Peace and War to miss BC with injury

The weekend defection of Alcibiades winner Peace and War from the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies brings the probable field to nine as pre-entries were being taken Monday.

Trainer Olly Young posted on the website of his Robins Farm training facility that he had been informed by Kentucky trainer Kellyn Gorder that Peace and War had a “a very slight tear of the tiny XYZ ligament at the base of her fetlock” and would miss the race.

Peace and War has been sent to WinStar Farm for rest and will then return to Young in Great Britain. Young, who has been training on his own for about a year and a half, had previously worked for Gorder, who was overseeing Peace and War since her come-from-the-clouds, 23-1 upset in the Alcibiades.

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Peace and War is likely to return to the United States next year with races such as the Ashland and Kentucky Oaks possible targets. The Grade 1 Alcibiades, which was contested over a sloppy, wet-fast track was Peace and War’s dirt debut. She had previously raced over both turf and synthetic courses in England.

Young’s Robins Farm is located on 50 acres in Chiddingfold, approximately 40 miles southwest of London.

Cavorting on target for BC

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confirmed Monday morning that he would pre-enter Cavorting in the Juvenile Fillies.

Cavorting turned in one of the most impressive performances by a 2-year-old filly this year while winning the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga over eventual Grade 1 winner Angela Renee. In her ensuing start, the Grade 1 Frizette, Cavorting was a bit keen and went to the lead in the mile race and then tired to finish last.

The Frizette was run over a very sloppy track, which in all probability affected her performance. Handicappers will have a difficult time assessing Cavorting’s chances in the Juvenile Fillies, which will almost surely be run over a fast track.

Cavorting is scheduled to work at Belmont Park later this week. Because she “always gallops strong,” according to McLaughlin, she will work only once between the Oct. 4 Frizette and the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup.

Cavorting is scheduled to ship to California this Sunday.

Light the City may race at Del Mar

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Monday morning that Light the City would skip the Juvenile Fillies and instead might race at the upcoming Del Mar meeting.

Light the City won her maiden over Polytrack at Del Mar this summer and returned Oct. 12 to win the Anoakia Stakes at Santa Anita. Both races were at six furlongs.

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There are two stakes for 2-year-old fillies at the Del Mar meet, the $100,000 Desi Arnaz at seven furlongs on Nov. 16 and the Grade 3, $150,000 Jimmy Durante at a mile on turf Nov. 29.

Seven work for Juvenile Fillies

Seven fillies worked this past weekend for the Juvenile Fillies, led by Conquest Eclipse and Cristina’s Journey, who both went five furlongs in 58.60 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday. Their works tied for the fastest of 83 works at the distance that morning.

Cristina’s Journey has a Win and You’re In berth in the Juvenile Fillies from her last start, the Grade 2 Pocahontas at Churchill Downs on Sept. 6. Trainer Dale Romans has worked her five times since that race.

Conquest Eclipse’s work was her second straight bullet for trainer Mark Casse since she finished a clear second behind Angela Renee in the Chandelier Stakes on Sept. 27.

On Saturday, Angela Renee had her first work since earning a fees-paid Win and You’re In berth into the Juvenile Fillies in the Chandelier. Angela Renee went a half-mile in 48.60.

Also on Saturday, Danette, the third-place finisher in the Chandelier, worked six furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:12.20 for trainer Keith Desormeaux.
On Sunday, the second- and third-place finishers in the Frizette worked over the Belmont training track. Runner-up Wonder Gal went six furlongs for trainer Leah Gyarmati in 1:16.24, and Feathered went a half in 50.23 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Last Friday, Alcibiades runner-up Top Decile worked a half in 48.60 at Churchill Downs for trainer Al Stall Jr.