Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf: Rodeo Drive looking like influential prep

Although last Saturday’s Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita confirmed victorious Tiz Flirtatious and runner-up Marketing Mix as participants in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita, Belmont’s Flower Bowl was less decisive as a prep.

Flower Bowl winner Laughing, based in New Jersey, is not Breeders’ Cup nominated and was called a “terrible shipper” by her owner, Richard Santulli, shortly after the race, casting doubt on her participation. Trainer Alan Goldberg hasn’t eliminated the possibility of running her, though it would require a $100,000 supplemental nomination.

Tannery, also owned by Santulli and trained by Goldberg, is out of the Breeders’ Cup picture after finishing second in the Flower Bowl, with her connections intent to run in either the $500,000 E.P Taylor at Woodbine on Oct. 27 or against males in the $1 million Canadian International the same day.

The status of third-place Flower Bowl finisher Mystical Star is up in the air. Her trainer, Christophe Clement, said Wednesday he wants to evaluate her over the next week before making a decision whether to pre-enter. He chose to bypass the Breeders’ Cup with her last year.

As for Tiz Flirtatious and Marketing Mix, their thrilling stretch drive in the Rodeo Drive, which Tiz Flirtatious won by a head, made them North America’s top hopes.

Whether they can measure up against European horses in the Breeders’ Cup is another matter. British raider Dank whipped an international cast this summer in Arlington’s Beverly D., a race that included Marketing Mix, and she is expected back for the Filly and Mare Turf.

With another top European, The Fugue, reportedly more likely to start in the Turf than the Filly and Mare Turf, Dank could assume the favorite’s role for the Filly and Mare Turf.

The 3-year-old Winsili is another talented European targeted for the race, and more could join her after this weekend’s top races in France, where the Arc de Triomphe and Prix de l’Opera are being staged at Longchamp.

Among remaining U.S. preps, the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Oct. 12 at Keeneland could also generate some Filly and Mare Turf starters from the 3-year-old filly ranks.