Filly and Mare Turf Diary

FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY

MARCH 14, 2006

by Kellie Reilly

This year's distaff turf division will likely witness something of a youth

movement. With several top female turf performers -- led by champion

Intercontinental (GB) (Danehill) and the brilliant Megahertz (GB) (Pivotal) --

beginning their new careers as broodmares, the divisional leadership is up for

grabs. The four-year-old SILVER CUP (Ire) (Almutawakel [GB]) has staked her

claim in California, and the lightly raced five-year-old WEND (Pulpit) has

served notice that she'll be a force to reckon with in the East.

Silver Cup has looked positively stylish in landing the 1 1/8-mile San

Gorgonio H. (G2) and then successfully cutting back in trip in the one-mile

Buena Vista H. (G2). On both occasions, she accelerated smartly to mow down

leaders who were not exactly stopping. In the first race, she collared the

classy TICKER TAPE (GB) (Royal Applause [GB]) and in the second, she swept past

a loose-on-the-lead ELUSIVE DIVA (Elusive Quality). I must confess that I

underestimated the Patrick Biancone-trained filly, as her prime credential last

year was a victory in the Premio Regina Elena (Ity-G2), or Italian One Thousand

Guineas. She made no impression when seventh in the American Invitational Oaks

(G1) in her U.S. debut last summer, and although she was a creditable third in

the Mrs. Revere S. (G2) in her only other stakes appearance, that result did not

suggest she was anything special. This year, however, Silver Cup has been a

revelation.

While I was sluggish to come around to Silver Cup, I have been a Wend

enthusiast since last year. The Bill Mott trainee did not disappoint in her

2006 debut in the Honey Fox H. (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Wend dictated the pace

throughout, finishing the 1 1/16-mile event in an eye-popping 1:38 1/5, if those

Gulfstream turf times can be believed. Considering how much she accomplished in

her first full season of racing in 2005, she should build on that foundation and

scale even greater heights this year. It's worth remembering how rapidly she

progressed last season. In the span of five starts, she climbed the ladder from

maiden status, through a pair of allowance conditions, to listed stakes and

finally a Grade 2 triumph in the New York H. at Belmont, in which she upended

such stalwarts as Wonder Again (Silver Hawk) (since retired) and FILM MAKER (Dynaformer)

(just now back on the worktab). After a sixth in the Beverly D. S. (G1), she was

a tremendous second to Intercontinental in the Galaxy S. (G2) at Keeneland.

Despite rating behind the champion's slow, uncontested pace, Wend uncorked an

energetic rally to narrow Intercontinental's margin to three-quarters of a

length at the line. Wend closed her season with a sixth in the Breeders' Cup

Filly & Mare Turf (G1).  If she stays healthy this year, she will be one of

the leading contenders for that contest.

The Honey Fox was also noteworthy for the reappearance of HONEY RYDER

(Lasting Approval), who had not raced since landing the E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1)

last October. The Todd Pletcher-trained gray finished a solid third, beaten a

total of 2 1/2 lengths, at a distance much too short for her. The 1 1/16-mile

affair will likely serve as an excellent tune-up for a defense of her title in

the Orchid H. (G2) on April 1.