Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: My Conquestadory earns her spot against the boys

There were two rich races for juvenile fillies on turf on Saturday, but the most important development of the day for the division came out of a race that ostensibly was for juvenile males.

My Conquestadory, making her first career start, thumped males in winning the Grade 2, $205,544 Summer Stakes at a mile on firm turf by 3 1/4 lengths at Woodbine on Saturday, a race that is a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. By top turf runner Artie Schiller and trained by Mark Casse, My Conquestadory stalked the early pace, came wide into the stretch, and drew clear to win with something left as the fourth betting choice. She is a homebred for Conquest Stable and the manner in which she won race, racing professionally despite making her debut, suggests she has the ability to successfully step into the international scene of the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf and hold her own.

[BREEDERS’ CUP 2013: See DRF’s top contenders]

Two races earlier at Woodbine, trainer Roger Attfield sent out Llanarmon to win her maiden in the Grade 2, $217,907 Natalma Stakes at a mile on turf. It was the second career start for the daughter of Sky Pulpit and affirms once again, if anyone needed a reminder, of how good Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Attfield is. Llanarmon had been third in her debut, to debuting Appreciating, on Aug. 23 at Woodbine, having traffic problems early before rallying strongly late.

Casse had two starters in the Natalma, with second-choice Appreciating finishing third, a neck behind Spanish Flower, who was beaten three-quarters of a length. His other starter, Spring Likeacobra, finished seventh of eight runners. Favored Ready to Act had a clear lead in midstretch when she veered sharply to the inside and unseated her rider, Rajiv Maragh.

In the $150,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Turf Fillies Stakes at seven furlongs on firm turf, the powerful Ken and Sarah Ramsey Stable’s homebred Lien On Kitten remained undefeated in two starts for trainer Wayne Catalano with a 1 1/2-length victory over J J Julep after circling the field and coming from far back as the favorite. The daughter of Kitten’s Joy looks like she wants more ground. She had won her debut at a mile and was shortening up. The Ramseys figure to have several strong contenders in the Juvenile Fillies.

The next major race in the division is the Grade 3 Miss Grillo Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park on October 6. On the same day, at Breeders’ Cup host site Santa Anita, the Surfer Girl Stakes at one mile on turf will be contested.