Filly & Mare Turf Diary

FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY

MAY 12, 2005

by Jennifer Caldwell

A lot of good racing took place over the weekend, but the main focus was, of

course, on the Kentucky Derby (G1) Saturday at Churchill Downs. Nonetheless,

there were a couple of impressive winners in the distaff turf division and one

who is preparing for her return to stakes company.

MISS TERRIBLE (Arg) (Numerous) seems to have finally put it all together.

Much was expected from the Argentine import when she first shipped to the United

States in 2003, but she could never quite live up to her dual champion status in

her native land. She started only twice that year in the states, finishing off

the board in each one, then took a year off before returning in February with a

new trainer in Bradley Ross. She easily captured that six-furlong dirt test, the

Las Flores H. (G3), then was moved back to her preferred surface and posted a

front-running length victory in the Distaff Turf Mile (G3) on Saturday at

Churchill Downs. The six-year-old mare earned a nice 102 BRIS Speed rating for

that start, and looks ready to move on to bigger and better things.

VIRDEN (Tactical Cat) capped off a weekend of longshot winners when taking

Sunday's Senorita S. (G3) at Hollywood Park. Sent off the 26-1 longest shot in

the 10-horse field, the sophomore miss set the pace in the grassy mile test,

then had to withstand a challenge from Three Degrees (Ire) (Singspiel [Ire]) for the nose win. It was

her second straight score on the turf after making her grass debut a winning

one. Trained by Dan McFarlane, the dark bay filly may continue to improve as the

year goes on.

SISTER SWANK (Skip Away) headed a stakes-caliber allowance field at Churchill

on May 5, and prevailed by a half-length as the even-money choice. Trained by

Steve Asmussen, the four-year-old chestnut was coming off a third in the Jenny

Wiley S. (G3) and has never finished worse than fourth from 16 career starts.

She's likely headed back to graded competition soon, and may even face some of

her rivals from here.