Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: Alcibiades, Chandelier will bring field into focus
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Unlike some of the other Breeders’ Cup lineups already mostly settled, the prospective field for the $2 million BC Juvenile Fillies surely will take some tweaks after a couple of major preps are run Saturday.
The Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland and the Grade 1 Chandelier at Santa Anita both figure to have a major impact on the Nov. 4 BC Juvenile Fillies, the 1 1/16-mile fixture that determines the divisional championship far more often than not.
Into this weekend, Chocolate Gelato seems a consensus leader of the division following her victory last Sunday in the Grade 1 Frizette at Aqueduct, although it’s conceivable she might not go favored in the Juvenile Fillies, depending on what transpires this weekend. In any case, she’s most likely to be among the top wagering choices to give trainer Todd Pletcher his first win in this race.
You’re My Girl and Leave No Trace, the respective two-three finishers in the one-turn-mile Frizette, also rank among the early contenders for the Juvenile Fillies, assuming their connections choose to make the trip south from New York. You’re My Girl, trained by John Terranova, would have to be supplemented.
Meanwhile, the door is open for a filly to make a breakthrough Saturday in the Alcibiades and/or Chandelier, with both races being run around two turns at 1 1/16 miles.
Among the major players in the Alcibiades are Wonder Wheel, winner of the Debutante at Churchill Downs and runner-up in the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga; Fun and Feisty, winner of the Grade 3 Pocahontas at Churchill; and Chop Chop, making her dirt debut after winning the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies on turf.
Fun and Feisty will be bidding to give trainer Kenny McPeek a sixth Alcibiades win, equaling the record held by D. Wayne Lukas.
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The Chandelier has Justique making her first start since a visually stunning debut in a 5 1/2-furlong Del Mar maiden race in late July. Since then, the daughter of Justify has been sent through six timed workouts by trainer John Shirreffs, looking to make the sizable jump to a two-turn Grade 1.
Among the expected challengers to Justique are And Tell Me Nolies and Home Cooking, the respective one-two finishers in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, along with Huntingcoco, a flashy maiden winner for Bob Baffert, also the trainer of Home Cooking.
Baffert is currently barred from Churchill Downs but not from Keeneland. He has won the Juvenile Fillies twice, the latest in 2007 with Indian Blessing.
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