The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies division is starting to take shape. Unlike last year when Stardom Bound had the nation's attention and towered over her opponents, this year's field has no definitive standout. Bettors could pad their bankroll if they pay close attention to the 1 1/6 mile race. Let's take a closer look at the major players and lesser-known fillies that could improve in the next few weeks.
Californians have their eyes on Blind Luck. The daughter of Pollard's Vision won her debut in a maiden claiming race at Calder, then was bought and whisked away to the barn of Jerry Hollendorfer. In September, she made her stakes debut, finishing a hard charging second to Mi Sueno in the Darley Debutante Stakes (G-1). After Mi Sueno suffered a career-ending injury during training, Blind Luck stepped up to win the Oak Leaf Stakes (G-1), earning the starring role among the West coast fillies for the Breeders' Cup. The large chestnut filly has won three of four starts including a stakes win over the Santa Anita Pro-Ride surface.
Negligee was also unrobed in a maiden claiming race, then vaulted into stakes company, finishing second in the Ontario Debutante Stakes. Making her first start for new owners, Negligee was dismissed at 12-1 in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G-1), but the Northern Afleet filly upset the previously unbeaten She Be Wild by a half-length. Like many of this year's contenders, Negligee is lightly raced. She has two wins and a second from three starts. She Be Wild tasted defeat for the first time in four starts in the Alcibiades. The accomplished daughter of Offlee Wild was a brilliant five and a half length winner of the Arlington-Washington Lassie (G-3) and has done all of her running over Polytrack.
A filly even more lightly raced than Negligee is Devil May Care, who became a Grade 1 stakes winner in only her second start in the Frizette Stakes. The Malibu Moon filly was the recipient of an excellent ride by John Velazquez and held on by a narrow head to attain blacktype status over Awesome Maria. The latter, a pretty gray daughter of Maria's Mon, had to dive towards the rail to avoid the tiring pack and commenced her run just a beat slower than Devil May Care. Including the Grade 2 Matron, Awesome Maria has two wins and two seconds from four starts. Awesome Maria's pedigree (Maria's Mon - Discreetly Awesome, by Awesome Again) suggests that she will mature over the winter and her trainer Stanly Hough has indicated that she is done for the year.
Other youngsters who are worth a second look include Beautician, second in the Adirondack and Spinaway, but only fifth in her Polytrack try in the Alcibiades. She has a chance to step up in her second try over synthetics. Amen Hallelujah was third in the Alcibiades after running wide the whole way in her first route attempt. The Montbrook filly has a pedigree that suggests she should be proficient up to nine furlongs. Her dam Saras Success was a multiple stakes winner at that distance, so Amen Hallelujah could certainly be a legitimate Breeders' Cup contender. Always a Princess plunged into Grade 1 company after breaking her maiden in September and impressed with a second place showing in her stakes debut behind Blind Luck in the Oak Leaf. Bickersons, third in the Spinaway, put in a good first time effort over Pro-Ride in the Oak Leaf to finish third. Horses moving from dirt to synthetic tracks can sometimes tire in their first run over the surface, so Bickersons has a good shot to rebound.
A couple of Canadian lasses who could head across the border are BioFuel, the surprise winner of the Mazarine (G-3), and Natalma (G-3) winner Bay to Bay, who was second to BioFuel in the Mazarine at Woodbine. Dad's Crazy won the Miss Grillo Stakes when it was taken off the turf. The Langfuhr filly has the pedigree to run over any surface, so don't be surprised to see her try Pro-Ride on November 6.
The My Dear Girl Stakes, last and longest leg of the Florida Stallion Stakes for fillies, may also produce a Breeders' Cup contestant. Check out our new video section and view the juvenile fillies in action at http://www.ironmaidensthoroughbreds.com
Want to know more? The E-Books detailing every contender of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile races will be available a few days before the races. All the information for every contender will be at your fingertips, no need to hunt through multiple websites for the data you need to place that winning wager!
