Just The Judge targets E.P. Taylor as BC Filly and Mare Turf prep

European filly Just The Judge’s time of laying low has passed. Unraced for two months since shipping to America and finishing third Aug. 16 in the Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington, she is set to return to competition Sunday in the Grade 1, $500,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine.

That could be just the beginning of a busy couple of weeks. Her trainer, Charles Hills, posted on his website: “If she runs well, she will stay in Canada and then ship down to California to run in the Breeders’ Cup.”

She would go Nov. 1 in the BC Filly and Mare Turf.

Such a quick turnaround – 13 days – is rare for a horse being pointed for the Breeders’ Cup, but given the break she received after the Beverly D., she is fresher than most. She also is a filly who has run well on short rest – albeit a bit longer than 13 days – having won the Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh last year after racing 19 days earlier at Newmarket.

She also has another important date later this year – this time in the sales arena, where she will be sold during the Tattersalls December sale, which, somewhat contrary to its name, actually begins Nov. 24 and continues through Dec. 4.

Both the E.P. Taylor and the BC Filly and Mare Turf are contested at 1 1/4 miles, the maximum distance she has raced in her 12-race career. Just The Judge appears to be the only competitor in the E.P. Taylor who might return in the Breeders’ Cup.

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Deceptive Vision, despite being a Win and You’re In challenge race winner, is expected to bypass the Filly and Mare Turf, with her Woodbine-based connections opting for a local start in the E.P. Taylor as an alternative to the Breeders’ Cup.

The Filly and Mare Turf largely is expected to feature older mares, led by defending champion Dank, who reportedly is over lameness she experienced over the summer and training forwardly for her return, and the top U.S. hope Stephanie’s Kitten, who won the Flower Bowl Invitational in her final Breeders’ Cup tune-up.

Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup winner Crown Queen is one of the few U.S.-based 3-year-old fillies being considered for the race, though her connections still are weighing whether to run her. Trainer Bill Mott texted Wednesday that her participation status still is to be determined.

The 4-year-old Emollient, another Mott trainee who won the Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita on Sept. 27, remains on target to run in the Filly and Mare Turf.