Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: No clear favorite has emerged

Unlike a year ago, when Songbird was beginning to exert her dominance in the 2-year-old filly division, this season’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies is wide open with six weeks remaining before the race.

The $2 million Juvenile Fillies will be run at Santa Anita on Nov. 5. Currently, Union Strike, who used a strong late run to upset the Del Mar Debutante at 7-1, is the leading West Coast contender for the 1 1/16-mile race. Sweet Loretta and Pretty City Dancer, who dead-heated for first in the Spinaway, and Adirondack winner Nonna Mela look best in the East.

Union Strike, conditioned by rookie trainer Shelbe Ruis, and Sweet Loretta, trained by Todd Pletcher, are likely to go directly to the Juvenile Fillies. Trainer Mark Casse has said the Alcibiades at Keeneland on Oct. 7 may be next for Pretty City Dancer. Nonna Mela, also trained by Pletcher, is being considered for either the Alcibiades or the Oct. 8 Frizette at Belmont Park.

Two of the five Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup Challenge races for the division have been run. Sweet Loretta and Pretty City Dancer are each guaranteed a fees-paid berth in the Juvenile Fillies for their Spinaway wins.

Daddys Lil Darling, trained by Ken McPeek, also is in after winning the Pocahontas at Churchill Downs last Saturday. McPeek has said he may run Daddys Lil Darling back in the Alcibiades or go straight to the Breeders’ Cup.

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The remaining three Win and You’re In races are the Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1, the Alcibiades, and the Frizette.

Champagne Room can improve

Champagne Room’s runner-up effort in her career debut at Del Mar was good enough to make her the 6-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Sorrento in her next start despite her still being a maiden. She rallied from just off the pace to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

Champagne Room has since finished third in the Del Mar Debutante, beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Union Strike and a nose for second by American Pharoah’s full sister, American Cleopatra.

While Champagne Room’s Debutante effort was good, trainer Peter Eurton does not think she ran her best race. He is looking for improvement when she stretches out around two turns in the Grade 1 Chandelier.

“I think there was a lot of anxiety in the Debutante,” Eurton said. “It was her third race in seven weeks, and even though she was fine physically, she may not have rebounded mentally from her win in the Sorrento.”

Eurton said Champagne Room was rearing at the gate prior to the start, and that he has since “given her a lot of time at the gate, a lot of time with the pony.” He breezed her a half-mile in 48.20 seconds last Saturday.

“She was very relaxed,” Eurton said. “She’s looking good, has good weight on her. We’re hoping to rebound in the Chandelier.”

Tough choice for Cherry Lodge

Cherry Lodge’s debut victory Aug. 7 at Saratoga was one of the most impressive by a 2-year-old filly this year, and the 89 Beyer Speed Figure she was given is the highest of any filly under consideration for the Juvenile Fillies.

But Cherry Lodge’s maiden win came at 5 1/2 furlongs, and she weakened to third, beaten 5 3/4 lengths, in the seven-furlong Spinaway after pressing the early pace. Pletcher must decide whether to stretch her out to a mile in the Grade 1 Frizette or cut back to six furlongs in the Grade 3 Matron on Oct. 16.

“The thing with her is she’s very fast,” Pletcher said. “What we need to do is get her to relax a little bit. I think depending on how her next couple of works go will determine that. If we decide to go the Matron route, then we probably would not go the Breeders’ Cup route.”

– additional reporting by David Grening