European contingent strong in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

History suggests the foreign colts may be more dangerous than the fillies in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup races for 2-year-olds on turf at Santa Anita. But a glance at this year’s runners leaves the impression the trend could shift this year.

The $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf was first run in 2007, followed a year later by the addition of the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf. Of the nine winners of the Juvenile Turf, seven made their last start in Europe, including one for American trainer Wesley Ward.

Of the eight winners of the Juvenile Fillies Turf, the trend is opposite. Six winners had their preceding start in North America.

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This year, the European runners for the Juvenile Fillies Turf seem to be a strong bunch. Of the 14 runners in the body of the field, six had their last start in Europe – the stakes winners Cavale Doree, Intricately, Madam Dancealot, Roly Poly, and Spain Burg, and the Group 1 runner-up Hydrangea.

There are three international shippers for the Juvenile Turf – Intelligence Cross and Lancaster Bomber, who are trained by Aidan O’Brien, and Rodaini.

O’Brien leads all trainers with three wins in the Juvenile Turf, including last year’s running at Keeneland with Hit It a Bomb. Typical of past seasons, O’Brien does not have his leading 2-year-olds in the BC Juvenile Turf, but he has brought a fascinating prospect in Lancaster Bomber.

By War Front, Lancaster Bomber beat maidens in August and spent the next two months finishing behind Churchill in three group stakes. Churchill is O’Brien’s leading hope for the 3-year-old European classics in 2017. Lancaster Bomber set the pace and finished fourth and fifth in his first two starts behind Churchill, and then was second by 1 1/4 lengths to Churchill in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes on Oct. 8 at Newmarket Racecourse in England.

Intelligence Cross won the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes at six furlongs on turf at The Curragh in Ireland in August and was a quiet fourth in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at six furlongs on turf Sept. 24 at Newmarket. He has yet to race beyond six furlongs.

Rodaini is the first Breeders’ Cup starter for trainer Simon Crisford, who previously worked as a racing manager for Godolphin Racing. Crisford began training in 2015.

Rodaini, a Kentucky-bred by Exchange Rate, won his first four starts, from May to early September, including the minor Flying Scotsman Stakes at seven furlongs on turf Sept. 9 at Doncaster. He was ninth of 10 in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket on Oct. 8. He had a dreadful trip, lacking room and stumbling in the final quarter-mile. He is better than that race indicates.

O’Brien had a stellar autumn with 2-year-olds and runs Hydrangea and Roly Poly in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. However, he may not have the best Juvenile Fillies prospect in his family. His 23-year-old son, Joseph, in his first year of training, runs Intricately, winner of the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh on Sept. 11.

In that race, Intricately finished a nose in front of Hydrangea, who was 1 3/4 lengths in front of Rhododendron. Rhododendron and Hydrangea, trained by Aidan O’Brien, were first and second in the Grade 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket on Oct. 7. Rhododendron is the favorite for the English 1000 Guineas next May.

The one mile of the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf will be the farthest Roly Poly has raced. A winner of 3 of 7 starts, all in England and Ireland, Roly Poly won the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at six furlongs at Newmarket in July and was beaten a nose by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Brave Anna in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at six furlongs at Newmarket on Sept. 24.

Cavale Doree, trained by Christophe Ferland, won twice at the prestigious Deauville summer meeting in France, taking a maiden race in July and the Group 3 Prix du Calvados at seven furlongs Aug. 20. She was fifth of 11 in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly on Oct. 2. Owner Martin Schwartz said earlier this month that Cavale Doree’s late-running style was compromised by a track profile that favored horses racing near the front that day.

Spain Burg and Madam Dancealot have arrived in the United States on one-way tickets. Spain Burg, winner of the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on Sept. 23, was bought for $1.68 million at auction earlier this month by Dean Reeves. The filly has a sharp turn of foot that led to four wins in her first five starts.

Madam Dancealot, bought for $291,000 by Slam Dunk Racing last month, must improve to win the Juvenile Fillies Turf. She won the Group 3 Dick Poole Stakes at six furlongs Sept. 1 at Salisbury, England, and races at a mile for the first time Friday.