Santa Anita held the final local prep (Oak Leaf Stakes) on Oct 4th, and Blind Luck came out on top.

The daughter of Pollard’s Vision, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, rallied from off the pace and spurted away by more than two lengths under Tyler Baze. She stopped the clock in 1:43.19 and paid $9. She shows three wins and a second from four career starts, with her lone setback a length defeat to the recently injured Mi Sueno.

Always A Princess ran a big race in defeat. She began her career with an off the pace tally in a 5.5f sprint at Del Mar. The Oak Leaf was the 2nd career start for the Baffert runner, and she set the pace and held the place in a game effort.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies contender Bickersons

Bickersons did the East Coast proud with a solid show finish, missing 2nd by a neck. She made her presence felt throughout and was last seen finishing a distant 3rd behind Hot Dixie Chick and Beautician in the Grade 1 Spinaway.

It Tiz showed mild late interest in a 4th place effort, and she should continue to progress with Tiznow on top and Woodman on bottom of pedigree.

The next major preps for the Juvenile Fillies are the Alcibiades at Keeneland on Oct. 9th, and the Frizette at Belmont on Oct. 10th.

The Alcibiades will be run over Polytrack, and She Be Wild looms the one to beat after an easy tally in the Arlington-Washington Lassie for trainer Wayne Catalano. Garrett Gomez rides the daughter of Offlee Wild. The aforementioned Beautician is also expected to run at Keeneland.

The Frizette is expected to attract Matron winner Awesome Maria.

Image: Newscom

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

Forever Together powerfully mowed down Precious Kitten in Friday’s other BC prep, the flat mile First Lady for grassy fillies and mares. Below is the replay, courtesy of YouTube.

Now, let’s glance at Saturday’s Cup preps…

Grade 3 Phoenix – six furlongs (polytrack)

Six of the 12 entrants are multiple synthetic winners, not including 2-1 fav Talent Search. Plenty of pace in the paper race could set things up for an off the pace type. Carnacks Choice is the lone local winner, and he is 2-2 in Keeneland synthetic sprints.

The $150k Woodford – 5.5 furlongs (turf)
This is not a graded affair, but it could produce a few starters for the new BC Turf sprint at 6.5f over Santa Anita’s downhill course. Smart Enough is a classy turf sprinter with 10 wins in 16 starts, and the fresh gelding is only making his 2nd start this year.

Grade 1 Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity – 8.5 furlongs (polytrack)

Wide open two-year-old route has attracted 11 horses, with Todd Pletcher’s Advice the tepid 7-2 fav. Ken McPeek won the filly edition of this race on Friday. He does not have one in here, but his winning turf/synthetic angle is present with Bill Mott’s Pioneerof the Nile.

Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile – 8 furlongs (turf)
Shakis drew the rail and is the 7-2 fav, but all of his US wins have come at 9 furlongs, and he might come up a tad short at a sharp flat mile. Thorn Song is probably the one to catch, and classy Woodbine shipper Rahy’s Attorney must work out a trip from the outside post.

Grade 3 Thoroughbred Club of America – six furlongs (polytrack)
Sugar Swirl is the 3-1 favorite, and she does own a synthetic win, but she did lose this race last year and could get overbet. Indyanne will attempt a wire job from the rail, and Wild Gams is the defending champ.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever

The Grade 1 $400k First Lady – One Mile (turf)
There seems to be plenty of pace present with Dreaming of Anna, Roshani, Bayou’s Lassie, and Rosinka. 2-1 favorite Precious Kitten projects a nice ground saving stalking trip, but this race might boil down to a couple of late running New Yorkers, 4-1 Rutherienne and 6-1 Forever Together.

Forever Together beat Rutherienne in the Grade 1 Diana at nine furlongs, and she has earned triple digit ratings in both of her grade one starts. She was an okay 3rd when last seen over yielding ground at Woodbine.

Rutherienne has rallied to finish 3rd in last 4 outings. She reunites with Garrett Gomez, who rides her well, and she has been overbet numerous times while never earning particularly fast speed ratings.

Precious Kitten was a close 2nd in this race last year. She’s capable of huge efforts and has been part of exacta in all five starts at a flat mile. She projects the first run trip.

I have added a replay of the 2008 Grade 1 Diana from the Spa, courtesy of YouTube.

The Grade 1 $500k Darley Alcibiades – 8.5 furlongs (polytrack)

Dream Empress was my selection in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies on Sept. 27th, but trainer Ken McPeek scratched in favor of this spot. She was much improved in 2nd out turf route win with lasix. She was favored in both starts, and barn is 20% turf/synthetic. Note that she owns a couple of Keeneland bullets for this and appears primed to run past this group.

Amanwella owns strong distance breeding with Fusaichi Pegasus on top and Strom Cat on bottom, and the promising maiden exits a clear place finish behind today’s rival Devotee from post 11 at the Spa. Graham Motion is 26% sprint/route.

Be Smart is a $325k Keeneland sales grad out of Derby-Preakness winner Smarty Jones, and she was a surprise $100 first out winner in a 5.5f MSW race at the Spa for D Wayne Lucas. She adds lasix and attracts Garrett Gomez for her initial two turn attempt.

Mani Bhavan won a slow renewal of Saratoga’s Grade 1 Spinaway It took over 14 seconds to cover the final furlong of that seven panel affair. All three of her wins were accomplished in conventional dirt sprints, and today’s Polytrack route is a whole new ballgame for the likely underlay.

Post from: Thoroughbred Fever