Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: Weekend preps will bring field into focus
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The field for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies remains in flux and only features a handful of contenders, but the picture is expected to become clearer after three prep races this week at Keeneland, Belmont Park, and Santa Anita.
In the Grade 1 Alcibiades on Friday at Keeneland, all eyes will be on Summer Starlet, who will stretch out to 1 1/16 miles in her third career start after a commanding victory in the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga. She earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure in that 4 3/4-length score, making her the daunting early favorite in the Juvenile Fillies for trainer Steve Asmussen.
While it would be far from surprising to see Summer Starlet take care of business in Kentucky, several outside contenders would make an immediate case for the Breeders’ Cup if they were to upset the favorite or finish close behind her.
Emphatic, an unbeaten filly trained by Brendan Walsh, has already been tested around two turns, winning the $100,000 Sorority at Monmouth Park by 5 1/4 lengths. The other six fillies in the field won their last starts, including five last-out maiden winners.
Forever Carina, a two-length debut winner at Saratoga last month, will ship to Kentucky for Chad Brown, while her stablemate Libby Lloyd will stay home for the Grade 1 Frizette on Saturday at Belmont.
Unlike its counterparts in Kentucky and California, the Frizette is not a Win and You’re In race and is instead a part of the Dirt Dozen series. The Frizette winner will be awarded a $30,000 credit for starting fees in the Juvenile Fillies, while the second- and third-place finishers will receive $15,000 and $7,500.
In a relatively light field in New York, which does not feature a stakes winner in open company, Libby Lloyd’s 10-length debut victory at Saratoga in August stands out. She will stretch out to a mile for the first time, as will all but one in the field of seven fillies.
Velora, winner of the $200,000 Seeking the Ante against New York-breds, will step into open company for Linda Rice.
Rum Twist improved in her third maiden try at Saratoga in September, earning a 78 Beyer in a 5 3/4-length rout.
On the West Coast, trainer Bob Baffert has three of the six fillies entered in the Grade 2 Oak Leaf, where they will make their route debuts at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday. Holmby, winner of the Grade 3 Sorrento, finished a distant third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante last time out, while Quattro Passi and Deluge are coming off maiden victories.
Baffert also trains Miss Monica, who was not entered in the Oak Leaf after romping home by 6 1/4 lengths in the Del Mar Debutante. She has earned matching 87 Beyers in her two career starts.
Manuka Honey, a filly trained by Brian Lynch, made her case for the Juvenile Fillies when she rallied to win the Grade 3 Pocahontas at Churchill Downs by two lengths in September. Scarlett Begonia, the runner-up in that race, also finished third in the Grade 3 Adirondack at Saratoga.
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