Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies: Sweet Reason gets two-turn lesson

ARCADIA, Calif. – Sweet Reason is heading into the Breeders’ Cup as the likely favorite for the $2 million Juvenile Fillies on Saturday at Santa Anita, but in her lone local work here Sunday, she dawdled around the track in 1:46.80 for a mile.

Trainer Leah Gyarmati said the work was designed more to familiarize Sweet Reason with having to negotiate two turns for the first time in the Juvenile Fillies than to get her fit.

“I just wanted her to get it in her head that she’s going two turns, not one turn,” Gyarmati said. “If she doesn’t have company in her works, she’s lackadaisical.

“She doesn’t need to get fit. She got plenty out of her last race,” Gyarmati said, referring to the eventful trip Sweet Reason had when finishing second in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes, her lone loss. “This was more to get her mentally ready.”

Sweet Reason is 2 for 3. After winning her debut at Saratoga, she captured the Grade 1 Spinaway there.

Gyarmati said she might let Sweet Reason “run down the lane a little” one morning this week, but that her serious drills were done.

Sweet Reason was one of four Juvenile Fillies prospects who worked Sunday at Santa Anita. Secret Compass and She’s a Tiger, the one-two finishers in the Grade 1 Chandelier, worked, as did Grade 2 Pocahontas winner Untapable.

Secret Compass went five furlongs in 1:00.20 in company and with jockey Martin Garcia aboard.

“That was a nice, steady work. She did everything right,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “That last race didn’t take anything out of her. She’ll be very competitive.”

Gary Stevens was aboard She’s a Tiger, who went an even four furlongs in 47.80 seconds for trainer Jeff Bonde. Untapable, trained by Steve Asmussen, was timed in 49 seconds for a half-mile under exercise rider Mike Callaham. Both She’s a Tiger and Untapable worked without company.