Rainha Da Bateria earns way into Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Rainha Da Bateria earned an expenses-paid berth in the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with a win in the Grade 3 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland on Wednesday. The Jessamine was the last Win and You’re In race for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and trainer Graham Motion said Rainha Da Bateria would be shipped from Keeneland to Santa Anita next week to begin final preparations for the one-mile race Oct. 31.

Rainha Da Bateria won her debut going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga and then finished fourth in the $100,000 P.G. Johnson, won by Partisan Politics, who is being pointed to the Juvenile Fillies Turf by trainer Chad Brown.

“She had a brutal trip in the P.G. Johnson,” said Motion. “I was very pleased with her race yesterday and feel that we should continue on with her.”

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With Joel Rosario aboard, Rainha Da Bateria trailed the field early while Cool Comfort was carving out extremely fast fractions in the 1 1/16-mile Jessamine. Rainha Da Bateria finished full of run to beat Quality Rocks by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:43.85. Motion seemed perplexed by the 68 Beyer Speed Figure she received.

“The turf was pretty soft, and I am a bit surprised her Beyer came in so low,” said Motion. “It was still a good race for her, and we feel she deserves a chance in the Breeders’ Cup.”

The 84 Beyer Speed Figure that Her Emmynency received for her impressive win in the $100,000 Surfer Girl last Sunday at Santa Anita is the top figure among the likely starters in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. The possible favorite, Sunset Glow, earned an 83 for her win over Her Emmynency in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, which was contested over Polytrack.

Breeders’ Cup officials still haven’t received final confirmation on which horses from Europe will be running in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

There is speculation that Aidan O’Brien is considering Qualify for the race. She certainly fits the profile. She isn’t the best 2-year-old filly in his stable, but she is coming off a three-length win going seven furlongs in the Group 3 C.L. & M.F. Weld Park Stakes at The Curragh on Sept. 28.

O’Brien thought highly enough of her to give her a shot in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud, a Win and You’re In Race, and she finished sixth.

Horses based in Europe have won the last two renewals of the Juvenile Fillies Turf: Chriselliam last year and Flotilla in 2012.