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FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY OCTOBER 17, 2009 In this edition, we'll survey five significant preps for the Breeders' Cup. After recapping the three that have taken place recently, we'll cast a glance at the two coming up on Saturday -- the E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland. Diamonds are forever: That advertising slogan, for all of its philosophical emptiness, offers a handy way to link the outstanding efforts turned in by both the winning DIAMONDRELLA (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) and third-placer FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to Me) in last Saturday's First Lady S. (G1) at Keeneland. First, Diamondrella vindicated the decision of her new IEAH Stables ownership to pitch her into this spot. Not only was the Angel Penna Jr. mare unfazed by a two-turn mile, but she passed the test comfortably on soft turf, no less, in a race run at a fast pace for the conditions. As it turned out, the First Lady would have exposed any flaws in this diamond's ability to see out the trip, and she simply sailed through convincingly. The First Lady was contested at a much quicker tempo than the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) two races later at the same course and distance, registering half-mile and three-quarter splits that were two full seconds faster than the males. Compared to Shadwell winner and fellow IEAH stalwart Court Vision (Gulch), Diamondrella was actually running at a faster clip for longer, as revealed by the Trakus data, yet she was doing it with apparent ease. Diamondrella's winning move began on the backstretch. Seventh in the early going, just ahead of an unhurried Forever Together, Diamondrella steadily closed into the taxing fractions and improved her position in the strung-out field. Meanwhile, Forever Together continued to lope along in the rear, and that massive deficit -- as many as 20 lengths -- proved too much to overcome. Crucially, at the six-furlong mark, Diamondrella was 12 lengths behind the pacesetter, but five lengths in front of Forever Together. Turning for home, Diamondrella was still well adrift of the three front runners, but she quickened stylishly to overhaul them in deep stretch. Judging by the chart, she threw in a sub 12-second final furlong to overcome a 6 1/2-length deficit. The Trakus times, which do not comport with the chart, yield a :12.38 final furlong, which would still be commendable in the circumstances. Unlike Court Vision, who was in an all-out stretch duel in the Shadwell, Diamondrella won going away by three-quarters of a length and appeared to be in hand as she crossed the wire. Both clocked a final time of 1:38 3/5, but the First Lady was a more testing race from flag-fall to finish than the Shadwell. Champion Forever Together was behind horses leaving the far turn and had to switch out wide for the drive, just when Diamondrella was taking off after the leaders. Forever Together accelerated sharply herself to make up a great deal of ground, but she fell a total of 1 1/2 lengths short. While it might be viewed as disappointing that she could not reel in runner-up TIZAQUEENA (Tiznow) and settled for third, Forever Together is not quite the same on soft going. With the ground and race scenario weighted heavily against her, and with Julien Leparoux giving her a patient ride, the Jonathan Sheppard mare did quite well. In my last diary, I had noted that if Forever Together didn't defend her First Lady title decisively, her Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) credentials would take a hit. In light of the way the First Lady unfolded, however, I must revise and extend my remarks. Forever Together does not enter the Breeders' Cup on a high as she did one year ago, and the fact that she has lost three of her last four -- with her lone victory in that span being a close call in the Diana S. (G1) -- necessarily raises questions. At the same time, extenuating circumstances have arisen in these races, a constellation of factors that are unlikely to repeat themselves in the Filly & Mare Turf at Oak Tree. Diamondrella, who has now beaten Forever Together twice this season (both times on rain-softened ground), has an array of Breeders' Cup options. Her connections have mentioned the Turf Sprint as a possibility, but there's no guarantee that she'll enjoy the unique downhill course. Should she step way up in trip to 1 1/4 miles for the Filly & Mare Turf? The way she won the First Lady suggests that she stays farther than a mile. With her blistering speed, however, I'd vote for the Mile (G1), even though IEAH has Court Vision earmarked for that race as well. Diamondrella probably has a more devastating late kick than Court Vision. Granted, reigning Mile champion Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) overshadows the race, but in totality, the Mile is not coming up particularly deep. Hardy perennial: The Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) over 1 1/4 miles at Belmont Park has historically yielded prime Breeders' Cup clues. Despite being contested in bog-like conditions, the October 3 renewal promises to uphold the tradition. The redoubtable PURE CLAN (Pure Prize) stayed on strongly to defeat CRITICISM (GB) (Machiavellian) by 2 3/4 lengths in an eye-catching display. So emphatic was her victory that it prompted her connections -- owner/breeder Lewis Lakin and trainer Bob Holthus -- to rethink their original plans to skip the Breeders' Cup. Pure Clan enjoyed a better trip than the one she endured in the Beverly D. S. (G1) last time out, where she was far back off a slow pace, came charging too late, and checked in third to DYNAFORCE (Dynaformer). In the Flower Bowl, Leparoux rated Pure Clan in fifth, within striking distance of the crawl. As deliberate as it was, the tempo was still faster than the 1 1/2-mile Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) one race later. For the first six furlongs, the Flower Bowl appeared to be setting up well for Criticism and Dynaforce, the defending champion who had romped in yielding conditions last year. Criticism was in her favorite spot, prompting the pace in second, while Dynaforce was also cruising in third. Then the two parted ways. Criticism moved forward, but Dynaforce mysteriously dropped back on the far turn. It was subsequently reported that Dynaforce threw a shoe about this point in the race, so her dismal sixth can be forgiven. As Criticism blew past the early leader and surged to a clear lead, Pure Clan was making headway herself, proving that the soft going was no hindrance to her. Striding out powerfully, she caught Criticism in full flight -- not an easy thing to do -- and stamped her authority in no uncertain terms. Pure Clan has now won two top-level events in starkly contrasting conditions: her 2008 American Oaks Invitational (G1) coup came on firm turf at Hollywood. But for a traffic nightmare in last year's Garden City S. (G1) on yielding ground, she would have earned three Grade 1 scores by now. Pure Clan deserves to line up in the Filly & Mare Turf, where she can erase the unpleasant memory of her trailing throughout in last year's edition. That's the only time she has ever been unplaced from 15 career starts, and it ought to be ignored as a transparently uncharacteristic effort. With Leparoux already committed to Forever Together in the Breeders' Cup, Daily Racing Form reports that Pure Clan will need a new rider if she runs. Criticism is expected to go on to the Breeders' Cup. The Tom Albertrani mare is eligible to quicken better on firm turf, but she won't have the luxury of waltzing through the opening stages either. Dynaforce is under consideration for the festivities at Oak Tree. The Bill Mott veteran usually doesn't look as formidable on that kind of ground, though. Fantasy and reality: Unlike the Flower Bowl, the Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) at Oak Tree has not served as an informative guide to the Breeders' Cup. No Yellow Ribbon winner has gone on to win the Filly & Mare Turf in its 10-year history. Moreover, only two distaffers coming out of the Yellow Ribbon have even placed in the Filly & Mare Turf. (That's whittled down to one if you remove Wait a While, who crossed the wire third in last year's Filly & Mare Turf but was eventually disqualified and placed 10th). Those are daunting statistics for last Saturday's Yellow Ribbon heroine, MAGICAL FANTASY (Diesis [GB]). Nevertheless, the Southern California star has gone from strength to strength over the course of her four-race winning streak, and she has a serious closing kick, as revealed once again in the Yellow Ribbon. The Paddy Gallagher filly reeled off her final quarter in a little less than :23 to subdue VISIT (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]) by a half-length, with the reliable BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) a close third. On paper, that form doesn't look nearly as strong as Diamondrella's, or Forever Together's, or Pure Clan's. On the other hand, Magical Fantasy has projected the image of being in complete control, and possibly she did just enough to win without knocking herself out in her Breeders' Cup prep. She has beaten all comers since returning to the turf in March, and you can't ask for more than that. Visit clearly benefited from a change in tactics in the Yellow Ribbon. The Bobby Frankel filly has often disappointed with mild rallies from off the pace, and I'm glad that she pressed the pace here. Visit, who was elevated to third in last year's Filly & Mare Turf, can be read as an indicator of how much Magical Fantasy has improved this campaign. Visit defeated Magical Fantasy in the 2008 Matriarch S. (G1), in which they finished third and fourth respectively, but Visit hasn't found a way to beat Magical Fantasy in three tries this season. E. P. Taylor: Woodbine's 1 1/4-mile feature can produce a major contender for the Breeders' Cup, especially since the European invasion is even stronger here than it is in Saturday's Canadian International (Can-G1). Last year's Oaks (Eng-G1) romper, LOOK HERE (GB) (Hernando [Fr]), has been competing against tough males and may find this a welcome reversion to distaff company. Indeed, I thought she'd stack up pretty well in the Canadian International. Third to subsequent Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) hero Conduit (Ire) (Dalakhani) in the St Leger (Eng-G1) in her 2008 finale, Look Here opened 2009 with an agonizing loss in a three-way photo in the Coronation Cup (Eng-G1). Who just outfinished her that day? Ask (GB) (Sadler's Wells), who had missed by a nose in the 2007 Canadian International, and beloved bridesmaid Youmzain (Sinndar), who finished runner-up in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) for the third straight year when chasing home Sea the Stars last time out. Look Here wound up third to the top-class Dar Re Mi (Singspiel [Ire]) in the Pretty Polly S. (Ire-G1), where the race didn't set up well for her, and reported home a subpar sixth to Conduit in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. (Eng-G1). Freshened for a couple of months, the Ralph Beckett filly turned in a much more characteristic effort in the September 18 Arc Trial (Eng-G3) at Newbury, only to be nailed late by Doctor Fremantle (Sadler's Wells). The form will be tested when the classy Doctor Fremantle lines up in Saturday's Champion S. (Eng-G1) at Newmarket. RAINBOW VIEW (Dynaformer), last year's European champion two-year-old filly, finally earned her first victory as a sophomore in the September 5 Matron S. (Ire-G1) at Leopardstown. Prior to that breakthrough, the John Gosden filly had been chasing the likes of Midday (Oasis Dream [GB]), Goldikova, Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway) and Sariska (Pivotal). Interestingly, the Augustin Stable homebred is a half-sister to Canadian International contender Just as Well (A.P. Indy), so Saturday could be a banner day for the family. Rounding out the European contingent are EASTERN ARIA (UAE) (Halling) and LAHALEEB (Ire) (Redback). While Lahaleeb is no stranger to Group 1 company, and finished a close second on bottomless ground in the Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) earlier this season, the Mick Channon trainee has never raced beyond the vicinity of one mile and looks up against it here. The remarkable Eastern Aria, who will be making her 16th start of the year, has some appeal as a dark horse. She doesn't have the established form in the book, but the tough filly has been improving for trainer Mark Johnston. Eastern Aria captured a listed race at Saint-Cloud in her latest venture, but more tellingly for her E. P. Taylor chances, she was runner-up to the highly-regarded colt Mawatheeq (Danzig) in a Doncaster handicap two back. Mawatheeq went on to land the Cumberland Lodge S. (Eng-G3) in impressive fashion, and he is a supplementary entry to the Champion. Should he do well Saturday morning (U.S. time) at Newmarket, Mawatheeq would make Eastern Aria look better at Woodbine. [Saturday update: In a form boost for Eastern Aria, Mawatheeq finished a terrific second in the Champion, beaten a half-length after a less than clear trip. The Champion did not give Look Here a form boost, as Doctor Fremantle failed to run up to his best and finished an abysmal 11th, but I wouldn't want to read too much into that.] The North American-based squadron is led by Juddmonte Farms' homebred TREAT GENTLY (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]), whom I'd covered in a couple of past diaries this season. Based in France last year, the well-bred bay garnered a Group 2 event, beating Dar Re Mi, and crossed the wire third to Zarkava and Dar Re Mi in the Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1). (Treat Gently was subsequently disqualified from her Vermeille placing). Unfortunately, Treat Gently has managed to race only once since joining Frankel this campaign, but that was a good-looking allowance/optional claiming score at Belmont in July. She was under consideration for the Beverly D., but popped a splint and has not been ready to return until now. On raw talent, Treat Gently is a threat. SALVE GERMANIA (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), who shocked the Ballston Spa H. (G2) in her U.S. debut, will be making her first start for IEAH Stables and Todd Pletcher. Her European form is a far cry from that of the others in here, and the E. P. Taylor is a tougher test. Still, Salve Germania finished like a freight train at Saratoga, and I don't want to underestimate her again. With a strong performance here, she can book her ticket to the Filly & Mare Turf, and maybe free up Diamondrella for the Mile. PRINCESS HAYA (Street Cry [Ire]) is in a similar position, since she exits a photo-finish upset of Forever Together in the Canadian S. (Can-G2) over the course. The Michael Matz filly picks up 11 pounds off that surprising victory, though, and faces a tall order to follow up in her 1 1/4-mile debut. Queen Elizabeth II: Like last year, Keeneland's signature race for the three-year-old filly turf set shapes up as a rematch of the Garden City at Belmont. Garden City winner MISS WORLD (Bernstein), runner-up SHARED ACCOUNT (Pleasantly Perfect) and badly-hampered fourth GOZZIP GIRL (Dynaformer) will renew rivalry in the 1 1/8-mile affair. Gozzip Girl, who had emerged as the divisional leader after her smashing triumph in the American Oaks Invitational, must turn the tables to regain her status. If the Albertrani filly does so, she would probably advance to the Filly & Mare Turf. Although Pucker Up S. (G3) victress HOT CHA CHA (Cactus Ridge); BLIND DATE (Not for Love), who had beaten Shared Account in the Virginia Oaks (G3) over the summer; and the streaking Woodbine shipper LADY SHAKESPEARE (Theatrical [Ire]) all lend substance to the QEII field, the absences of a few notable names in the division are disappointing. The only Southern California representative is San Clemente H. (G2) third HAMEILDAEME (GB) (Storming Home [GB]), who could do no better than fourth in the Del Mar Oaks (G1) and Pucker Up. Regrettably, Del Mar Oaks winner INTERNALLYFLAWLESS (Giant's Causeway) opted to take on older rivals in the Yellow Ribbon instead and faded to finish last of eight. WELL MONIED (Maria's Mon), runner-up to Gozzip Girl in the American Oaks and a wide-trip third in the Del Mar Oaks, was bound for the QEII, but the DRF revealed that a lung infection has ruled her out. In a similar vein, MARAM (Sahm), last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf queen, suffered foot trouble that has altered her fall plans. Rerouted to this past Monday's Pebbles S. at Belmont, the Chad Brown filly was unlucky to be handed her first defeat. Maram got away a step slowly and didn't seem to be traveling all that happily down the backstretch, was fanned out very wide turning for home, but rallied stoutly and just missed to MISS CATALYST (Mr. Greeley) and PULL DANCER (Pulpit). The lack of international invaders in the QEII is also unfortunate. The QEII has often served up a clash between recently arrived Europeans and the cream of the American crop, but not this time. It was thin in that department last year as well, and we can only hope that this is an accidental blip and not a trend. On the horizon: Our final installment will revolve around selections for the Filly & Mare Turf.
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