Annika Lass invades from the East Coast as the starting high weight and the likely choice of the public Saturday among a field of 10 entered in the $175,000 Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIII) for fillies and mares over seven furlongs at Arlington Park.
A daughter of Mister Jolie, Millenium Racing LLC's Annika Lass most recently finished second in the $75,000 Sweet and Sassy Stakes at Delaware Park. In that six-furlong race, the 5-year-old mare made a move to get into second in the stretch but was unable to get to the victorious Trickle of Gold. Earlier this year, the Steve Asmussen-trained miss finished third in a pair of grade II stakes at Aqueduct --- the Distaff Breeders' Cup Handicap in March and the Bed O Roses Breeders' Cup Handicap a month later. Arlington Park's leading rider Chris Emigh has been named to ride Annika Lass, who will carry 119 pounds Saturday and spot her rivals from four to eight pounds.Kinsman Stable's Ebony Breeze is sure to receive strong support as well. The daughter of Belong to Me is trained by Bill Mott and comes into Saturday's headliner off back-to-back third-place runs in Kentucky. In her most recent trip to the post, the 6-year-old mare was beaten only a neck in the $100,000 Winning Colors Stakes on dirt at Churchill Downs on May 27. Prior to that she took the show spot in the $100,000 Giant's Causeway Stakes over the Keeneland turf on April 22. An 11-time winner with earnings of nearly $900,000, she has been assigned 115 pounds for the Chicago Breeders' Cup and will be ridden by John Jacinto.
Locally based trainer Christine Janks has entered a pair for Saturday's affair -- 5-year-old For Gillian and 4-year-old Modjadji. The former, though winless this year, won three races last year and was runner-up in the $45,000 Mariah's Storm Stakes over this oval. The latter recently beat state-bred rivals in the $40,000 Your Ladyship Stakes at the Chicago Breeders' Cup distance. Francisco Torres has been named aboard both halves of the entry.$175,000 Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III, Race 8, 4:29 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 7 Furlongs
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, ML Odds
1. Dimple Pinch (KY), Carlos H. Marquez, Jr., 114, 8/1
2. Pentelicus Dance (ECU), Ariel Smith, 111, 30/1
3. For Gillian (FL), Francisco C. Torres, 114, 10/1
4. Island Escape (KY), Miguel Mena, 113, 5/1
5. Getcozywithkaylee (FL), Jesse M. Campbell, 113, 10/1
6. Morner (KY), Jose C. Ferrer, 111, 6/1
7. Modjadji (IL), Francisco C. Torres, 112, 10/1
8. Annika Lass (FL), Christopher A. Emigh, 119, 2/1
9. Ebony Breeze (KY), John Jacinto, 115, 7/2
10. Silver Crown (KY), James Graham, 114, 10/1