'Racing Machine' Platinum Tiara Back in Training

Platinum Tiara's month-long break at Early Morning Farm in Ocala, Fl. ended Thursday, when the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) runner-up returned to trainer Joe Waunsch's barn at Calder Race Course. Owner Rob Murphy said the filly put on about 100 pounds during the vacation, but the extra weight is not apparent to Waunsch.

"You don't notice the extra weight on her because she's really a lean, mean racing machine," the conditioner said. "She galloped the last two days and she's really laid back, not aggressive as she normally is. It was the best thing for her ... let her get her head down in the grass for awhile. I wouldn't mind a month vacation myself."

Besides the runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup, the 2-year-old filly won the Brave Raj Stakes at Calder in September and finished third in the J J's Dream in her racing debut in July. The daughter of Cozzene--Michelle's Monarch, by Wavering Monarch, checked in traffic approaching the first turn in the Walmac International Alcibiades Stakes (gr. II) and was caught four-wide on the backstretch before finishing fifth in the race won by She's A Devil Due. Like She's A Devil Due, who finished third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Platinum Tiara will be pointed toward 3-year-old filly stakes at Gulfstream Park in 2001.

"I was talking with Kenny McPeek (trainer of She's A Devil Due) in Ocala the other day," said Waunsch. "We both think we're going to have some fun running against each other this winter."