Jovanna stands out in Juvenile Fillies

Jovanna, who crushed seven other New York-bred 2-year-old fillies in her career debut on Labor Day at Saratoga, figures to be a short-priced favorite in the $50,000 Finger Lakes Juvenile Fillies.

Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., Jovanna earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure for her victory over maidens, a number that's 20 points higher than any of her eight rivals in the six-furlong Juvenile Fillies has ever run.

She's also a half-sister to Bella Dorato, who finished third in this race in 2005, and a daughter of Minardi, a two-time Group 1 winner in Europe at 2.

Play N Hooky won by almost as wide a margin as Jovanna when she romped by more than 10 lengths in her career debut, but she has not raced in 2 1/2 months since then. Although she has been working well at her Belmont Park base for trainer John Parisella, Play N Hooky would have to improve substantially upon her 53 Beyer to threaten Jovanna.

One other intriguing filly is Oriental Bella, a first-time starter. A daughter of Cape Town, who won the Grade 3 Kentucky Jockey Club at 2, Oriental Bella comes into the race off a pair of bullet five-furlong works over the local track. Oriental Bella also has the best Tomlinson rating for wet surfaces with a 404, a factor that could come into play with the likelihood of an off track Saturday.