Filly & Mare Turf Diary

FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY

OCTOBER 3, 2006

by Kellie Reilly

Did we learn anything new about WAIT A WHILE (Maria's Mon) in the 1:59

2/5 it took her to destroy older distaffers by a stakes-record 4 1/2 lengths in

Saturday's Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) at Oak Tree? Not really. It's true that

she was tackling her elders for the first time, but the California group is a

cut below the Eastern brigade, and it would have been a disappointment if she

hadn't dusted them.

The Todd Pletcher filly's race was essentially a replication of her tour de

force performances in the Lake Placid S. (G2) at Saratoga last time out and the

American Oaks Invitational S. (G1) at Hollywood Park two starts back, her

margins of victory in those affairs 4 3/4 and 4 1/2 lengths, respectively. For

the third time in a row, Wait a While secured a forward tracking position early,

accosted the pacesetter on the far turn and surged clear, exuding sheer power.

The gray finished her final quarter of the Yellow Ribbon in a world class :23.

That kind of closing kick obviously makes her a top contender in the Breeders'

Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). What could be even more lethal, however, is her

tactical speed, as well as her eagerness to get into the race early. Wait a

While won't be held hostage by the pace scenario, and she figures to get first

run on the classy closers at Churchill Downs. On the negative side, she'll have

to turn in her fourth straight herculean effort on the turf, only this time

against the toughest field she's ever faced and at the end of a long campaign

that began in February. If Pletcher can keep her at her peak for one more race,

though, look out.

Pletcher will likely send out two other noteworthy grays in key upcoming

races. In Saturday's Flower Bowl Invitational S. (G1) at Belmont Park,

HONEY RYDER (Lasting Approval) will try to rebound from her fourth in the

Beverly D. S. (G1). Among those she could face in that informative 1 1/4 mile

prep are Diana S. (G1) winner ANGARA (GB) (Alzao), Diana third

ARGENTINA (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) and Beverly D. runner-up FILM MAKER

(Dynaformer). Prix de Pomone (Fr-G2) victress FREEDONIA (Selkirk), most

recently fourth in the tough Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1), may also take part, but

trainer John Hammond is pondering the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S.

(G1) versus males on the same day.

Next weekend, the Pletcher juggernaut will try to roll on courtesy of Garden

City Breeders' Cup S. (G1) heroine MAGNIFICENT SONG (Unbridled's Song),

who is targeting the October 14 Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup

S. (G1) at Keeneland. Unbeaten Pucker Up S. (G3) winner VACARE (Lear

Fan) is also eyeing that prize, according to the Daily Racing Form. Prix Saint-Alary (Fr-G1) queen GERMANCE (Silver

Hawk), successful in the Prix de la Nonette (Fr-G3) last time out, could invade

for the crafty Jean-Claude Rouget.

Keeneland will play host to another seminal Breeders' Cup prep on October 14

in the shape of the one-mile First Lady S. (G2), formerly known as the

Galaxy S. (G2). The Daily Racing Form reports that GORELLA

(Fr) (Grape Tree Road [GB]) will be dropping back in trip after her scintillating victory in the 1 3/16-mile Beverly D., and

presumably her performance in the First Lady may help horseman Patrick Biancone

to zero in on her Breeders' Cup target, either a repeat bid in the Mile (G1) or

an attempt at the 11-furlong Filly & Mare Turf.

Also possibly lining up in the First Lady is Stonerside Stable's homebred,

and one of my favorites, KAREN'S CAPER (War Chant). In her latest outing,

the Bobby Frankel filly uncorked a fantastic late burst to overhaul a

loose-on-the-lead POMMES FRITES (Dynaformer) in the one-mile Noble Damsel

Breeders' Cup H. (G3), reeling off a final quarter in a riveting :22 2/5 at

Belmont. Interestingly, the only other horse to catch Pommes Frites this year

was Gorella. The Karen's Caper-Gorella clash should be fascinating, especially

considering that they've met before at Keeneland. In last October's QEII,

Karen's Caper was an agonizing second, a whisker behind SWEET TALKER (Stormin

Fever), with Gorella just a neck adrift in third.

These final major Breeders' Cup preps will give us plenty to review in our

next installment in a few weeks' time.