Cup Chatter – BC Filly and Mare Sprint
October 17, 2009 by Jarrod Horak
Filed under Breeders' Cup, Stakes Races, Synthetic Tracks
Time to take a look at the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and last year’s winner Ventura is back to defend her title.
The Robert Frankel runner is a terror on turf and synthetic ground, and she is especially dangerous around one turn. She exits a sharp late running victory against the males in the grassy Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, and she figures right there on Cup day.
Ventura is back to defend her title in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
Informed Decision figures give Ventura all she can handle on Nov 6th. The Jonathan Sheppard trainee ran her synthetic record to 6 for 6 with an off the pace tally in the Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland.
Indian Blessing finished 2nd in this event last year, and she was last seen winning the Gallant Bloom at Belmont. She handles synthetic footing but is better on conventional dirt.
Sara Louise almost got the better of Indian Blessing last time, and note that the Godolphin colorbearer is the last horse to beat Rachel Alexandra.
Godolphin also has Seventh Street, and she cuts back in distance after performing well in graded routes.
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Where is Ventura? Canat find a work since 10/13
where is Ventura now? Cant find a workout for her since 10/13
Ventura is seemingly back in California preparing to defend her BC Filly & Mare title. Not sure about her recent work patterns. Will let you know if I hear anything.
Informed Decision is absolutely in a grove right now, and Ventura or no Ventura, Informed Decision without a doubt wins the F&M Sprint. I think she and Zensational in the B.C. Sprint are 2 of the safest bets of all of the Breeders Cup races. The other 2 surest would be, imo, Interactif in the Juvenile Turf and Mastercraftsman in the B.C. Dirt Mile. If Zenyatta goes Classic, you could maybe even add Careless Jewel to that list in the Ladies Classic. jmo.
If the Cup was at Keeneland, I would give Informed Decision the edge based on her 4 for 4 record over that synthetic surface. At Santa Anita, Ventura is 2 for 2 at seven furlongs and won the Filly & Mare Sprint last year. Ventura fires fresh and rates the edge.
For a better understanding on which horse is fresher, Informed Decision has raced 5 times since beating Ventura by a head at Keeneland in April. Ventura has raced once, a sharp win over males in the Woodbine Mile.