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FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 by Kellie Reilly As the march toward the October 24 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) continues apace, we have a legion of contenders to catch up with since our last edition. In addition to the older distaffers who are likely to play a prominent role at Santa Anita, there are also a few sophomores worth noting for the future. Star performer: No one has accomplished enough of late to dethrone MAURALAKANA (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]), who remains deserving of this gold star for her stylish victory in the August 9 Beverly D. S. (G1) at Arlington Park. After stalking in fourth early, a bit closer than has typically been successful for her, she loomed up to confront the battling pair of DREAMING OF ANNA (Rahy) and PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus) in midstretch. It took only a few strides for Mauralakana to assert her authority, and she stayed on strongly to take the spoils by 1 1/4 lengths. The Christophe Clement mare has clearly progressed over the course of the season, from an admirable Grade 3-level campaigner to a top-notch individual. Indeed, she was originally due to join owner Robert Scarborough's broodmare band in Australia by this time, but thankfully, her Beverly D. performance has prolonged her racing career. Mauralakana will now have the opportunity to make her case for an Eclipse Award, possibly in the September 27 Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) at Belmont en route to the Breeders' Cup. Cross-examining the Beverly D.: As visually convincing as it was, the Beverly D. form may not be as open-and-shut as it looks. The improving COMMUNIQUE (Smart Strike) finished with an eye-catching run for second, but with the 53-1 shocker TOQUE DE QUEDA (GB) (Dansili [GB]) in third, questions are bound to arise. For starters, the proven Grade 1 winners in the field, Dreaming of Anna and Precious Kitten, both had question marks at the 1 3/16-mile trip. Moreover, Precious Kitten was racing for the first time since sustaining an infected quarter-crack, and the lost training time may have cost her dearly. In other words, we probably did not see the real Precious Kitten, who would normally have made a more powerful move into the stretch, long before any possible stamina questions came into play. Also, the maddening ROSINKA (Ire) (Soviet Star) fought Cornelio Velasquez virtually every step of the way, hitting the rail at one point and eventually fading to last. Call me stubborn, but I cling to the notion that Rosinka can still make her presence felt at the upper echelon of this division. Jeremy Rose had gotten along beautifully with the temperamental diva last year, and Kendrick Carmouche handled her well in her 2008 debut. In contrast, her two experiments with Velasquez have been dismal, and I just think his strong-hold tactics do not suit her at all. If Rose returns to her saddle upon the completion of his suspension, or if Carmouche gets another shot aboard the Graham Motion trainee, Rosinka is eligible to rebound, perhaps in the Flower Bowl. After all, who finished last in the 2007 Beverly D.? Lahudood (GB) -- the Flower Bowl winner, Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine and divisional champion. The odds are exorbitant that Rosinka can follow the exact same trajectory as Lahudood, but the point stands that she shouldn't be written off just yet. Compliments to Mauralakana: However one may scrutinize the Beverly D., Mauralakana's form has been boosted recently by a couple of past rivals. HOSTESS (Chester House) holds the distinction of being the only horse to beat Mauralakana this season, in the Orchid H. (G3), and since then, Hostess has twice placed third behind Mauralakana in the Sheepshead Bay H. (G2) and New York S. (G2). After being considered for the August 16 Sword Dancer Invitational (G1) versus males, Hostess was rerouted when the turf came up soft and instead lined up against fellow distaffers in the Glens Falls H. (G3) at Saratoga on Labor Day. Trainer James Bond made the right move, for Hostess relished the prevailing firm ground and promptly set a new inner-turf course record of 2:11.66 for 1 3/8 miles. She exploded to take command at the top of the stretch, almost too soon, and held on by a rather cozy neck from the late-charging, upwardly mobile PALMILLA (Crowd Pleaser). Hostess will prep for the Breeders' Cup wherever she can find firm turf, whether the Flower Bowl or the September 27 Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) at Santa Anita. According to Daily Racing Form, the October 4 E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine is also an option. The Todd Pletcher-trained J'RAY (Distant View), a three-time victim of Mauralakana earlier this season, has gone on to overpower her foes in the August 3 Matchmaker S. (G3) at Monmouth and the September 7 Canadian S. (Can-G2) at Woodbine. While it's arguable that this may be a new-and-improved J'ray, she's probably in no hurry to hunt down Mauralakana for a rematch either. On the contrary, I believe that J'ray ran right up to her best in the Mairzy Doates H. at Calder in April, and Mauralakana proved the stronger of the two. Until that verdict is overturned on the course, any success by J'ray should in turn reflect well upon Mauralakana. Reputation redeemed at Woodbine: Whatever negativity I have felt toward VENTURA (Chester House) after her appalling loss in the CashCall Mile Invitational (G2) (see my July 28 edition) was dispelled by her gallant runner-up effort against males in the September 7 Woodbine Mile (Can-G1). Not only did the Bobby Frankel filly finally relax early while rating off the pace, but she also appeared to be responsive to the cues from Garrett Gomez. Ventura advanced steadily along the rail on the far turn, then remained in hand at the head of the lane, awaiting further instructions. When driven forward, the Juddmonte Farms homebred gave generously of herself and momentarily gave a fright to the upset winner, Rahy's Attorney (Crown Attorney). The yielding turf was all against her, however, and she could not quite produce her first-rate acceleration. Nevertheless, she kept up the good fight and went down by an honorable 1 1/4 lengths. Had the turf been firm, Ventura just might have mowed them all down, although it's unclear whether the disappointing Kip Deville (Kipling) may have run better too. At latest report, Frankel had not settled upon her next objective. Even though the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) is a two-turn event at Santa Anita, and she may well be better around one turn, I'd still be tempted to give her a chance there. It may be more prudent to revert to synthetic for the Filly & Mare Sprint, where she could have a better chance to clinch an Eclipse Award. Contrasting fortunes of the Diana alumnae: While three combatants from the July 26 Diana S. (G1) have gone on to victory next time out, impressive Diana queen FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to Me) is not one of them. The gray was dispatched as the 4-5 favorite in the aforementioned Canadian, but wound up third to J'ray. In reality, her performance was a bit stronger than that bare result implies. Anchored at the rear of the field early, in close proximity to J'ray, Forever Together took the inside path in the stretch, with J'ray farther out. The two were roughly the same distance adrift of the leader when they commenced their customary late rallies. J'ray found clear sailing down the center of the course, but Forever Together hesitated when she saw several rivals abreast in front of her. Although she did not appear to be physically short of room behind them, I wonder whether she was waiting to see a broad swath of daylight in front of her. Once she glimpsed a wider open space, she found another gear, but J'ray and eventual runner-up CALLWOOD DANCER (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) had already pulled clear. Instead of flogging Forever Together to no purpose, when she had obviously sewn up third and was too late to challenge the top two, Julien Leparoux wisely took care of her late. For that reason, I don't take her beaten margin of three lengths literally. If Forever Together gets a different trip next time, and is able to see the vast course open in front of her, she can duplicate her Diana effort for horseman Jonathan Sheppard. As the exploits of the following three Diana also-rans suggests, that was one smashing feat. Champion WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon) put her uncharacteristic seventh in the Diana far behind her with a workmanlike title defense in the August 21 Ballston Spa H. (G2) at Saratoga. As Pletcher pointed out, she was compromised by a wide trip on good turf in the Diana, which was also her first start back from a six-month layoff. Reunited with the hoof-rattling ground she loves in the Ballston Spa, Wait a While drove to a one-length tally in a sharp 1:39.70 for 1 1/16 miles. Although this smacks of nit-picking, I found her 2007 Ballston Spa performance more riveting. Last year, the gray took no prisoners when galloping home a 2 1/4-length winner. This time, Wait a While was always in control, but she was under a stiff drive to fend off the persistent CARRIAGE TRAIL (Giant's Causeway). This may be meaningless in the grand scheme of things, considering that she'll stretch out to 1 1/4 miles for the Yellow Ribbon, and it will be no surprise if the ruthless Wait a While shows up at Santa Anita to reclaim the crown she first seized in 2006. Among those who will be waiting for her is the terrifically consistent BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe), who defeated a less-than-stellar field in the August 3 John C. Mabee H. (G1) at Del Mar. Also at Del Mar, VACARE (Lear Fan) regrouped from her fourth in the Diana to outfinish another questionable cast of Southern California suspects in the August 30 Palomar H. (G2). To be fair, Vacare deserves great credit for losing a ridiculous amount of ground, yet still summoning a burst of speed to win in a dead-game effort. According to the Trakus data, the Clement mare traveled upwards of 30 feet farther than the majority of the field, and as many as 62 feet farther in the most extreme case. Vacare was much the best on class, but she had to call on all of her ability to gut this one out. CRIMINOLOGIST (Maria's Mon) was well beaten in both of her attempts in Grade 1 company, including an eighth in the Diana, and found welcome class relief in this past Saturday's Noble Damsel H. (G3). She made it a shade too exciting for her backers, but finally got up by a head at the wire. On this evidence, trainer Shug McGaughey may opt to keep her in less daunting spots for now. American Oaks alumnae continue to make waves: The July 5 American Oaks Invitational (G1) form has been scrambled a bit recently, but even if the deck is reshuffled, the principal cards in question were involved in that marquee event. Oaks seventh-placer BACKSEAT RHYTHM (El Corredor) has moved forward in leaps and bounds to win both of her subsequent outings, albeit on rain-softened turf. After capturing the August 15 Lake Placid S. (G2) at Saratoga by a dynamic 3 1/4 lengths, the Patrick Reynolds pupil took the September 6 Garden City S. (G1) at Belmont by a half-length over Oaks heroine PURE CLAN (Pure Prize). Despite this defeat, Pure Clan still ranks as the top three-year-old turf filly in my estimation. She had a troubled trip in the Garden City, never got much elbow room, and was brushed by the winner, but still finished strongly and was doing her best work late. Furthermore, Pure Clan enhanced her stature by handling Belmont's yielding turf well, proving that she is equally adept on any kind of ground. She figures to renew rivalry with Backseat Rhythm in the October 11 Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland, where Pure Clan can turn the tables. The respective third and fourth from the Garden City, ARIEGE (Doneraile Court) and MY PRINCESS JESS (Stormy Atlantic), would also be logical contenders in the QEII. The American Oaks served up three of the top four finishers in the August 16 Del Mar Oaks (G1). MAGICAL FANTASY (Diesis [GB]), sixth in the American Oaks, roared home late to spring a 42-1 surprise at Del Mar. Her improvement may be attributable to "first-time earmuffs," suggesting yet another handicapping angle for the future. In any event, the way she strode clear marks her as a legitimate force on the Southern California scene for Paddy Gallagher. An intriguing new shooter has emerged in CLOSEOUT (Repriced), who deployed her long, raking stride to get up by a half-length in the September 6 Pucker Up S. (G3) at Arlington. In her prior start, the Tom Proctor filly was second to Ariege in the August 9 Madame Jumel S. at Saratoga. A full sister to Grade 3 victress Capital Request, from the family of stakes winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Major Impact (Roberto), Closeout has a progressive profile that makes her one to follow. At this writing, it's doubtful that any of these three-year-old fillies are entertaining Breeders' Cup aspirations, but they should all be heard from in 2009. On the horizon: Our next edition will review the key preps for the Breeders' Cup -- the Flower Bowl, Yellow Ribbon and E.P. Taylor.
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