse-trained Classic Q is the highest-rated older female turf miler in North America this year. She won the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile in May, the Grade 1 Just a Game in June, and the Grade 1 First Lady on Oct. 3 at Keeneland – the three most important sex-restricted turf miles on American racing calendar.
Classic Q might be cross-entered in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, but her connections plan to run her in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Classic Q has made one start beyond 1 1/16 miles, finishing seventh in the Regret 17 months ago at Churchill Downs, but her connections would rather take on the challenge of 1 3/16 miles in the Filly and Mare Turf than male rivals in the Mile.
“I think we know what she is going a mile, and she’s very good, but I just don’t know if she can beat the colts,” Casse said. “When Tepin won the Breeders’ Cup, she’d won the First Lady in a gallop.”
Tepin did romp in the First Lady, winning by seven lengths with a 109 Beyer Speed Figure. Classic Q won her First Lady via a head bob, her Beyer coming back a 96.
Classic Q was fortunate to win the First Lady at all. Lush Lips powered to the lead with a flashy move in upper stretch and took a significant lead to the stretch call, but, for whatever reason, lost her focus and couldn’t regain it in time.
Lush Lips’s connections also are leaning toward the Filly and Mare Turf over the Mile.
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Classic Q, far more greyhound than grizzly in body type, came out of her First Lady in good shape, Casse said.
“We haven’t done a lot with her, but she doesn’t do much or need much,” Casse said Tuesday. “The turf’s probably going to have give in it for the Breeders’ Cup, and if the ground is soft, I think that’s a plus for her. She’s light on her feet.”
Besides Lush Lips, Kathynmarissa and Gimme a Nother are the leading North American-based hopes for the Filly and Mare Turf, while the shape of the overseas contingent still remains somewhat uncertain. Star filly Blue Bolt could run in the Filly and Mare Turf or opt for the Mile, while trainer Aidan O’Brien has yet to fully firm up his Filly and Mare Turf runners. The France-based Aventure, a leading Filly and Mare Turf hope, appears to be out of consideration for the race after a subpar showing in the Prix de l’Opera.
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