Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf: Undefeated U.S. duo stands out

The 2-year-old fillies Concrete Rose and Newspaperofrecord have made up for a lack of experience this year with identical unbeaten records in two races.

Each won a maiden race at Saratoga a day apart in August before being sent in different directions for their first start in stakes. Newspaperofrecord won the Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes at Belmont Park on Sept. 30. Concrete Rose won the Grade 2 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 10.

Those races have provided a foundation for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2. Concrete Rose, trained by Rusty Arnold, and Newspaperofrecord, trained by Chad Brown, represent two of the best chances for a North American-based winner in the one-mile race.

Arnold expressed confidence on Wednesday in Concrete Rose’s condition. Concrete Rose impressed him by rallying wide from well off the pace to win a maiden race at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf despite lugging in through the stretch. In the Jessamine, at 1 1/16 miles, Concrete Rose stalked the pace and pulled away to win by a convincing three lengths.

“She’s come a long way,” Arnold said. “She did nothing right and won, and she did everything right and won.

“I love that she’s 2 for 2. She’s got a great mind on her. She has no issues in the gate and no issues in the paddock.”

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At the same time, Arnold respects Newspaperofrecord. Brown has won the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf four times, including the last two runnings.

“Chad is hard to beat,” Arnold said. “He does a great job. He’s been there and he’s done it.”

There were 19 fillies pre-entered for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Of the 14 in the main body of the race, there are seven based with North American stables and seven from Europe.

Aside from Concrete Rose and Newspaperofrecord, the North American-based fillies are Belle Laura, My Gal Betty, Pakhet, Summering, and Varenka. The European contingent is led by Just Wonderful, a Kentucky-bred filly by Dansili who won the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket, England, on Sept. 28.

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Just Wonderful is trained by Aidan O’Brien, who has never won the Juvenile Fillies Turf. O’Brien has also pre-entered So Perfect, who has a first preference for the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint. Other European-based runners pre-entered for the Juvenile Fillies Turf are East, Hermosa, La Pelosa, Lily’s Candle, and The Mackem Bullet.

La Pelosa won the Group 1 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine in September, and has been based in England with trainer Charlie Appleby since that race.

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There are five fillies on the also-eligible list, all based in North America. Should the O’Brien team choose to run So Perfect in the Juvenile Fillies Turf Sprint, Stellar Agent, trained by Jorge Abreu, would gain a berth in the field. Stellar Agent was third in the Miss Grillo Stakes.

The other fillies on the also-eligible list, in order of preference, are Lady Prancealot, Pivottina, Princess Carolina, and Winning Envelope.