Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: Four preps should help shape field

This is the last week of major preps for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and by the end of the day next Wednesday, the shape of the race largely will be complete, at least in the minds of the owners of contenders, though those intentions may not be made public for some time.

On Friday, the Grade 1 Alcibiades at 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack is a Win and You’re In for the Juvenile Fillies, but practically speaking, it is a Win and You’re In for the Juvenile Fillies Turf for My Conquestadory should she run well. A daughter of Artie Schiller, My Conquestadory beat boys in taking her career debut in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes at a mile on turf Sept. 14 at Woodbine, and trainer Mark Casse indicated that he is pointing the talented filly to the Juvenile Fillies Turf, which is a flat mile on turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, and not for the Juvenile Fillies, though that race is worth $1 million more.

At Belmont Park on Sunday, the Grade 3 Miss Grillo Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf is expected to feature Ramsey Stable’s homebred Granny Mc’s Kitten, winner of the P.G. Johnson Stakes on turf at Saratoga in her second career start. She is one of two Ramsey homebreds among the top 10 candidates in the division, the other being Lien on Kitten, winner of the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 16. Both are daughters of Ramsey Farm stallion Kitten’s Joy.

On the opposite end of the country on Sunday at Santa Anita, host site of the Breeders’ Cup, the Surfer Girl Stakes at a mile on turf will be contested and should draw the top West Coast-based filly, the Irish-bred Clenor. A daughter of Oratorio, Clenor has won both of her starts since being imported from her native country and last out won the Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf.

On Oct. 9, the Jessamine at Keeneland is a Win and You’re In for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and that race should help solidify the starting field for the Breeders’ Cup, though there will be an almost three-week wait till the event itself, and 12 days from that race till the Breeders’ Cup pre-entry date of Oct. 21.