Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: Ultima D coming into her own

Ultima D won for the first time in her fourth career start in the $348,000 Juvenile Fillies Stakes on Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs. The win changed the filly, trainer Wesley Ward said Wednesday.

“The last race put a lightbulb on her,” Ward said.

The Juvenile Fillies Stakes was Ultima D’s stakes debut and her final prep race before a scheduled start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 3 at Del Mar. The ever-optimistic Ward said he has seen a change in Ultima D in recent weeks that has left him expecting a winning race against an international field in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2017: See DRF’s top contenders

“Of any horse I’ve brought to the Breeders’ Cup, she’s breezing unbelievably,” he said.

Last Sunday, Ultima D breezed five furlongs on turf in 1:02.80 at Keeneland. The time was the fastest of six works at the distance and was preceded by a five-furlong breeze in 1:03.60 on turf Oct. 3 at Keeneland.

“They’re winning works,” he said. “They’re not just good works. You can see that special wow factor. She’s got it.”

Ultima D, owned by the For the People partnership, was fifth and second in maiden races on dirt at Keeneland and the all-weather surface at Woodbine in the spring. By Scat Daddy, Ultima D finished second in her turf debut in a maiden race July 29 at Saratoga.

In the Juvenile Fillies Stakes at seven furlongs at Kentucky Downs, Ultima D led throughout to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths over Best Performance, another contender for the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Ward said he likes a two-month break between starts for Ultima D. He followed a similar plan in the past with Hootenanny, who won the BC Juvenile Turf in 2014, and Sunset Glow, who was second in the Juvenile Fillies Turf the same year.

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

“She’s growing into herself,” Ward said of Ultima D. “She’s a big filly. To let her fill into her frame, I gave her the extra time.”

The Juvenile Fillies Turf field is led by Rushing Fall, the impressive winner of the Grade 3 Jessamine Stakes on Oct. 11 at Keeneland for trainer Chad Brown, and the Irish-based fillies Clemmie and Happily, both Group 1 winners for trainer Aidan O’Brien.

The field will not include Terra’s Angel, who won the La Senorita Stakes on Oct. 14 at Retama Park. Co-owner Terry Eoff said earlier this week that Terra’s Angel will have her next start at Remington Park.

:: Breeders' Cup PP packages: Get PPs, betting strategies, DRF+ Pro access, and more