Groupie Doll defends Filly & Mare Sprint title

It wasn't as dominating a performance as last year, but Groupie Doll retained

her status as queen of American sprinting after successfully defending her title

in Saturday's Grade 1, $920,000

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita.

Working out a trip nearly identical to the one she had in 2012, Groupie Doll

raced five wide down the backside and eventually moved in a couple of paths as

she gained on the leaders around the far turn.

"It set up just like last year," jockey Rajiv Maragh said. "Good trip and

when we got to the quarter pole, I was like 'Whew, we're passing horses.' And I

haven't even asked her yet. She ran great."

Taking over at the top of the stretch over from a tiring Sweet Lulu, who set

a pace of :22 and :44, and Teddy's Promise with a three-wide bid, Groupie Doll

opened up a two-length lead after six furlongs. However, a determined run from

9-1 chance Judy the Beauty saw her margin of victory whittled down to a

half-length at the wire, with Dance Card another half-length back in third.

Groupie Doll, who was an odds-on choice a year ago but only a 3-1 favorite

here after losing two of her last three starts, returned $8, $4.60 and $3.40

after completing seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:20 3/5.

The order of finish was rounded out by Summer Applause, Sweet Lulu, Dance to

Bristol, Great Hot, Teddy's Promise, Book Review, Renee's Titan, Ismene, and

Starship Truffles.

Likely securing a second consecutive Eclipse Award as champion female

sprinter, Groupie Doll now heads to the sales ring on Wednesday at the Keeneland

November Breeding Stock Sale.

"She's the best! I'm so glad she got to show that today," trainer Buff

Bradley said. "No one on my team ever lost confidence in her. We've always knew

how good she is. The dirt and the seven furlongs were the difference today.

Today was going to be emotional no matter what. This is her last race for us.

I'm just so happy she's going out a winner."

Groupie Doll is owned by Buff Bradley and his father, Fred, Carl Hurst and

Brent Burns.

In addition to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Groupie Doll also

captured the Madison and Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland, the Humana

Distaff at Churchill Downs, and the Presque Isle Downs Masters last season. Her

five-race win streak came to an end in her final start of the year, a

heart-breaking nose loss against males in the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.

Sidelined for much of this year due to various ailments, Groupie Doll

returned to action in the one-mile Gardenia at Ellis Park on August 3. Winner of

that one-mile test in her stakes debut in 2011, the chestnut appeared in need of

one when she finished third, beaten a length by Devious Intent. She was back in

top form, however, for the Presque Isle Downs Masters the following month,

winning by 1 1/2 lengths in a track record 1:14 4/5 for 6 1/2 furlongs.

Doubts surrounding Groupie Doll's form emerged when she met defeat for a

second time this season in the October 5 Thoroughbred Club of America at

Keeneland, a track she had previously been undefeated over. Third to Judy the

Beauty that day, she reversed that form here while pushing her career mark to

21-11-4-4, $2,478,850.

Groupie Doll is out of the winning Silver Deputy mare Deputy Doll, who is a

half-sister to dual stakes victor Russellthemussell, stakes-placed Slick Report

and the dam of multiple Grade 2-placed stakes hero Aristotle. This is the same

female family as Grade/Group 1 winners Rootentootenwooten and Prorutori; Grade 2

diva Ivanavinalot; and Grade 3 scorers It's Tea Time and Kukulcan.

Groupie Doll's fourth dam is Floral Park, a stakes-winning half-sister to the

dam of Hall of Famer Gallant Bloom as well as a full sister to Delaware and

Ladies Handicap queen Flower Bowl, who is famous for producing Graustark and His

Majesty.

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