Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf: Even without winner, Prix de l'Opera will be an influence
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The winner of the Prix de l’Opera earlier this month won’t be shipped overseas for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, but the fillies who gave her closest chase in that prestigious French event remain two of the major contenders for the Nov. 5 race at Keeneland.
Place du Carrousel, the 41-1 winner of the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp for legendary trainer Andre Fabre, was withdrawn from consideration for the $2 million Filly and Mare Turf early this week, according to the International Racing Bureau.
Still, a couple of 3-year-old fillies from the United Kingdom, Nashwa and Above the Curve, who finished a respective second and third in the Prix de l’Opera remain the early favorites on the Daily Racing Form line. In addition, several more European fillies remain under serious consideration, including Dreamloper and the Paddy Twomey pair of Pearls Galore and Rosscarbery.
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Meanwhile, back home, the First Lady on Saturday was won by In Italian, giving her trainer, Chad Brown, a remarkable fifth straight victory in that Grade 1 race at Keeneland. The same afternoon, Brown also won the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine with Rougir, a French-bred filly racing on the bleeder medication Lasix for the first time.
In Italian will be stretching out from a mile to 1 3/16 miles in looking to give Brown his fifth win in the Filly and Mare Turf, while Rougir is listed as possible to run at Keeneland. Lasix is not permitted for the Breeders’ Cup. Brown ran two others in the First Lady – Regal Glory was second as the favorite and now will face boys in the BC Mile, while Technical Analysis squandered her BC opportunity by finishing fourth.
The second finisher in the E.P. Taylor, Moira, was disqualified to eighth for interference following a very troubled trip. Moira, the 2022 Queen’s Plate winner, is a BC possibility, trainer Kevin Attard said.
“She seems to have come out of the race well,” Attard said. “She returns to the track [Wednesday]. We’ll give her a few days to evaluate, then make a final decision.”
From California, the one-time claimer Going to Vegas stamped her BC ticket by winning the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive on Saturday at Santa Anita by 1 1/4 lengths over Family Way. Going to Vegas, trained by Phil D’Amato, earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, seemingly still not high enough to rate as a top threat in this race.
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