Road to the 2015 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
Six weeks! That is all that remains on the countdown clock to the Breeders' Cup. With each passing day, I grow more and more excited for those two October days at Keeneland. This year has been quite the year for us horse people. I have a feeling it is going to go out with a BANG! Over the next six weeks I am going to take an in-depth look at the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. This event is always among the fastest and exciting seven furlongs of the entire weekend. This year promises to be no different. Before we can really dive into analyzing the contenders and covering story lines, I believe there are four important preps that we must keep in mind.
2014 BC Fillies & Mares Sprint
Not really a prep, but this event usually features quite a few alumni from the year before. Judy the Beauty is looking to defend her crown this year. She would follow in the steps of Groupie Doll to become the second back-to-back winner of the event. Also expected to return are last year’s pacesetter Stonetastic and presser Leigh Court. All three of these mares promise to make their presence known again this year.
Ballerina Stakes
Unbridled Forever flew home to victory in this race a few weeks back at Saratoga and punched her ticket to Keeneland. All seven starters have a legitimate shot of joining her in the gate on Halloween. With the scratch of La Verdad, the runners enjoyed a slower pace than I expect in the Breeders' Cup, but still this race is one to keep in mind come selection time.
Prioress Stakes
Cavorting notched career win number five in this September stakes at Saratoga. She has been dominant among 3yos in sprinting events this year and appears poised to take on older company this fall. Second place finisher Bar of Gold comes out of this event right there behind Cavorting. Also, keep your eye on Fusaichi Red. She was flying late, after having some traffic troubles. This filly has been improving all year, and will be running this Saturday in the Charles Town Oaks. A win there could lead to a shot at Keeneland in October.
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Honorable Miss Handicap
La Verdad is for real and that is “the truth!” She ran away with this race at Saratoga over the summer. Beating the defending Breeders' Cup champion in this division was no easy challenge, but she made it look that way. When preparing for this year’s race, you do not want to overlook this performance.
Thoroughbred Club of America
For me, this may be the most important prep of them all. Scheduled to be run on October 3 at Keeneland, I am anxiously awaiting the entries for this race. Leigh Court and Judy the Beauty have each won this event before. Groupie Doll won it back in 2012 en route to her first win in the BC Filly & Mare Sprint. Add to that, it is over the same surface that the Breeders' Cup will be run on just four weeks later.