Juvenile Fillies Diary

JUVENILE FILLIES DIARY

SEPTEMBER 22, 2006

by Tom Joyce

Since the last edition of the Juvenile Fillies Diary, the division has been

sorting itself out with races such as the Spinaway S. (G1), Del Mar Debutante S.

(G1) and the Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Lassie S. (G3).

POINT ASHLEY (Point Given) was the clear, 2 1/2-length winner of the Del Mar

Debutante. The $725,000 juvenile purchase established a good position in third

down the backstretch, advanced quickly from the outside around the turn, ran by

JUMP ON IN (Jump Start) turning for home, then drew off under urging to win the

seven-furlong event in 1:23 1/5, finishing her final three-eighths in less than

:39 1/5 and her final furlong in :13 4/5. The Bob Baffert trainee had been

working up a storm prior to the Del Mar Debutante (six furlongs out of the gate

in a bullet 1:09 4/5 on August 24), but I'm not so sure what she beat, and I'm a

little concerned with how she finished.

UNTOUCHED TALENT (Storm Cat), the unbeaten winner of the Sorrento S. (G3),

and SHE'S INCLUDED (Include) rallied from well back and finished noses apart in

second and third, respectively. All four of these could make their two-turn

debuts in the 1 1/16-mile Oak Leaf Breeders' Cup S. (G1) on September 30.

APPEALING ZOPHIE (Successful Appeal) quickly sprinted to a clear lead, shook

free turning for home, then drew off to a convincing 5 1/4-length victory in the

Spinaway. The dark bay, who was beaten by CHANGE UP (Distorted Humor) in the

Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies S. in her previous start, completed seven furlongs

on a good track in 1:23 3/5, finishing her final three-eighths in :38 and her

final eighth-mile in :13 1/5. Obviously, it would be foolish to try to compare

the times of the Del Mar Debutante and the Spinaway, but it's fun to do anyway.

Considering that she broke her maiden by 10 1/2 lengths after stumbling at

the start going 4 1/2 furlongs in her debut at Keeneland, and that she is now a

Grade 1 winner at Saratoga, Appealing Zophie demands respect. I would suspect

she is being pointed toward either the September 30 Kentucky Cup Juvenile

Fillies S. at Turfway Park or the October 6 Alcibiades S. (G2) at Keeneland.

Schuylerville S. (G3) winner COTTON BLOSSOM (Broken Vow) outdueled the Larry

Jones-trained X STAR (Pulpit) for the place, although the former had a tougher

trip. Cotton Blossom, one of many top juveniles trained by Todd Pletcher, raced

in a pocket around the turn, angled out turning for home, then edged X Star

after a prolonged battle. The latter chased the winner throughout before

galloping out in front past the finish line.

The Arlington-Washington Lassie was contested in a sea of slop. LISA M (Banker's

Gold), a 35-1 shot, closed from last to nip SUTRA (Meadowlake), another closer,

on the wire, with multiple stakes winner SEA THE JOY (Stormy Atlantic),

impressive maiden winner NOLA STAR (Three Wonders), and Change Up finishing

last, fifth, and seventh, respectively, after engaging in a three-way duel

through punishing early fractions of :22 3/5 and :45.

I'm inclined to throw this race out and give Nola Star, who held on well, and

Change Up another chance. They both could offer value in their next

starts.

DREAMING OF ANNA (Rahy) is a two-year-old filly who gives me goose bumps. The

chestnut filly was scratched out of the Arlington-Washington Lassie due to the wet

track conditions. Owner-breeder Frank Calabrese, trainer Wayne Catalano and

racing manager Steve Leving went to Plan B and ran her against males in the

Summer S. (Can-G3) on the turf at Woodbine, where she was simply awesome.

As usual, Dreaming of Anna broke alertly, then rated kindly while dueling for

the lead on the outside. She held that position down the backstretch and around

the turn with jockey Rene Douglas sitting chilly. Turning for home, she eased to

a clear lead on her own volition, then drew off through the lane under nothing

more than a hand ride, with Douglas looking around for competition. Dreaming of

Anna completed the one-turn, one-mile distance on a firm course in 1:35,

finishing her final quarter-mile in :23.

What makes this race so impressive is that the horse who chased her home,

undefeated Continental Mile S. winner Marcavelly (Johannesburg), probably is the

best two-year-old (male) turf horse in the country. When the real running

started, he could not get close, despite the efforts of jockey Edgar Prado.

In her previous start, Dreaming of Anna dueled for the lead while in hand

through fractions of :21 2/5 and :43 4/5, then drew off when given the signal to

win the Tippett S. by 7 1/4 lengths, setting a new course record of 1:01 3/5 for

5 1/2 furlongs at Colonial Downs, which lowered the previous mark set in 1999.

Dreaming of Anna likely will make her first around two turns in the November

4 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Churchill Downs. I have followed this

filly from day one, just like I have followed her full brother, Lewis Michael. I

am not concerned with her ability to handle the dirt, she trains on it everyday,

and she broke her maiden on it in her debut. As long as she continues to train

well, Dreaming of Anna, at attractive odds, could be my pick on the first

Saturday in November.

OUR FANTENE (Touch Gold) remained unbeaten in two career starts, winning the

Sorority S. at Monmouth Park by a head over 3-5 ETERNAL GRACE (Gilded Time), who

was blocked along the rail near the quarter-mile pole. Undefeated Colleen S.

winner BOVELL ROAD (Graeme Hall) never got in the game, finishing a dull fourth

for Pletcher.

ADHRHYTHM (Adhocracy) was a good-looking, 8 1/2-length winner over a troubled

SILKILY (Line in the Sand) in the Susan's Girl division of the Florida Stallion

S. at Calder. The latter runs back against open company in Saturday's Brave Raj

Breeders' Cup S.

DEVIL HOUSE (Chester House) was a comfortable, front-running winner of the

Bassinet S. at River Downs. She finished just 4 3/4 lengths behind the talented

FRANCES G (Officer) in her debut at Churchill Downs and could be a sleeper in

her graded bow.

On Saturday, the Matron S. (G1) at Belmont Park, the Monmouth Park NATC

Futurity and the Brave Raj will be decided.