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JUVENILE FILLIES DIARY OCTOBER 6, 2006 by Tom Joyce POINT ASHLEY (Point Given), widely considered the leading two-year-old filly in Southern California, finished a well-beaten second to CASH INCLUDED (Include) in last Saturday's Oak Leaf Breeders' Cup S. (G1). The bay broke from the far outside (post 11) in the two-turn, 1 1/16-mile Oak Leaf, but essentially blew the first turn. She lost considerable ground while trying to turn left going into the bend, then pressed from the outside while three wide down the backstretch. On the second turn, Point Ashley was asked to go after Cash Included, who had easily assumed command, but once again she didn't handle the turn and came into the stretch well off the fence. In the drive, Point Ashley, the 1-2 favorite, could not catch Cash Included and faded late, galloping out poorly after the wire. Cash Included, at nearly 14-1, broke forwardly and looked like she was on rails going around the first turn. The recently acquired Craig Dollase trainee clocked longshot SHES GOT SKILLS (Siphon [Brz]) down the backside, then easily took the lead on the far turn when that rival stopped. Cash Included was in complete control in upper stretch, then drew off with authority, winning by 4 3/4 lengths, and galloped out strongly past the finish line. I was hoping Point Ashley would win the Oak Leaf and then continue toward the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) as the likely favorite. I have always believed that, despite her pedigree, she was vulnerable over a route of ground. It appeared to me that she had been trained for speed, and I did not like the way she finished in the seven-furlong Del Mar Debutante (G1), a race she won by 2 1/2 lengths. Still, she may go forth at underlaid odds on the first Saturday in November. Cash Included, on the other hand, appears to be a filly to be reckoned with. Her performance in the Oak Leaf displayed considerable maturity and professionalism. One week earlier and about 3,000 miles to the east, the nondescript longshot MEADOW BREEZE (Meadowlake) prevailed in a blanket photo to win the seven-furlong Matron S. (G1) at Belmont Park. The Carl Deville-trained chestnut pressed pacesetter FEATHERBED (Smart Strike) all the way around before nipping that one on the line. The Todd Pletcher-trained OCTAVE (Unbridled's Song), who finished in a dead-heat for second with her barnmate Featherbed, may have run the best race. She closed determinedly along the rail, took the lead in the shadow of the wire, then just missed. Octave won the Adirondack Breeders' Cup S. (G2) in her previous start and could be a big price in the Juvenile Fillies. Of course the big disappointment in the Matron was 6-5 favorite MAGICAL RIDE (Storm Cat), who offered a mild, three-wide bid turning for home before fading in the stretch, finishing a distant fifth. She will probably regroup on the sidelines. The lucrative NATC Futurity at Monmouth Park revealed the intriguing CAT ON A CLOUD (Smoke Glacken). The undefeated gray stalked pacesetter ANGEL ISLAND (Forestry) while in hand, took the lead turning for home under confident handling, then quickly drew off when given the signal late, winning the six-furlong test by a widening 4 1/2 lengths. No word on where she will run next. Debutante S. (G3) runner-up CHAGALL (Successful Appeal), the 6-5 favorite trained by Pletcher, forced the early issue along the fence before stopping readily in the drive. She probably is headed to a lesser event rather than the Juvenile Fillies. COHIBA MISS (Cat Thief) won the two-turn Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies S. in front-running fashion on the Polytrack at Turfway Park, but the results seem fluky. Most of the winners on the card ran either on or near the early lead. Trainer Bernie Flint said Cohiba Miss will be pointed toward the Juvenile Fillies, but the one-dimensional speedster is nowhere near the top of the division. She will be very easy to cross out. The Tom Amoss-trained WHATDREAMSRMADEOF (Graeme Hall), the 2-1 favorite, closed decently for runner-up honors, one length ahead of the wide-trip EXPERTISE (Hennessy). CHEROKEE SHEIK (Cherokee Run), trained by Bill Mott, and KAUAI CALLS (Fusaichi Pegasus), the 5-2 second choice, were nowhere to be found. This race does not figure to produce any serious contenders for the Breeders' Cup. On Friday, the Alcibiades S. (G2) will be decided on Keeneland's newly installed Polytrack surface. A full field of 14 will line up for the two-turn, 1 1/16-mile event, including the first three finishers of the Spinaway S. (G1), the second- and third-place runners from the Del Mar Debutante, and the winner of the Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Lassie S. (G3). It will be interesting to see how this race is run and who earns a gold julep cup and complimentary 2007 nomination to Rockport Harbor for her owner. A week and a day later, the one-mile Frizette S. (G1) will be run around one turn at Belmont Park. This race could come up light and feature a rematch of the Matron runners. In the next edition, we will review the Alcibiades and Frizette, and release our top five contender list.
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