BC Juvenile Fillies a Wide-Open Affair

The favorite from the Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita, where the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be run, is in the field for the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) on Nov. 6. So, too, is the favorite from the Darley Alcibiades (gr. I) at Keeneland, which is also run on a synthetic surface. It should be noted they were favored, but both lost.

Of course, the winners of those two prep races are also in the field for the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile Fillies.
Whether by design to get a start on a synthetic surface prior to the race or not, 10 of the dozen fillies pre-entered for the $2-million race last started on the Polytrack at Del Mar, Keeneland, or Woodbine, or on the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita.

The lone exceptions are Devil May Care and Ms Vanenzza, who last raced at Belmont Park and Delaware Park, respectively.

Always a Princess, an Arnold Zetcher homebred trained by Bob Baffert, was the lukewarm favorite (3-1) in the Oct. 4 Oak Leaf, but she finished second to Blind Luck, who was just behind her in odds. Third-place finisher Bickersons is back for another try as well.

Coming from Keeneland are the first (Negligee), second (She Be Wild), fourth (Zilva), and fifth-place (Beautician) finishers from the Alcibiades, with only 3 1/2 lengths separating the group.

After three straight wins, She Be Wild, a homebred for Nancy Manzoni trained by Wayne Catalano, was the heavy favorite, but after making the lead she was caught by Negligee, who posted a half-length win. Negligee was making her first start for her new connections, owner Sovereign Stable and trainer John Terranova.

There is only one filly coming from the other grade I prep race, but that is the winner of the Frizette Stakes at Belmont, Devil May Care, who is unbeaten in two starts for Todd Pletcher.

The one to watch, however, may be a filly that has had only one start, but Anthony Bonomo Jr.’s Connie and Michael was a most impressive maiden winner Oct. 17 at Keeneland and could be quite dangerous in the race for trainer Kenny McPeek.

$2 Million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I, 1:45 p.m.), 2YO Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles (Pro-Ride)
Horse, Owner, Trainer
Always a Princess, Arnold Zetcher, Bob Baffert
Beautician, Peter J. Callahan, Kenneth G. McPeek
Bickersons, George & Lori Hall, Kelly J. Breen
Biofuel, Brereton C. Jones, Reade Baker
Blind Luck, Mark Dedomenico, JCRP Stable, Jerry Hollendorfer, Jerry Hollendorfer
Champagne d'Oro, Southern Equine Stable, Mike Smith, John Daley
Connie and Michael, Anthony Bonomo, Kenneth G. McPeek
Devil May Care, John W. Greathouse Jr., Todd A. Pletcher
Ms Vanenzza, Florence Patitucci, Juan Vasquez
Negligee, Sovereign Stable, John P. Terranova II
She Be Wild, Nancy Mazzoni, Wayne M. Catalano
Zilva, George Strawbridge Jr., H. Graham Motion