Filly and Mare Turf Diary

FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY

JUNE 27, 2006

by Kellie Reilly

Although a pair of Grade 2 events in this division were contested Saturday, they

paled in significance beside the technically lower-graded All Along Breeders'

Cup S. (G3) at Colonial Downs, the venue for the triumphant return of FILM

MAKER (Dynaformer). The Graham Motion mare had not raced since her 3

1/2-length humbling of the field in the La Prevoyante H. (G2) last December, and

she was tackling the 1 1/8-mile distance that's short of her best, but she

showed no signs of rustiness. After cruising along the rail, tucked in just

behind the steady pace, she swung to the outside in the stretch and inhaled the

pacesetter en route to a comfortable 3 1/4-length decision in a course-record

time of 1:46 2/5. Her task was made

easier by another subpar effort on the part of WEND (Pulpit), who was

already under a vigorous ride by the far turn and came up empty thereafter,

eventually checking in fifth. Even had Wend been at her best, though, she would

probably have gone under to Film Maker here, so strong did the winner look.

Motion said that the Beverly D. S. (G1) is on the radar screen,

which means that Film Maker's on a collision course with GORELLA (Fr)

(Grape Tree Road [GB]). Two weeks ago in the Just a Game H. (G2), Gorella showed

why trainer Patrick Biancone describes her as the "best grass filly in the

country." Under supremely confident handling by Julien Leparoux, she lagged

well behind POMMES FRITES (Dynaformer), who opened a sizeable lead while

carving out fairly honest fractions (considering the yielding state of the

ground). Gorella still had plenty of work to do to reel in the longtime leader

in the stretch, but she lengthened beautifully and gained huge chunks of ground

with every stride to get up by a neck in the shadow of the wire. To underline

the merit of her performance, it was seven lengths back to third.

The August 12 Beverly D. will be a terrific race, all the more

so if HONEY RYDER (Lasting Approval) would make it a "Big Three" summit.

She could try males in the July 8 United Nations S. (G1) next out, and we'll

know more about her future plans after that.

Hollywood Park will host the Cash Call Mile Invitational (G3) on

Saturday and American Oaks Invitational (G1) on Sunday. Right now it looks like the CashCall will feature

the better field, headlined by the multiple Japanese Grade 1 queen DANCE

IN THE MOOD (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) who was an excellent second in the 2004

American Oaks on her previous California trip. The now five-year-old looms as

the one to beat based on her rock-solid form in her homeland, notably capturing

the Victoria Mile (Jpn-G1) against her own sex two starts back and coming close

against top-class males a few times. In her latest outing against elite males in

the Yasuda Kinen (Jpn-G1), she was fifth while being trapped in traffic along

the rail in the stretch. I doubt she would have beaten the winner, BULLISH LUCK

(Royal Academy), but the trouble could well have cost her a placing. The other

probables are the top two finishers from the Gamely Breeders' Cup S. (G1),

SHINING ENERGY (Rahy) and DANCING EDIE (Moscow Ballet), respectively;

the streaking CAMBIOCORSA (Avenue of Flags), riding a seven-race winning

skein, including a brilliant success over this course and distance last time

out; last year's Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup S. (G1) winner

SWEET TALKER (Stormin Fever), two-for-two in 2006; last year's Garden City

Breeders' Cup S. (G1) victress LUAS LINE (Ire) (Danehill), coming off a

fifth in the Windsor Forest S. (Eng-G2) at Royal Ascot; Group 3 winner and

French classic-placed TOUPIE (GB) (Intikhab), now with trainer Beau

Greely; and the speedy FLYING GLITTER (Glitterman), a multiple Grade 3

winner on the main track who scored smartly in a mile allowance at Churchill

Downs in her turf debut. Plenty of early speed on tap here.

Unfortunately, as of Monday, the American Oaks may not

feature the two most exciting performers we've seen this year among this

division's three-year-olds, LADY OF VENICE (Fr) (Loup Solitaire) and

ATTIMA (GB) (Zafonic). Lady of Venice was light years the best in the Regret

S. (G3) a week ago. During its glory days in the Renaissance, the Venetian

Republic was dubbed "La Serenissima," or the "Most Serene," because of its

stability compared to the other Italian city-states. Lady of Venice showed

serenity of her own in the Regret. Despite having to steady off heels at the top

of the lane, the Biancone pupil just muscled her way between rivals and settled

the issue in a few stately strides. Her trainer initially said that the American

Oaks would come too soon for her, then afterward was reportedly reconsidering,

but it looks unlikely at this point. It's a similar story for Attima, who was

brilliant in her wire-to-wire victory in the Honeymoon Breeders' Cup H. (G2).

Unless my eyes deceive me, she didn't come out of a gallop in that race and won

unextended. Conditioner Julio Canani has likewise sounded inclined to skip the

Oaks.

Instead, for the American-based contenders, we're likely left

with Honeymoon second FOXYSOX (GB) (Foxhound), third PROXENIA (GB)

(Pursuit of Love) and fourth GALILEO'S STAR (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]); Bay

Meadows Breeders' Cup Oaks winner SOL MI FA (Ire) (Distant Music); and

the Todd Pletcher-trained WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon), who has solid form

on the main track but hasn't raced on the turf since breaking her maiden.

It's up to the invaders to provide the Oaks' appeal, but the

most attractive of the invitees, scintillating Oaks d'Italia (Ity-G1) winner

DIONISIA (Tejano Run), is not on Hollywood's latest list of probables.

Neither is Aidan O'Brien's Group 3 winner and dual classic-placed QUEEN

CLEOPATRA (Kingmambo). Only two internationals are considered likely.

Canada's ARRAVALE (Arch) deserves respect for being unbeaten on the turf,

but she's facing nicer company in this spot.

The other is Japan's ASAHI RISING (Royal Touch), who will

try to follow in the footsteps of her compatriot Cesario (Jpn), the overpowering

winner of last year's American Oaks. In the 1 1/2-mile Japanese Oaks last time

out, Asahi Rising opened up a daylight margin in the stretch only to weaken late

and settle for third. She'll appreciate the cutback in trip to 1 1/4 miles, not

to mention encountering a less demanding course than Tokyo. Asahi Rising is no

Cesario, but unless one of our top guns decides to run, she won't have to be

another Cesario to win.