Seven fillies enter turf sprint off a win

MIAMI - The Georgia Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Juvenile Filly Turf Dash drew a full field of 12 to go five furlongs on the turf, weather permitting, at Calder on Saturday. And there won't be a Georgia-bred in the house.

The $60,000 GTOBA Turf Dash is restricted to horses who are the progeny of GTOBA-nominated stallions. The Georgia-bred program program has become a fixture in south Florida over the past several years and presents golden opportunities for horses who might be a notch or two below the best in their divisions to earn stakes brackets and a big payday.

The Turf Dash has actually come up pretty strong, with seven of the 12 entrants coming in off a win, including the undefeated Lucky Too and My Friend Bren.

Lucky Too led throughout to post an impressive three-length victory while debuting under a $50,000 claiming tag on June 12. The speedy Lucky Too also has the second highest Tomlinson turf rating in the field.

My Friend Bren won an open maiden special weight sprint in her only start, leading throughout for a neck decision. My Friend Bren comes from a family of successful grass horses, including turf stakes winner Vinnie's Boy.

Sophisticatedevent is an improving filly who owns the best Tomlinson turf rating, 317, of any member of the field. A daughter of Wild Event, Sophisticatedevent needed three starts to finally win her maiden by nearly five widening lengths against $32,000 claiming opposition on July 8.

Dantrelle Light was a five-length winner of her last start, just the second outing for the daughter of Colony Light. Dantrelle Light is a full sister to Batavia Light, who was a Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed in Puerto Rico but never raced on grass.