Fatale Bere makes U.S. debut in Surfer Girl Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Fatale Bere, who starts in the United States for the first time in Monday’s $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita, left France in early September following a third-place finish in a minor stakes.

Even in defeat, Fatale Bere’s reputation has improved. Fatale Bere was beaten in her last start by Mission Impassible, who was third in the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac on Oct. 1, France’s top race for 2-year-old fillies.

New trainer Leonard Powell is hopeful Fatale Bere can quickly develop into an equally important 2-year-old filly in this country.

“She’s been doing very well since she got here,” Powell said. “I’m very optimistic.”

Fatale Bere is part of a competitive field in the Surfer Girl, which could produce a runner or two for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 3. The race drew a field of 14, but will have a safety limit of 12 starters.

The BC Juvenile Fillies Turf is in the back of Powell’s mind – to an extent.

“First, let’s see how she runs,” he said.

The Surfer Girl field includes One Fast Broad and Multiplayer, who were second and third in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf on Sept. 4, and Retro, the impressive winner of a maiden race at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 4.

KEY CONTENDERS

Fatale Bere, by Pedro the Great
N/A

◗ Fatale Bere won her first two starts in turf sprints at minor tracks in France in July and August. In the Criterium de l’Ouest at a mile on Sept. 2, Fatale Bere was beaten four lengths by Mission Impassible after closing from the back of the field in the final quarter-mile.

◗ Powell expects Fatale Bere to be closer to the pace Monday.

“I think she’ll be in the thick of things,” he said.

Retro, by Giant’s Causeway
Beyer: 61

◗ Retro was well regarded in her debut, closing from fifth in a field of 10 to win by a neck as the 2-1 favorite. Retro will need a clean trip under Flavien Prat to be a factor in the Surfer Girl, and should be helped if Cute Knows Cute and Medaglia Gold set a quick pace.

One Fast Broad, by Decarchy
Beyers: 58-36

◗ One Fast Broad was beaten a half-length at 46-1 in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf in her turf and two-turn debut. One Fast Broad broke from the outside of 14 in that field, and is drawn in post 10 for this race. Corey Nakatani retains the mount.

“Hopefully, Corey can tuck in and we’ll see where we can go from there,” owner and trainer Mick Ruis said. “She’ll be much fitter than she was.”