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FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY MAY 19, 2009 Unlike the male turf division, the filly and mare turf set has a clear-cut leader, a domestically based champion who seeks to retain her crown in 2009. As a result, the divisional dynamic is different, with a reigning queen and a host of ambitious pretenders to the throne. Will the monarch quash these challenges to her authority? Will one of the well-bred rebels mastermind a coup d'etat? Or will a foreign invader depose her in the end? So far, the queen looks to have a formidable grip. Return of the champion: The ruler in question, of course, is FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong to Me), who earned an Eclipse Award by virtue of her rallying victories in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), Diana S. (G1) and First Lady S. (G1) last season. Considering that she ended her four-year-old campaign on the highest note, it would have been understandable if owner George Strawbridge Jr. had retired her, but to his great credit, he kept her in training with Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard. As if to ratify that decision herself, Forever Together returned in style in the April 11 Jenny Wiley S. (G2) at Keeneland. Under a confident Julien Leparoux, the gray mare settled near the back of the pack, well off the early crawl on the rain-softened ground. Forever Together readily cruised to the front in the stretch, with the merest nudge from Leparoux, and scored by one length with contemptuous ease. According to the Trakus data, the Augustin Stable colorbearer blitzed her final sixteenth in :6.11, and she achieved a peak speed of 40.4 miles per hour in the 1 1/16-mile event -- all while appearing to be out for a casual stroll. Defending Jenny Wiley champion RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) was receiving six pounds from Forever Together, the 123-pound highweight, but that concession was not remotely enough to level the playing field. Still, Rutherienne turned in a valiant runner-up effort. Much smaller than Forever Together, Rutherienne was overshadowed both literally and figuratively as the champion rolled past her, yet she never surrendered. Although she has not won since the 2008 Jenny Wiley, she consistently runs her race, and did so again here. Among the also-rans were Garden City S. (G1) heroine BACKSEAT RHYTHM (El Corredor), who was coming off an up-in-time victory in the March 14 Hillsborough S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, and multiple Grade 3 winner I LOST MY CHOO (Western Expression), exiting a sharp score in the March 7 Honey Fox S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park. To be fair, Backseat Rhythm and I Lost My Choo -- both confirmed closers -- were not best served by morphing into pace-pressers in the Jenny Wiley. Reverting to late-running tactics, and back on firm turf, I Lost My Choo lorded it over New York-breds in Sunday's Mount Vernon S. at Belmont Park. Juddmonte juggernaut: Juddmonte Farms has been experiencing a bit of dry spell in this division recently, but three talented homebreds may be poised to end the drought. First, the brilliant but temperamental VENTURA (Chester House) has suffered two straight losses by being nailed at the wire. When tackling males in the March 7 Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1) at Santa Anita, the Bobby Frankel mare accelerated sharply to take the lead, only to be caught by the flying Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat). She was again run down late in the April 9 Madison S. (G1) on Keeneland's Polytrack, this time by the streaking Informed Decision (Monarchos). Regardless of whether Ventura relapsed into her unattractive habit of losing focus in front, or not, it still took a sterling performance to beat her on each occasion. Ventura will return to turf, and male company, for the Shoemaker Mile (G1) on Memorial Day at Hollywood Park, and it would come as no surprise if she regains the winning thread. With Ventura deployed on the West Coast, stablemate MODERN LOOK (GB) (Zamindar) will represent the team in the June 6 Just a Game S. (G1), a one-mile affair at Belmont that served as Ventura's coming-out party on turf last year. Unlike Ventura, who had competed at a modest level in Europe, Modern Look was pitched into the most august spots during her abbreviated three-year-old campaign. Runner-up to champion Natagora in her sophomore debut, she was a creditable fourth in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Fr-G1) to the peerless Zarkava, with eventual Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) heroine Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa) in second and subsequent Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) winner Halfway to Heaven (Ire) in third. Form lines don't come much better than that. Modern Look followed up with an impressive three-length victory in the Prix de Sandringham (Fr-G2), but something went badly amiss at Royal Ascot when she was virtually eased in the Coronation S. (Eng-G1). Modern Look was sidelined for nearly nine months. Transferred to Frankel, she made an encouraging reappearance in the March 13 Moscow Burning S. at Santa Anita. Modern Look was a bit fresh and eager to go in her return, pressing a solid pace before surging to the front in midstretch. In the final yards, however, she was overtaken by DAWN AFTER DAWN (Successful Appeal), who extricated herself from a pocket and finished like the proverbial freight train. The final time for the firm-turf mile was a sharp 1:34 1/5, and as will be discussed further below, Dawn After Dawn went on to boost this form. Modern Look figures to move forward off that tightener. Juddmonte's third homebred hope, VISIT (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]), has become a money-burner of late, but she too is eligible to rebound in the right circumstances. A miserable sixth in the February 14 Santa Maria H. (G1) on Pro-Ride, the four-year-old turned in a much better effort when reverting to turf for the March 22 Santa Ana H. (G2) at Santa Anita. Despite being very rank early, and even though she was mired between rivals in the stretch, Visit finished strongly to miss by a head and a neck to BELMONT CAT (NZ) (Felix the Cat) and BEL AIR SIZZLE (Unusual Heat), respectively. Visit was expected to meet Forever Together in the Jenny Wiley, but she was scratched and reappeared instead in the May 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. (G2), where she was pinched back at the start, compromised her chances by being rank, and hopped onto her left lead as she tried to rally on the rain-affected ground. After all that, she managed to get up for fifth. What might help to turn things around for Visit, besides a better trip on firm turf? Perhaps she should be allowed to take up a more forward position early. Or, perhaps she is just not at her best in the spring. Her former trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, told Racing Post last summer that it had "taken so long for her to come right," but I do not know exactly what he meant. In any event, Visit was in superb form in the second half of 2008, as her sparkling fourth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf attests. Surely she is still capable of that kind of display. Tiznow-tough: The Churchill Distaff Turf Mile unveiled a new force in TIZAQUEENA (Tiznow), a lightly raced four-year-old who has inherited all of her sire's fortitude and appetite for combat. Bred by Stonerside Stable, and now campaigned by Darley Stable, the Michael Stidham trainee contested the early pace, powered to the front, and was soon accosted by the charging Dawn After Dawn. Tizaqueena looked for all the world as if she would be passed in her turf stakes bow, but she is her father's daughter. The plucky Tiznow genes rose up within her, and once she eyeballed Dawn After Dawn, Tizaqueena found another gear and won going away by three-quarters of a length. Moreover, she was the only pace factor to stick around for the finish, making her performance all the more meritorious. Now boasting a five-for-six lifetime mark, Tizaqueena is an exciting prospect with the profile of a triple-surface threat. She won two of three on the dirt, with her lone loss a runner-up effort in the 2008 Tiffany Lass S., after which she was shelved for 11 months. The dark bay is three-for-three since switching to the turf this year, and she could be the type to excel on synthetic surfaces as well. Shaking off the rust: Several divisional stalwarts have returned to action within the past month. The April 18 Santa Barbara H. (G2) at Santa Anita came up especially deep, with John C. Mabee H. (G1) victress BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) and Beverly D. S. (G1) third TOQUE DE QUEDA (GB) (Dansili [GB]) making their 2009 debuts. Also noteworthy was Del Mar Oaks (G1) winner MAGICAL FANTASY (Diesis [GB]), who was reverting to turf after a pair of synthetic attempts to start the season. Although none of the three had a perfectly clean trip, they dominated the finish. Toque de Queda, a new recruit to the Frankel barn, was the first of the trio to pounce, and she seized a narrow lead in deep stretch. Meanwhile, Magical Fantasy managed to regroup after a barging match on the far turn, and when the Paddy Gallagher filly found a seam between horses, she collared Toque de Queda. Black Mamba, who had been last with a quarter-mile to go, was forced out extremely wide on the turn, but delivered a monstrous closing kick. Flying home fastest of all, sizzling a final quarter in roughly :22 4/5, Black Mamba was gaining ground with every stride, and the John Sadler trainee came within a nostril of catching Magical Fantasy. Toque de Queda checked in another three-quarters of a length back in third. Judging by the quality of the participants, and the final time of 1:59 4/5 for 1 1/4 miles, the Santa Barbara shapes up as a key race. In the May 2 Wilshire H. (G3) at Hollywood, the James Cassidy-trained DIAMOND DIVA (GB) (Dansili [GB]), who had not raced since famously denying Ventura in the CashCall Mile Invitational (G2) last July, finally returned. After enjoying a perfect stalking trip, she swept to the lead, but was reeled in by the improbable GORGEOUS GOOSE (Mongoose). All things considered, it was a solid starting point for Diamond Diva, who should improve for the race. The May 2 Beaugay S. (G3) at Belmont marked the seasonal reappearances of MY PRINCESS JESS (Stormy Atlantic) and CARRIBEAN SUNSET (Ire) (Danehill Dancer), both of them looking to build on the promise shown last year. My Princess Jess took a fierce hold early as Cornelio Velasquez wrangled her back, but the Barclay Tagg filly was still brimming with energy late, roaring past Carribean Sunset to score emphatically by 1 3/4 lengths. The formerly Irish-based Carribean Sunset held on for second in her first outing for Christophe Clement, a neck ahead of the closing SOCIAL QUEEN (Dynaformer). The Beaugay third-placer came right back to flatter the top two. Making a quick return in last Saturday's Gallorette H. (G3) at Pimlico, Social Queen produced a last-to-first burst to get up on the line. The Gallorette was significant for another reason. Bill Mott chose it as the 2009 kick-off for Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) romper DYNAFORCE (Dynaformer), who really needs a lot longer than 1 1/16 miles. Given the layoff, the unsuitably short trip, and the fact that she was conceding weight all around as the 122-pound highweight, it was no monumental upset that she lost. What was surprising, however, was how tamely she folded in the stretch to finish fifth. The six-year-old will gain immeasurable fitness from this graded workout, and she will show up next time, probably in the June 20 New York S. (G2). A sprint maven like DIAMONDRELLA (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) would normally not be mentioned in my diary, but since she may stretch out in the Just a Game, she should be included. The Angel Penna Jr. mare, who closed out 2008 with a four-race winning streak, picked up right where she left off with a dazzling score from off the pace in Keeneland's 5 1/2-furlong Giant's Causeway S. on April 18. Although the Just a Game will be a huge class hike, she does have quite a turbo charge, and she deserves to take her chance. On pedigree at least, Diamondrella ought to see out the one-mile distance. Rounding out the roll call of notable returns, Darley Stable's RAW SILK (Malibu Moon) wired the field in the April 11 South Beach S. at Gulfstream, rattling off 7 1/2 furlongs in a course-record 1:27 1/5. The speedy Tom Albertrani filly was earning her first victory since her front-running coup in the Sands Point S. (G2) last May. Late bloomer: Forever Together's connections have another presence in the division with the improving five-year-old WINTER VIEW (Thunder Gulch). A half-sister to last year's English champion two-year-old filly Rainbow View (Dynaformer), Winter View has taken rather longer to prove herself, but the Sheppard trainee posted a new career high when capturing the April 23 Bewitch S. (G3) at Keeneland. After lagging at the rear for more than 1 1/4 miles, the chestnut inhaled the field, kicked clear, and was two lengths on top at the end of the 1 1/2-mile contest. COMMUNIQUE (Smart Strike), who entered as the defending champion, endured a wide trip throughout and ran 46 feet farther than the winner, according to Trakus. She did well in the circumstances to prevail in a four-way scrimmage for second. Trakus reveals that Winter View reached a top speed of 40.8 miles per hour. It was a remarkable effort for a mare who had taken six starts to break her maiden in France, and went winless for 10 more races, until she was awarded an allowance victory via disqualification at Delaware Park last summer. Now, she has won two in a row. How does one explain this transformation? The answer is clear: Sheppard stepped her way up in trip to 1 1/2 miles. In her debut at the distance at Keeneland on April 5, Winter View engineered a startling two-length victory in an allowance, foreshadowing a similar trip in the Bewitch. She should be as effective at 1 3/8 miles, and if she can deliver the same late kick at 1 1/4 miles, Winter View will have many more opportunities to bolster her resume. Trading decisions: At Gulfstream Park this winter, a rivalry developed between a pair of imports, CRITICISM (GB) (Machiavellian) and DRESS REHEARSAL (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]), who traded decisions in the meet's marquee events for distaff turf marathoners. Interestingly, both had performed well versus males in listed stakes company in Europe. Criticism, a Darley Stable homebred trained by Albertrani, used her tactical speed to draw first blood in the rivalry. In the February 22 The Very One S. (G3) going 1 3/8 miles, Criticism got away with pedestrian splits, opened up a commanding lead in midstretch, and scorched her final furlong in :11 2/5 to win by 2 1/2 lengths. Dress Rehearsal, a Bill Mott pupil who sports the Swettenham Stud silks, closed powerfully for runner-up honors in just her second U.S. start off a lengthy layoff. Dress Rehearsal exacted revenge next time out in the March 22 Orchid S. (G3) at 1 1/2 miles. A runaway early leader played havoc with a sizzling pace, foiling Criticism's modus operandi. Dress Rehearsal also took up a much closer stalking position, keeping a watchful eye on Criticism. Although Criticism eventually took over and opened up by 1 1/2 lengths, she tired late. Aided by the combination of a truly run race, and different tactics, Dress Rehearsal drove to a convincing 2 3/4-length decision, with Criticism a retreating third. The rivals then went their separate ways. Criticism stayed in Florida for the April 25 La Prevoyante H. (G2) at Calder, where she was able to saunter through ludicrous splits, shrugged off an early challenge and held sway by one length. Dress Rehearsal shipped to Keeneland for the Bewitch, where she might have preferred having Criticism as a target. With no one wanting the lead, Dress Rehearsal wound up setting a dawdling pace, only to be swamped by Winter View and outgamed by Communique en route to her third-place finish. Criticism and Dress Rehearsal are likely to have a rubber match in Saturday's Sheepshead Bay S. (G2) at Belmont Park, with Winter View also possibly lining up. On the horizon: Our next issue will recap the Sheepshead Bay, the May 30 Gamely S. (G1), the Just a Game and the Mint Julep H. (G3) on June 6.
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