Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf
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Breeders' Cup Breakdown
The Filly & Mare Turf
1 3/8 miles(T); $2 million; 3up(f&m); 1:55pm Saturday
The History
Outstanding turf distaffers such as Soaring Softly, who won the inaugural running in 1999 and 2001 heroine Banks Hill have made this a star-studded event. Last year, the great Ouija Board became just the seventh horse in the history of the Breeders’ Cup to win an event twice, having taken the 2004 renewal as well.
Favorites: 4 for 8 (50%); Average Win Price: $14.03
The Best
California’s best chance at a Breeders’ Cup win this year may just be Nashoba’s Key, trained by Carla Gaines. A perfect 7 for 7, she won her first three against Cal-breds on the grass before winning the G2 Milady, G1 Vanity and G2 Clement Hirsch on Polytrack. Last out, she ran down a loose-on-the-lead Citronnade in the G1 Yellow Ribbon.
Wait a While will look to regain some lost luster with win here. She hasn’t been the same since finishing fourth as the second choice behind Ouija Board in last year’s running, winning just two of her five starts this year. Last out in the G1 Flower Bowl, she was a disappointing third leading her connections to say she didn’t care for the Belmont turf course. One of two bullets being fired in here by trainer Todd Pletcher.
The other is the venerable Honey Ryder. A six-year-old mare that’s won 13 of 32 starts for over $2.3 million, she’s still looking for that win that can proclaim her one of the best turf distaffers ever. Earlier this season, she finished second to English Channel and the boys in the G1 United Nations at Monmouth.
Passage of Time ships in from Europe coming off a third place finish in the G1 Prix Vermeille last out in France. Last season, she won a G1 against Soldier of Fortune and the rest of the boys in a solid performance. She’s a rare Euro-import that doesn’t come from that far off the pace.
The Rest
All My Loving ships over from Europe still eligible for an entry level allowance contest. Argentina still hasn’t won a race in the U.S. in over 18 months but was second in the G1 Diana two back. Arravale was a dual G1 winner last year but is winless in four starts this season. Danzon won a G3 on Polytrack last out and was third against the boys in a G1 earlier this year. Lahudood upset the Flower Bowl at over 21-1 last out under a heady, rail skimming ride. Simply Perfect is a multiple G1 winning three-year-old filly that may have some distance limitations. Timarwa won a G3 last out over the pond but could muster up nothing more than a pair of fourth place finishes in G1’s earlier this season.
The Scenario Wait a While may actually find herself on the lead, with All My Loving, Argentina, Arravale, Lahudood, Nashoba’s Key, Passage of Time, Simply Perfect and Timarwa all vying for a spot in behind her. Danzon and Honey Ryder will be running late.
The Strategy This looks like it could be a pretty chalky affair. If you’re playing multi-race exotics, you obviously must play the race. If you don’t, this may be a great time to have lunch.
The Bomb Despite her win in the Flower Bowl, Lahudood figures to get overlooked once again. Her owner always felt she was the best turf filly he sent to the U.S. this year. He may be right.