3YO Fillies Favorites in Ladies' Classic

Plum Pretty and Royal Delta, a pair of talented 3-year-olds conditioned by Hall of Fame trainers, are the top morning line choices for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I). Plum Pretty is the 2-1 favorite while Royal Delta is right behind in the betting rankings, at 5-2, for the 1 1/8-mile test Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.

Yet another 3-year-old, It's Tricky, is rated third at 5-1. 

Peachtree Stable’s Plum Pretty, who has the No. 8 post in the field of 10, will be returning to the scene of her greatest triumph. She captured the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) by a neck over St. John’s River back in May at Churchill.

Plum Pretty’s efforts since then have included runner-up finishes in the Hollywood Oaks (gr. II) and TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) at Saratoga. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro was fourth in Royal Delta’s TVG Alabama Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, where It’s Tricky finished second, before returning to the winner’s circle Oct. 1 at Parx Racing. Plum Pretty cruised that day, finishing 7 1/2 lengths ahead of It’s Tricky, who had captured the Coaching Club American Oaks and TVG Acorn Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont.

It’s Tricky, who also won this year’s Busher Stakes at Aqueduct, has the No. 3 post in the Ladies' Classic and will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez. Owned by Godolphin Racing, the daughter of Mineshaft  is trained by Kiaran McLauglin.

Rafael Bejarano rode  Plum Pretty in the Cotillion and will be back on board for the Ladies' Classic.

“With Plum Pretty, it’s not a bad post,” said the bay filly’s trainer, Bob Baffert. “He (Bejarano) is just going to let her rock away from there and she’s going to be up close. Bejarano knows what to do. At least he can find himself a good spot; she’s going to be clipping along pretty good.”

Royal Delta, a daughter of Empire Maker , won the Alabama by 5 1/2 lengths. Her two other wins in six races this year came in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) at Pimlico and a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Keeneland. She was third in the Coaching Club American Oaks and in her most recent outing, she was second to Havre de Grace in the Oct. 1 Beldame Invitational Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont. Havre de Grace, who rolled to an 8 1/4-length victory in the  Beldame, will take on males in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), which will be run at Churchill the day after the Ladies' Classic.

Bill Mott trains Royal Delta, who is a Palides Investments homebred.

“It’s fine,” said Mott of Royal Delta’s No. 6 Ladies Classic post. “It’s near the middle. (I have) no complaint.”

Jose Lezcano will ride Royal Delta.

Ask the Moon is the top-rated older filly or mare. The 6-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon  has 6-1 odds and will be ridden by Javier Castellano.

Owned by Myron Miller and trained by Marty Wolfson, Ask the Moon won the Ruffian Invitational Handicap (gr. I) by 5 3/4 lengths in July at Saratoga and she captured the Personal Ensign Invitational Stakes (gr. I) by 2 3/4 lengths at the same track in September. In her most recent race, Ask the Moon was sixth in the Oct. 1 Ladies Secret Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita.