Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: Cavale Doree coming from France

From his Florida home, owner Martin Schwartz watched with disappointment when Cavale Doree finished fifth in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly Racecourse in France on Oct. 2.

The Prix Marcel Boussac, France’s top race for 2-year-old fillies, was the first race on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe program. As the day continued, Schwartz noted few winners closing from well off the pace.

“After several races were run, there was a tremendous bias,” Schwartz said last weekend. “She’s a strong closer.”

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2016: See DRF’s top contenders

Schwartz retains high expectations for Cavale Doree and said the filly deserves another start in a major race this year. She is scheduled to be sent to Santa Anita for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 4.

Cavale Doree’s participation will require a $100,000 nomination for a lifetime eligibility to the Breeders’ Cup, but it’s an investment Schwartz said he plans to make.

“It’s a terrible financial decision, but I’ll probably do it,” he said. “I love running in the races there.”

Cavale Doree, trained by Christophe Ferland, won twice at France’s prestigious Deauville meeting in late July and August, taking a maiden race and the Group 3 Prix du Calvados for 2-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.

The BC Juvenile Fillies Turf is likely to have a full field. As many as 14 can start, and there are at least that many contenders throughout the United States and Europe. Pre-entries for the race will be announced Oct. 26.

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has several hopefuls, notably Brave Anna and Roly Poly, who were first and second in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at six furlongs on turf at Newmarket on Sept. 24.

:: Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Results, replays, charts, and more

The pre-entries list is expected to include Miss Southern Miss, an electrifying winner of Monday’s $102,070 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita. The Surfer Girl was run at a mile on turf – the same course and distance as the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Miss Southern Miss closed from last of 11 to win by 2 1/2 lengths. The margin would have been wider had jockey Kent Desormeaux urged his mount in the last 75 yards.

Miss Southern Miss races for Peter Cantrell of Dallas and trainer Keith Desormeaux. The filly lost three consecutive sprints on dirt at Santa Anita and Del Mar during the summer, leading to a change in surface.

“She had them beat at the eighth pole,” Keith Desormeaux said after the Surfer Girl. “She’s been so exciting to have in the barn. I thought we’d see that on the dirt. She’ll be a good horse on the turf.”