ARCADIA, Calif. – Welcome to “Filly Friday.” Looking to establish the Breeders’ Cup as a true two-day event on its 25th anniversary, the new Cup brain trust decreed that all five races restricted to fillies and mares will be run on the same card today at Santa Anita. The remaining nine races, including the Classic, go tomorrow.
Since the inaugural Breeders’ Cup in 1984, female champions have provided many of the Cup’s most memorable moments. Some of these past champions include, Princess Rooney, Lady’s Secret, Personal Ensign and Azeri in the Distaff, which has been renamed the Ladies’ Classic. Other past filly stars are, Go for Wand, Flanders and Silverbulletday in the Juvenile Fillies; and Soaring Softly, Perfect Sting and Ouija Board in the Filly & Mare Turf.
In that tradition, several of this year’s standouts will be in the spotlight today, led by the unbeaten superfilly Zenyatta. Ginger Punch is back to defend her title, and Indian Blessing would become the first horse to win two different Breeders’ Cup races if she follows last year’s Juvenile Fillies victory with a score in the Filly & Mare Sprint.
Pick 6 betting is available on today’s five Breeders’ Cup races, with the Grade 2, $250,000 Las Palmas Handicap at a mile on turf for fillies and mares the final leg. There are also rolling pick 3’s and a pick 4 concluding with the Las Palmas. Here are some fillies you might want to use on your tickets:
FILLY & MARE SPRINT: With eight wins and two seconds from 10 starts, Indian Blessing is a superstar. She won her past three starts, including the Grade 1 Test at seven furlongs, by an average of six lengths, and won her only start over a synthetic surface last January at Santa Anita. Her chances improved even more when the speedy Indyanne scratched.
Trainer Bobby Frankel has been touting his filly, Ventura, all week. Intangarooo has three Grade 1 wins this year at seven furlongs.
JUVENILE FILLIES TURF: This race calls out for the “all” button. The Euro-invaders April Pride, Beyond Our Reach and Heart Shaped merit respect. Of the Americans, Laragh, Maram, C Karma, Freedom Rings, Consequence and Saucey Evenings are proven stakes performers with turf ability.
JUVENILE FILLIES: Pursuit of Glory broke her maiden over Polytrack in Ireland by six lengths, then ran third in a Group 1 on turf. Her dam, Sophisticat, is a daughter of champion Serena’s Song, who lost this race by a nose. Dream Empress won the Grade 1 Alcibiades over Polytrack at Keeneland by 41/4 lengths. Stardom Bound romped in her past two starts, the Mar Debutante and Oak Leaf at Santa Anita, rallying from back of the pack.
FILLY & MARE TURF: Halfway to Heaven was a multiple Group 1 winner in England and Ireland and can stay the mile-and-quarter. Wait a While is 3-for-3 over the Santa Anita turf course and 3-for-4 at the distance. Dynaforce and Mauralakana, 1-2 in the mile-and-a-quarter Flower Bowl, cannot be dismissed.
LADIES CLASSIC: Zenyatta ranks with the great fillies and mares of all time, winning all eight of her starts in dominating fashion. Last out, she took the Ladies Secret over this track and distance by 3 1/2 lengths. You might single her, but can’t throw out last year’s champ, Ginger Punch, who almost always finds a way to win, or the Godolphin Stable pair of Cocoa Beach and Music Note.
LAS PALMAS: Black Mamba, a close third behind Wait a While in the Yellow Ribbon, is the class of the field, draws the rail and gets a quick pace to set up her late run. She’s a legitimate single.