BC Juvenile Fillies Turf J

BREEDERS' CUP

PREVIEWS

A full field of two-year-old turf distaffers will go a mile in the $1 million

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G2) at Churchill Downs on Friday. MORE THAN

REAL (More than Ready) was one of the more impressive youngsters to win at

Saratoga this summer in our minds and rates a big chance in this one for Todd

Pletcher. The chestnut filly, last seen finishing a solid second in the Natalma

S. (Can-G3), has useful positional speed and a strong late kick, and we don't

think we've seen the best of her just yet. We'll side with this filly to cook up

a first Breeders' Cup win for owner Bobby Flay.

Miss Grillo S. (G3) romper WINTER MEMORIES (El Prado [Ire]) has done nothing

wrong in her brief career and has looked the part of a champion for crafty turf

trainer James Toner. Produced from a dual Grade 1-winning millionaire mare, the high-quality gray ranks

first in BRIS Prime Power and is adept over turf that is firm or one that has

some give to it. The possibility of a short price is the lone reason why this

one was not our top choice.

Group 3 heroine TOGETHER (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) has faced some of the best

Europe has to offer and has never been disgraced for Aidan O'Brien. The

expensive yearling purchase has few flaws and can't be tossed in this one, but

her post is terrible (13) and we're concerned that she could leave herself too

much to do in the stretch.

QUIET OASIS (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]) is a bit of an unknown to us, but we

highly respect this barn and consider her a contender on that alone. The Brian

Meehan pupil has won or been close in each of her three starts, is bred to

handle longer and should handle the added ground with ease. Natalma victress NEW NORMAL (Forestry) led at every call in her graded win and comes in

off two consecutive wire jobs for conditioner Mark Frostad. The smart

homebred has improved her BRIS Speed figures in each of her starts and smoked a

bullet five-eighths recently in preparing for her biggest affair to date, so

she's a must-use.

KATHMANBLU (Bluegrass Cat) was a most impressive winner of the recent

Jessamine S. at Keeneland for trainer Ken McPeek and the filly must be

considered a win candidate if she can repeat that performance. The bay

finished unplaced in her debut on the main oval but has shifted her game to a

new level on the green, winning two of three starts with a fine second at

Saratoga sandwiched in between. The Kentucky-bred earned a healthy 105 BRIS Late

Pace number last out and has trained well since, so we must use her in some

exotics.

Impressive maiden heroine ALLURE D'AMOUR (Giant's Causeway) couldn't have

looked much better than she did in her recent win at Belmont Park, dusting what

could turn out to be a very good field over yielding turf for Pletcher. The well-bred chestnut has good tactical speed and proved last out

that she can pack a punch late, so we'll consider her an exotics player with

improvement. The lightly-raced FLOOD PLAIN (GB) (Orpen) hails from impeccable

connections and has flashed ability in both career tries for trainer John

Gosden. The talented bay has yet to face a graded field or run beyond seven

furlongs, but the thinking is that this outfit knows what they are doing and

we'd be foolish to second guess them. We are discouraged, somewhat, that the

filly was not backed heavily at the windows in either start.

P.G. Johnson S. star FANCY POINT (Point Given) was outrun by Winter Memories in

the Miss Grillo last out, but has improving BRIS Speed numbers and should

not be totally overlooked in this spot. The Kentucky-bred chestnut has very good

early foot, and if the filly secures an easy, uncontested early lead, she could

be dangerous. Maiden winner TALE UNTOLD (Tale of the Cat) has been close in her

last pair against sizable fields at Newmarket, but we'd be surprised to see her

jump up with a top showing here. Mazarine S. (Can-G3) queen WYOMIA (Vindication)

is yet another solid threat in this fine field, but this filly is unproven on

the turf, having won both of her races on synthetic, so we'll take a stand

against.

DOS LUNAS (Hennessy) and FOREST LEGEND (Forest Camp) look overmatched on this

day. Miss Grillo runner-up ARCH SUPPORT (Arch) has ability but isn't

very high on our list in this affair. The speedy NINA FEVER (Borrego) has won

four in succession, both all have come in sprint races and a pair of them versus

claimers, so we'll pass on the also-eligible runner.