Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf: Dank the likely favorite among 12 pre-entered

Led by British invader Dank, who shipped to America to win the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington Park this summer, 12 horses were pre-entered Monday for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

The Grade 1 Filly and Mare Turf, contested at 1 1/4 miles, also attracted the three most accomplished U.S. older turf mares in training – Laughing, Marketing Mix, and Tiz Flirtatious – plus two other elite European runners in Romantica and The Fugue.

The latter is not expected to compete in the Filly and Mare Turf, having also been pre-entered against males in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, a race her connections stated at the time of pre-entries was their first preference.

The probable defection of The Fugue would leave Dank as a clear favorite, having already exhibited an affinity for U.S. turf racing in the Aug. 17 Beverly D., a contest she won by over 4 1/4 lengths against a top-class international field. Dank also won two of three races overseas this year prior to the Beverly D.

What Dank has not done is start since. Her trainer, five-time Breeders’ Cup winner Sir Michael Stoute, said there was not a suitable follow-up race on firm ground for her.

[BREEDERS’ CUP 2013: See DRF’s top contenders]

Two pre-entries were Breeders’ Cup horses-of-racing-age supplements at a cost of $100,000 apiece – Alterite, winner of the Grade 1 Garden City, and Laughing, who most recently took the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont Park to improve her 2013 record to 4 for 4.

Laughing is one of four Win and You’re In qualifiers pre-entered in the Filly and Mare Turf, with the others being Dank, The Fugue, and Tiz Flirtatious. As challenge-race qualifiers, their entry and starting fees are paid.

Four-year-old fillies and 5-year-old mares together comprise 9 of the 12 pre-entries, with the exceptions being 3-year-olds Alterite, Grade 1 Spinster winner Emollient, and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup winner Kitten’s Dumplings.

Laughing, who has led at every call in her last three races, is the only regular front-runner among the pre-entries, with Vionnet – who established a clear lead in the Sept. 28 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita before tiring to third behind Tiz Flirtatious and Marketing Mix – being the only other pre-entry to flash speed in a recent start.

Longshots Lady of Shamrock and Qushchi complete the pre-entries.