Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: Four swinging from Chandelier
The top four finishers from the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes last Saturday at Santa Anita are under consideration for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 5.
Noted and Quoted and With Honors battled from start to finish in the Chandelier, with Noted and Quoted prevailing by a half-length. The victory signaled a return to form for Noted and Quoted, who seemed flat when finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante. She had won a Del Mar maiden race by 9 1/2 lengths prior to the Debutante.
In the weeks leading up to the Chandelier, trainer Bob Baffert said he was encouraged by how well Noted and Quoted was training.
“Down deep, I thought she could do it,” Baffert said. “She really dug in. It was a huge race for her.”
With Honors, trained by Keith Desormeaux, was making her main-track debut after beginning her career with two wins on turf, including the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar. She set the pace while being pressed by Noted and Quoted and American Cleopatra and never gave up when headed by Noted and Quoted in upper stretch.
It was 3 3/4 lengths back from With Honors to Zapperkat in third and then another 1 1/4 lengths back to fourth-place Champagne Room, who had a difficult trip.
Zapperkat was sent off a somewhat-surprising 5-2 favorite in the Chandelier based on her 5 1/4-length debut victory for trainer Richard Baltas.
“She didn’t load well, she was fractious in the gate and didn’t break the way I wanted,” Baltas said. “I’m not saying she would have won with a better start, but it cost us.”
Baltas said he would monitor Zapperkat for the next 10 days, and “if she’s good, we’re going to point to the race and see if we can get in.”
Champagne Room, trained by Peter Eurton, was steadied behind horses when a bit rank early. She was shuffled back on the far turn, then continued willingly in the stretch. Eurton said she came out of the race with some cuts and scrapes.
“I don’t know why she was like that early,” Eurton said. “As long as we can get our three works in, we’ll move forward.”
Cherry Lodge and American Cleopatra are not expected to start in the BC Juvenile Fillies.
Todd Pletcher has decided to run Cherry Lodge in the Grade 3 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park rather than in the Grade 1 Frizette on Saturday. The $200,000 Matron is a six-furlong race Oct. 16. The Frizette is a mile.
“We want to keep her short for at least her next race,” Pletcher said.
Cherry Lodge was one of the most impressive 2-year-old filly winners of the Saratoga meet. She won her 5 1/2-furlong debut by a length Aug. 7 and was given a Beyer Speed Figure of 89.
Pletcher ran her back in the seven-furlong Spinaway on Sept. 3. She set or forced the pace to the stretch before flattening out to finish third, 5 3/4 lengths behind the dead-heat winners Sweet Loretta and Pretty City Dancer.
American Cleopatra, a full sister to 2015 Horse of the Year American Pharoah, pressed the pace to the far turn of the Chandelier, then tired to finish eighth. Like American Pharoah, she is owned and was bred by Zayat Stables and trained by Baffert.
“She came back okay,” Baffert said. “The way she performed, I just want to freshen her up.”
American Cleopatra won her first career start at Del Mar on July 31 and then was second in the Del Mar Debutante.
◗ The final two Win and You’re In races for the division will be run this weekend.
The Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland has attracted a field of 14 that includes Pocahontas Stakes winner Daddys Lil Darling, who drew the outside post, and Arlington-Washington Lassie winner Diadura, who switches from synthetic to dirt.
The Frizette on Saturday at Belmont Park is expected to have a smallish field headed by Adirondack Stakes winner Nonna Mela.