A coming out party

ARCADIA, Calif. - may have been the most impressive winner on Breeders' Cup Day at Belmont Park last October.

In the Juvenile Fillies, she was pressured for the first six furlongs, pulled clear from the rest of the field in early stretch, and held off a late run from Wild Fit to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

When she makes her 2006 debut in Monday's $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita, she will not have to put forth that much effort.

"It's a coming out party and she's had a lengthy break. I think she'll do fine," trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. "You like to believe you're okay."

The Grade 2 Santa Ynez is run over seven furlongs.

Folklore is a standout in a field of six 3-year-old fillies, and her opponents seem overmatched. Folklore is the only stakes winner in the field, she has won three major stakes, and faces a field that includes only one other filly that has placed in a stakes. Talullah Lula was third in the Sharp Cat Stakes at Hollywood Park on Nov. 27.

The other four entrants - Dance Daily, Lake Como, My Little Monkey, and Trick's Pic - would need to improve dramatically to threaten Folklore or Talullah Lula.

Dance Daily, coupled with Folklore, has been well-beaten in five stakes. Lake Como's only win came in a maiden claimer. My Little Money was fifth in the Sharp Cat.

Other than Folklore, Trick's Pic is the only filly coming off a win. Trained by Patrick Biancone, Trick's Pic was unplaced in two stakes in Kentucky in the fall, then won an optional claimer over 6 1/2 furlongs here on Dec. 28.

Folklore has had three workouts since she returned to serious training. Owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, Folklore has won 4 of 7 starts and $927,500. She has never been worse than second.

Aside from the BC Juvenile Fillies, she won the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes over six furlongs at Saratoga in July and the Grade 1 Matron Stakes over a mile by 14 lengths at Belmont Park in September.

Folklore has won on the lead or by stalking the pace. Edgar Prado, who was aboard for wins in the Matron and Breeders' Cup, is likely to have her near the front.

The lack of recent workouts is not a concern to Lukas, who said that Folklore has had aggressive gallops each day.

"She puts a lot into her mornings," Lukas said. "I wish she'd back up a little on that, but she loves to do it."