Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
October 24, 2008
Oak Tree at Santa Anita Race 4
1 Mile Turf
2-year Old Fillies
Post Time: 4:15 PM ET ESPN2

Renda (Medaglia d'Oro - Ten Carats by Capote) comes into this race off of two straight stakes wins. She won the Junior Champion Stakes at a mile at Monmouth on August 23 by 7 lengths, and then took the Brave Raj Stakes by 5 lengths at 1 mile and 70 yards at Calder on September 27. She also broke her maiden at first asking by 5 lengths at Calder on May 31. In between that win and the Junior Champion Stakes, she was 5th in the Debutante (gr. III) at Churchill Downs on June 28, and 5th in the Schuylerville at Saratoga on July 23. She has never raced on the turf, but looked good galloping over the Santa Anita course on October 22. Renda was a bargain, selling for just $11,000 as a yearling. She has already earned $107,093.

The morning-line favorite for this one is Laragh (Tapit - Rose of Summer by El Prado (IRE)), by freshman sire Tapit, who scored a gate-to-wire victory in the JP Morgan Chase Jessamine Stakes at a mile and a sixteenth on the firm Keeneland turf on October 9. In her previous turf start, she finished 5th in the Natalma Stakes (Can-III) on the soft Woodbine turf on September 14. The winner of that race was C Karma (Exchange Rate - C B Carm by Slick). In her first start, Laragh finished 6th on the Woodbine Polytrack on July 10, behind Singing Rose (C Karma was 2nd in that one). Her maiden win came on August 9 on the Woodbine Polytrack. Laragh had a 4 furlong work on the Keeneland Polytrack in preparation for this one, recording a time of :47.60. She was full of energy before and during that work.

As mentioned above, C Karma has finished in front of Laragh twice, including when she won the Natalma Stakes (Can-III). C Karma previously finished 3rd in the Ontario Debutante Stakes on August 16 on the Woodbine Polytrack. Her maiden win came in her third start on August 2 on the Woodbine Polytrack.

Maram (Sahm - American Dreamer by Quest for Fame (GB)), Freedom Rings (Proud Citizen - Dana's Wedding by Compliance), and Consequence (El Prado (IRE) - Educated Risk by Mr. Prospector) met on the yielding Belmont turf in the Miss Grillo Stakes. Maram won that one with Freedom Rings finishing 2nd, Consequence, who was the favorite, finished 4th after a wide tripe. Maram had previously broken her maiden in her debut on the Saratoga turf on August 25, the surface was firm that day. Maram has had one work since her victory in the Miss Grillo. Freedom Rings, who is still a maiden, had previously finished 2nd in the Fairway Stakes on a wet fast Delaware track (that race was originally scheduled for the turf). In her debut on August 7 on the Saratoga turf, she was 3rd. Freedom Rings has had 2 works since the Miss Grillo. Consequence, who is a daughter of millionaire Educated Risk, won her only other start, a 5.5 furlong maiden race on the Saratoga turf on August 20. Consequence had a bullet work (4 furlongs in :46, fastest of 42) at Santa Anita on Sunday and looked like a monster out there. Shug McGaughey doesn't usually work his horses fast, so this one must be ready to roll.

The only other U.S. based filly with turf experience is Saucey Evening (More Than Ready - Jeweled Lady by General Meeting) who won her debut on the Colonial Downs turf on June 20. Then, the California-bred filly faced fellow Californians in the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Stakes, finishing 2nd. In her next start, she faced open company, finishing 7th in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes on September 1 behind probable Juvenile Fillies favorite Stardom Bound. Returning to Cal-breds for her most recent effort, she won the California Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes at a 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on October 5. She has had one work since that effort, going 3 furlongs in :36.40 on the Santa Anita turf.

Emmy Darling (Graeme Hall - Dance Delight by Colonial Affair) also ran in the Del Mar Debutante, finishing 10th. She also finished behind Stardom Bound and Evita Argentina, another Juvenile Filly entry, in the Sorrento Stakes (gr. III). In that race, Emmy Darling finished 4th, but was placed 3rd after the disqualification of Glitter City. Emmy Darling broke her maiden in her 2nd start, the Landaluce Stakes, on June 28 at Hollywood Park. Emmy Darling has been working regularly since her last start, including a 5 furlong drill on the Santa Anita turf on October 17 where she went :59.80.

Sugar Mom (Monarchos - Plenty of Sugar by Ascot Knight) took 4 starts to break her maiden, which she did on the Arlington Park Polytrack on July 23. Since then, she has won an allowance race at Arlington Park on September 5, and the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes at Turfway Park on September 27. She has had two works at Keeneland since that victory, including a nifty 5 furlongs in :59.40 on October 17. Although Sugar Mom has not run on the turf, her dam, Plenty of Sugar, won or placed in 14 turf stakes, including a win in the Violet Handicap (gr. III). Plenty of Sugar has produced 5 additional winners, 4 of which won on the turf.

I'll finish with the European-based fillies, since I know the least about them. Kentucky-bred Heart Shaped (Storm Cat - Twenty Eight Carat by Alydar) and Beyond Our Reach (Danehill Dancer (IRE) - Bluebell Wood (IRE) by Bluebird met in the 32red.com Cheveley Park Stakes (Eng-I) on October 3, finishing 5th and 9th respectfully. Heart Shaped had run 4 times previously, including her maiden win in the T. P. Waters E. B. F. Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh on May 24 on firm turf. In Europe, Heart Shaped has been showing speed, but European speed is not the same as American speed. One question regarding Heart Shaped might be the distance, as she has not been beyond 6 furlongs. Beyond Our Reach is still a maiden, but she did finish 3rd in the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Ire-I) on August 31 at the Curragh at 7 furlongs. She also finished 3rd in a maiden race on August 17. However, both of those third-place finishes were on soft turf.

April Pride (Falbrav (IRE) - Hasta by Theatrical (IRE)) has made 7 starts, including a debut win on April 9. Her most recent two starts have been in group III company, as she finished 4th in the Independent Newspaper Princess Margaret Stakes (Eng-III) at Ascot on July 26, and 3rd in the Toteswinger Prestige Stakes (Eng-III) at Goodwood on August 23. The last-named race was at 7 furlongs. She has run on firm turf once, finishing 5th in the Albany Stakes (Eng-III) at Ascot on June 20. She has also finished 2nd three times in lesser stakes. California-based Trainer Jim Cassidy has taken over April Pride's training and she has been galloping on the Santa Anita turf course since being released from quarantine on Wednesday.

On the AE list for this race is Internallyflawless (Giant's Causeway - Tapatina by Seeking the Gold) who has made 2 starts, breaking her maiden in her most recent effort on September 28. That race was at a mile on the Santa Anita firm turf course, the same conditions as the Juvenile Fillies Turf. She had previously finished 9th on the Polytrack at Del Mar on August 24. She has had two works on the Pro-Ride since her win. Internallyflawless' dam, Tapatina, is a half-sister to champion Bosra Sham.

Atka (Swiss Yodeler - Artica by Frosty the Snowman) was also on the AE list, but she has been declared out of the race.

Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
October 24, 2008
Oak Tree at Santa Anita Race 5
1 1/16 miles
2-year Old Fillies
Post Time: 4:55 PM ET ESPN2

First-crop sires are well represented in this one. In addition to Be Smart (Smarty Jones) and C. S. Silk (Medaglia d'Oro), there's Evita Argentina (Candy Ride), Black Magic Mama (Black Mambo), Van Lear Rose (Stroll), Dave's Revenge (The Cliff's Edge), and the favorite Stardom Bound (Tapit).

After breaking her maiden in gate-to-wire fashion (at 49-1) at Saratoga on August 28 at 5.5 furlongs, Be Smart (Smarty Jones - Eishin Bride by Unbridled) tried stakes company in the Alcibiades (gr. I) on October 3 at Keeneland at a mile and a sixteenth. In that race, she chased speed ball Mani Bhavan early and was then passed late by Dream Empress (Bernstein - Chinese Empress by Nijinski II). Be Smart had little response for Dream Empress in that one, but she held well to take 2nd. She will need to improve to take the win here, but it's only her third start (and her 2nd around 2 turns) so there is plenty of room for improvement. I would expect Be Smart to take the lead in this one, unless someone else wants it really badly.

C. S. Silk (Medaglia d'Oro - Remember the Day by Settlement Day) is kind of the forgotten horse, as her 6 length win in the mile Arlington-Washington Lassie came back on September 6. She has, however, been working steadily at Churchill Downs, including bullet 5 furlong works on October 3 and October 17. C. S. Silk has show versatility in her short career. After finishing third in her debut on June 13 at Churchill Downs, she came from off the pace to break her maiden on July 6 at Churchill by better than 6 lengths. In her Arlington-Washington Lassie win, she went gate-to-wire. C. S. Silk has been very professional in her short career, which should help her in this big field.

Defeating Be Smart in the Alcibiades was Dream Empress (Bernstein - Chinese Empress by Nijinski II), who came from off the pace to pull away impressively. Her previous 2 starts were on the turf, as she closed late to take 4th in her debut on July 17 at Ellis Park, and then broke her maiden at Saratoga on August 22. Both of her wins came at a mile and a sixteenth, the same distance as the Juvenile Fillies. She is the only filly to have run at the distance twice. Is there anything to the fact that Robby Albarado rode both C. S. Silk and Dream Empress in their most recent starts, but Robby rides C. S. Silk in the Breeders' Cup?

Stardom Bound (Tapit - My White Corvette by Tarr Road) was the talk of the backstretch before she even started. It took her 3 starts to break her maiden, but she did it in impressive style, winning the Del Mar Debutante (gr. I) on September 1. Then, as if to prove that was no fluke, she took the Oak Leaf (gr. I) at Santa Anita on September 27 at 1 1/16 miles. Previously, she finished 2nd in the Sorrento Stakes (gr. III) at Del Mar on August 6, and 2nd in a maiden race on July 20 at Del Mar. Since her last win, she has worked twice at Hollywood Park. Stardom Bound will be easy to spot in the early going, a confirmed closer and a notoriously slow starter, she will start her Juvenile Fillies trial at the back of the pack. It will be interesting to see if she will be able to work her way through this big field.

Palacio de Amor (Dixieland Band - Haitian Vacation by Petionville) finished 2nd, behind Stardom Bound, in both the Del Mar Debutante and the Oak Leaf, after setting the early pace. She broke her maiden in her 2nd start, going gate-to-wire at Del Mar on August 16. She has had one work at Santa Anita since the Oak Leaf. Palacio de Amor may be a pace threat to Be Smart.

Evita Argentina (Candy Ride - Jealous Wildcat by Forest Wildcat) has also faced Stardom Bound twice. She defeated that rival in the Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar on August 6, and then finished 4th in the Del Mar Debutante on September 1, just missing third. Evita Argentina broke her maiden in her first start, on June 25 at Hollywood Park. Evita Argentina is a closer and has come running wide in all three of her starts. She has been working regularly at Hollywood Park since the Del Mar Debutante, including several 6 furlong works and one at 7 furlongs. This seems to be an attempt to build some stamina in the filly who has not gone beyond 7 furlongs.

Another who has faced Stardom Bound is Black Magic Mama (Black Mambo - Our Dear Helen by Bates Motel) who finished finished 4th in the Oak Leaf, just missing third. Black Magic Mama, who is still a maiden, previously finished 3rd (but was disqualified and placed 6th) in a 5.5 furlong maiden race at Del Mar on August 30.

Sky Diva (Sky Mesa - Swift Girl by Unbridled) has made just two starts, but both resulted in impressive victories. She broke her maiden at a mile in the slop at Delaware on September 9 by 11 lengths. Then, she took on the grade I Frizette, winning by better than 3 under a hand ride at a mile on October 4. She has had one work since that effort.

Finishing 2nd to Sky Diva in the Frizette was Persistently (Smoke Glacken - Just Reward by Deputy Minister), who made her usual late run but came up short. Persistently, who may challenge Stardom Bound for last in the early going, also finished 2nd in the Matron (gr. II) at Belmont on September 13, behind fellow Juvenile Filly runner, Doremifasollatido. Persistently finished 3rd in her debut on July 27 at Saratoga, before breaking her maiden second time out at that same track on August 17. Persistently is by Smoke Glacken who is not known for producing distance runners and it will be interesting to see how the additional ground affects her run. Persistently worked 4 furlongs on October 19 at Santa Anita, where she seemed to lack focus, getting out around the turn.

Doremifasollatido (Bernstein - Consider It Done by Green Dancer) had finished 2nd behind early division leader Mani Bhavan in the Adirondack (gr. II), before taking the Matron by 2 lengths. Her maiden win on July 4 in her second start came against her fellow-New Yorkers. In that one, she took the lead after a quarter and widened it throughout. Doremifasollatido has had several works since the Matron, including a 7 furlong work at Santa Anita on October 17.

Canadian Van Lear Rose (Stroll - Devaluation by Conquistador Cielo) gets little respect on the morning line, but she has won 2 stakes in a row. She broke her maiden in the restricted Muskoka Stakes on September 1 at Woodbine (over Maiden Watch horse Retraceable), and then returned to take the Mazarine (Can-III) on October 5 at that same track. Interestingly, she was a pace presence in the Muskoka, but came from well off the pace in the Mazarine. It doesn't hurt to have versatility when in a big field. Van Lear Rose had previously finished behind Juvenile Fillies Turf favorite Laragh in that filly's maiden win.

Pursuit of Glory (Fusaichi Pegasus - Sophisticat by Storm Cat) finished 3rd in the 32red.com Cheveley Park Stakes (Eng-I) on October 3, in front of the two European fillies who are running in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, Heart Shaped and Beyond Our Reach. Pursuit of Glory had previously broken her maiden at 6 furlongs on an all-weather surface, leading almost from the start. In her debut on that same surface, she was 4th against the boys including Paddy the Pro, who runs in the Juvenile Turf on Saturday. Pursuit of Glory's pedigree is familiar to American fans, her dam, group I winner Sophisticat, is a daughter of champion Serena's Song. Sophisticat herself ran in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2001, finishing 5th.

Dave's Revenge (The Cliff's Edge - Midnite Deelites by Afternoon Deelites) has run just once, winning a mile maiden race at Del Mar on August 31. Finishing third in that race was Oro Blanco, who was also third in the Oak Leaf behind Stardom Bound. Dave's Revenge has been working steadily since that win, including a 5 furlong bullet on October 17 at Santa Anita.

It's a Clear Cut Victory

A number of horses going after the early lead in this one, including Lotsofawe, Caffeine Free, Miss Nick, and Clear Cut. Slick Miss (Congaree) broke well and first sat on the rail and then came between horses. Up front, Caffeine Free took a brief lead, but then began to fall back as Clear Cut overtook her. Gracious Victory came wide, but couldn't amass much of a challenge to Clear Cut. Slick Miss was briefly stuck behind a wall of horses, but once in the clear couldn't gain on the top pair. However, she was a clear third.

Result: October 23, 2008 
Keeneland Race 1
Maiden Claiming

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Missy Sings the Winning Moon Tune

Choice Cut sprang out of the gate and was quickly 4 in front, but she was setting some unbelievable fractions, :20.80 for the quarter, :43.80 for the half. In contrast to this was Smart N Lonely (Smarty Jones) who broke slowly and settled near the back of the pack. Predictably, Choice Cut could not hold the lead in the stretch, as the pack closed in. Actually, it was impressive that she only faded to 6th. Going best was Moontune Missy, who had been in front of the rest throughout. Navigator and Silent Stalk finished together for 2nd and 3rd. Smart N Lonely beat one, which was a good sign. This is the kind of race that I would just through out. She didn't reveal anything about her running ability, since she didn't run very much.

Result: October 23, 2008 
Oak Tree at Santa Anita Race 5
Maiden Special Weight

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Radar Man Takes the Pacificator

Cosasco Pandy took the early advantage, pulling to a clear 3 length lead. Pacificator (Peace Rules) broke ok and settled at the back of the pack. Cosasco Pandy tired after a half and the pack swarmed toward the lead. Radar Man, My Boy Jo, Smokin' Legend, and Attractive Ride all looked like they could take it. Attractive Ride fell back, but just a head and a neck separated Radar Man, My Boy Jo, and Smokin' Legend at the wire. Pacificator beat a couple to take 5th.

Result: October 22, 2008 
Keeneland Race 3
Starter Allowance

Equibase Chart

I Love My C D Strikes Jak

Ada Louise and I Love My C D dueled almost the entire race, with I Love My C D prevailing by a head at the wire. Strike Jak (Peace Rules) broke ok, but soon settled near the back. She did make up some ground, however, to finish a respectable 5th.

Result: October 23, 2008 
Calder Race 4
Maiden Claiming

Equibase Chart

Takemetoyourleader Over Fufty Too

Favorite Dr T Hudson was pushed to the early lead, with Tale of Perfection in close pursuit. He shook off Tale of Perfection, but couldn't hold off Takemetoyourleader who was never far back. Fufty Too (Speightstown), who was bumped at the break, was in mid-pack early on, but responded well when swung wide. He was coming and coming and coming, but in the end he came up a head short and had to settle for 2nd in his debut. For those Adam's Turf fans out there, Jedi Games ran evenly to finish 5th.

Result: October 23, 2008 
Remington Park Race 7
Maiden Special Weight

Equibase Chart

Note: Red Bird Rules (Peace Rules) did not draw into the race at Calder.

Oconee at Woodine

Oconee (Congaree - Chenoa by Wild Again) takes on 5 in race 3 at Woodbine, a mile and 70 yard allowance race. Oconee is back on the Polytrack, after finishing 4th on the yielding Woodbine turf in an Allowance race on September 11. After breaking his maiden in his 2nd start on July 20, Oconee also finished 2nd in the Silver Deputy Stakes (behind Mine That Bird) on August 23.  

Belfast at Remington Park

Belfast (colt; Congaree - Southerncomfortgal by Hermitage) debuts in the 3rd race at Remington Park on October 24, breaking from the outside post in a 9 horse field. Belfast, who sold for $16,000 at 2, is a half-brother to 2 winners, including stakes winner Redskin Warrior. Redskin Warrior was also a winner at 2, and earned $167,620 overall. Congaree's 36 runners have made 79 total starts, recording 14 wins, 15 seconds, 7 thirds, and $571,606.