Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: G Laurie stands to move forward off Natalma effort
By the time G Laurie had a clear path in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes on Sept. 17 at Woodbine, the race was nearly over. She raced in traffic approaching the stretch and quickened noticeably when running room developed in the final furlong, eventually finishing third.
As frustrating as the result was, the outcome showed Graham Motion that G Laurie fits in the North American 2-year-old filly division, a point the filly can prove when she starts in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 4 at Keeneland.
In the Natalma, G Laurie was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Last Call, who earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf with the win.
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“I think she would have been right there,” Motion recalled earlier this week. “She didn’t have a great trip.
“I’m very happy with her. We’ll take a shot.”
Owned by Madaket Stable, G Laurie is expected to be part of a typically large field in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, which is run at a mile and brings together runners from throughout the United States and western Europe. The first three finishers of the Natalma, including runner-up Cairo Consort, add a Canadian element.
G Laurie, purchased for $80,000 as a yearling, won her debut in a maiden special weight race by six lengths at 1 1/16 miles at Colonial Downs in Virginia on Aug. 23 and showed considerable improvement to be third in her stakes debut in the Natalma.
“She’s been a pleasant surprise,” Motion said. “She hadn’t shown me that in the morning.”
The list of contenders in the Juvenile Fillies Turf will be better known after three important prep races are run this weekend – Friday’s Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket, England; the Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday at Keeneland; and Sunday’s Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita.
Commissioning, unbeaten in two starts for trainers John and Thady Gosden, will be strongly favored in the $605,000 Fillies’ Mile and has already earned a fees-paid berth to the Juvenile Fillies Turf by winning the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at seven furlongs on Sept. 23 at Newmarket. A win on Friday will enhance her status as a leading contender at Keeneland.
The maiden Towhead, second by a nose in the $500,000 Juvenile Fillies Stakes at a mile at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 3, drew the outside post in a field of 12 in the $350,000 Jessamine.
The Irish-bred filly Comanche Country will be favored to win her third consecutive start in the $200,000 Surfer Girl Stakes on the strength of a win in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 10.
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