My Miss Aurelia: A 2013 Forecast

The older female division for 2012 was certainly not lacking in talent, excitement and glamour. As exciting as 2012 was in the distaff division, 2013 is setting up to be an even more spectacular display of the nation’s best fillies and mares. Royal Delta added a second stellar year to her record and became the first back-to-back winner of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies' Classic, (Gr.1) since superstar Baykoa won back-to-back runnings in 1989 and 1990, in early November of this year. A failed attempt to win the Dubai World Cup did little to diminish her status as an elite runner and she finished up the year with two consecutive Grade 1’s, and will enter 2013 once again as the title holder for divisional honors. It doesn’t appear she has reached the limit of her potential and in fact, she looked better than ever winning the Breeders’ Cup Ladies' Classic, so it wouldn’t be considered absurd to predict another championship season from such a talented, capable filly. But many challenges lie in her path in the coming year if she is once again to conquer the championship. The talent pool she faces in 2013 may be the toughest she has faced yet and the biggest threat could come from a champion who was handed her first ever career defeat by Royal Delta.

That filly is My Miss Aurelia, 2011 Champion 2-year-old Filly and an undefeated wonder until a very game and impressive second place finish behind Royal Delta in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies' Classic. After posting a 4-for-4 campaign in 2011 that was so impressive it garnered her a number of Horse of the Year votes, My Miss Aurelia sat on the sidelines for almost nine months nursing a shin injury before an explosive comeback victory in the Mandy Gold Stakes at Saratoga in August. The competition wasn’t exceptional, but the class she showed in winning after a bad stumble at the break was. After nabbing Questing at the wire in the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes one month later to remain undefeated, My Miss Aurelia ran a courageous second to Royal Delta in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies' Classic (Gr.1). That effort showed just how exceptional of a filly My Miss Aurelia is. To run that well off a foundation of just two races after missing almost 9 months’ worth of training is nothing short of awesome.

If there is any horse in the nation that can challenge Royal Delta for the divisional leadership in 2013, my money would be solidly on My Miss Aurelia, and since Royal Delta is once again heading to Dubai to contest the World Cup, I’d say My Miss Aurelia could very well get the jump on her if she begins a strong conquest in the home land. That conquest could be set to start the day after Christmas at Santa Anita when My Miss Aurelia faces an excellent field that includes the lightning fast Reneesgotzip, as well as graded stakes winner Mama Kimbo and stakes winner Candrea, in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes. If My Miss Aurelia is the filly many racing enthusiasts believe her to be, the La Brea Stakes (gr.1) will simply prove to be another exciting stepping stone on the path for a brilliant filly’s journey to greatness. One thing is for sure; if she wins the La Brea, she will almost surely be crowned the nation's Champion 3-year-old filly, and rightfully so.