Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: Abientot will draw in off also-eligible list
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Abientot, winner of the Grade 3 Matron Stakes at Aqueduct on Oct. 6, is expected to start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1 after the defection of the English group stakes winner Celandine.
Celandine, who won the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York Racecourse in England on Aug. 22, finished fifth behind BC Juvenile Fillies Turf hopeful Lake Victoria in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Sept. 28.
On Thursday, a stable spokesman for trainer Ed Walker said Celandine will not be sent to California.
The BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, run at a mile, drew 21 pre-entries earlier this week. Abientot, who races for Tracy Farmer and trainer Mark Casse, was not among the 14 selected runners for the race determined by a committee of racing officials. Abientot was listed as the first choice among seven also-eligible runners.
Casse confirmed on Thursday that Dylan Davis will ride Abientot. Davis has been the regular rider in all five of Abientot’s starts. A winner of 2 of 5 starts, Abientot closed from 11th in a field of 12 to win the Matron at six furlongs on turf by a neck.
The BC Juvenile Fillies Turf will be Abientot’s first start at a mile.
“It’s a tough, tough race,” Casse said.
Casse won the 2015 BC Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland with Catch a Glimpse.
Casse also has Vixen, the runner-up in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine on Sept. 14, pointed for next week’s BC Juvenile Fillies Turf. She was granted a berth by the committee.
The stable has one other filly on the also-eligible list in Nitrogen, who was third in the Natalma.
The absence of Celandine leaves Correto as the next filly who will gain a berth should another runner be withdrawn. Trained in Maryland by Graham Motion, Correto finished third to BC Juvenile Fillies Turf hopefully Scythian in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes at Aqueduct on Oct. 6.
On Thursday, Correto breezed a half-mile in 49.60 seconds at the Fair Hills training center in Maryland. Motion said Correto is scheduled to be flown to California this weekend.
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