Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: Baffert has two good prospects

ARCADIA, Calif. – Forgive Bob Baffert if he has other things on his mind, such as slaying California Chrome in the Breeders’ Cup Classic with a 3-year-old named Arrogate.

Still, there are other Baffert horses for other Breeders’ Cup races, as evidenced by all the multi-tasking the Hall of Fame trainer undertakes every morning at Santa Anita. Two of the younger Baffert horses, Noted and Quoted and American Gal, will be in the starting gate for the $2 million BC Juvenile Fillies, the first of the nine BC events here next Saturday.

In their last starts, both at Santa Anita, Noted and Quoted won the Grade 1 Chandelier at 1 1/16 miles, while American Gal won the ungraded Anoakia at six furlongs.

“The main thing is the distance,” said Baffert. “Noted and Quoted has shown she can do it. American Gal is fast, and she won impressively, but until they show you they can go two turns, you never know.”

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Thirteen are pre-entered in the Juvenile Fillies, which would be the biggest field since 14 started in 2011, but at least one pre-entrant, New Money Honey, is expected to go Friday instead in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf. With Honors also was pre-entered in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, but might remain in the Juvenile Fillies, with trainer Keith Desormeaux keeping her separated from stablemate Miss Southern Miss in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

As for Baffert, he believes there will be a solid pace established by American Gal in the Juvenile Fillies.

“She’ll take them as far as she can,” he said. “They’ll know she’s in there.”

Meanwhile, the final round of pre-race breezes has gotten under way, with a handful of works recorded Thursday between Belmont Park and Keeneland. Union Strike and Daddys Lil Darling were among the fillies scheduled to breeze here Saturday, according to their connections. Dancing Rags will breeze Sunday and ship Tuesday from Kentucky, said trainer Graham Motion.