Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: O'Brien has four contenders
A waiting game is about to begin for some owners and trainers with hopefuls for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
There are likely to be approximately 20 fillies pre-entered for the one-mile race next week, with a maximum of 14 allowed to start. When the list of pre-entries is announced next Wednesday, several runners will be on an also-eligible list, waiting to see if there are defections from the list of invited runners before entries are taken Oct. 31.
Four leading contenders are guaranteed spots for winning major stakes through the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program: Intricately in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh in Ireland on Sept. 11, Victory to Victory in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine on Sept. 18, Spain Burg from the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket in England on Sept. 23, and La Coronel from the Grade 3 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 12.
Intricately is trained by first-year trainer Joseph O’Brien, a former jockey and the son of the famous Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien. Between them, the O’Briens could have as many as five runners. International racing officials said Aidan O’Brien is considering four fillies – Brave Anna and Roly Poly, the first two finishers of the Grade 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Sept. 24, and Rhododendron and Hydrangea, who were first and second in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket on Oct. 7.
If Aidan O’Brien does not pre-enter all of those runners, the chances of a start increase for fillies such as Madam Dancealot, Majestic Gale, or Partyinthepaddock.
Partyinthepaddock is only a maiden-race winner, which hurts her chances compared to runners who have won or placed in major stakes. Trainer Carla Gaines said the $100,000 Juvenile Turf Sprint on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Nov. 5 is an alternative but is far from her first choice.
Majestic Gale won the minor Happy Ticket Stakes at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 10 but was ninth in the Jessamine Stakes. Trainer Joe Sharp said last weekend that Majestic Gale deserves a chance in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Madam Dancealot has been pointed to the Juvenile Fillies Turf since she was purchased privately for approximately $291,000 at a sale in Ireland last month on behalf of the Slam Dunk Racing partnership.
Now trained by Richard Baltas, Madam Dancealot arrived in Southern California last week. She won the Group 3 Dick Poole Stakes at six furlongs at Salisbury in England on Sept. 1 in her most recent start.
“She looks very fit,” Baltas said on Tuesday.
The focus now is on gaining a spot in the starting gate if the race proves as popular as it has in past years.
“I think she has the credentials over some of those horses,” Baltas said.