Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: Moonshine Memories dictating her own schedule

Will she or won’t she?

That was the question in mid-September as trainer Simon Callaghan debated whether to give unbeaten Grade 1 winner Moonshine Memories, the favorite on Daily Racing Form national handicapper Mike Watchmaker’s initial line for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, a final prep or train her straight into the big event. But Moonshine Memories has been dictating her own agenda. For the second time in her nascent career, she has earned her spot in the starting gate for a Grade 1 event, convincing her trainer to saddle her for Saturday’s Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita.

Moonshine Memories, a daughter of Malibu Moon and from the family of Horse of the Year Favorite Trick, was bred in Kentucky by Summer Wind Farm and purchased for $650,000 out of the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale by Bridlewood Farm and the Coolmore partners. Sent to Callaghan, she debuted Aug. 19 at Del Mar, dueling on the lead and kicking on to win by a length. Runner-up Tyfosha – who has not yet started back – was 11 1/2 lengths clear of the field in the six-furlong maiden.

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Off that effort, Callaghan planned to take things slowly with the filly, rather than running in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, the Breeders’ Cup host track’s signature event for the division, just two weeks later on Sept. 2.

“We were actually looking for any small excuse not to run her back,” Callaghan said. “There was no pressure from the owners.”

But Moonshine Memories bounced out of her debut in outstanding condition. Part of her ability to rebound quickly, Callaghan said, is due to a professional personality, with the filly not wasting energy on nerves or antics.

“This filly just did everything you’d want from a horse in between” starts, Callaghan said. “She showed in the paddock, her disposition and how calm she was, something you can’t instill in them, it’s within them.”

Going seven furlongs in the Debutante, Moonshine Memories again showed the way and was clear by two lengths in the stretch. She held sway by a half-length over longshot Piedi Bianchi at the wire.

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Off that effort, Callaghan again planned to take things slowly, indicating that his first preference was to train up to the Juvenile Fillies on a track his charge likes. But with two solid works – including five furlongs in a sharp 59.80 seconds Sept. 24 – Moonshine Memories indicated that she would rather be in the starting gate for Saturday’s Chandelier, where she’ll stretch out to 1 1/16 miles for the first time. Regular rider Flavien Prat thinks the filly – by a classic sire from the stamina-influencing A.P. Indy line – will carry her speed.

“She’s a nice filly. And I think she’ll definitely run on,” Prat said.

The Chandelier is one of three Grade 1 events for 2-year-old fillies remaining prior to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies – with the other two being the Alcibiades at Keeneland and the Frizette at Belmont, both on Oct. 8. The Chandelier, a Win and You’re In automatic qualifier offering a fees-paid berth at the Breeders’ Cup, will go a long way toward clarifying the California home team. The upstart Piedi Bianchi, an Indiana-bred who was supplemented to the Debutante, was among those expected back for more against Moonshine Memories. The new challengers were expected to be led by Alluring Star, graduating to stakes company off a 2 1/2-length debut win Sept. 3 at Del Mar for Bob Baffert. The filly was an $850,000 purchase by the Baoma Corp. at the OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training.

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