Catching up with the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Early February and it's time for many of the promising 2-year-olds of last fall to make the first run of their 3-year-old seasons. The Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park, set for Saturday, has been a fortuitous launching pad in the past decade for some of the country's best 3-year-old fillies, including Eight Belles, Rachel Alexandra and Take Charge Brandi. With the weather still a bit dicey — and crowds lighter — fans have a chance to get right up close to their favorite. Or maybe you haven't picked your favorite filly yet?
The marquee filly in this year's running of the Martha Washington is Nickname, who ran fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 31, far behind dominant winner Songbird. Winner of the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park in October, Nickname shipped in from Fair Grounds for one workout Tuesday at Oaklawn before being installed as the morning line favorite. She ran a credible race in the BC Juvenile Fillies, tracking Songbird and second-place finisher Rachel's Valentina before being nipped by Dothraki Queen for show as she tired in the late stretch.
Knowing that Nickname and Songbird both make their debuts Saturday made me want to catch up with the entire field of juvenile fillies from the Breeders Cup. Where are they now?
I keep close tabs on two of them: Songbird and Rachel's Valentina. Songbird of course is the overwhelming favorite in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes at Santa Anita on Saturday. She's so good that many people wish she was on the Kentucky Derby trail. Having also been an Eight Belles fan, I understand why her ownership doesn't want to go down that road again, and I'm good with it. If she dominates throughout, so be it.
The beautiful Rachel's Valentina had her third workout of 2016 on Tuesday at Stonestreet Training Center on the same day as her half-brother Jess's Dream. Trainer Todd Pletcher has not yet settled on a race for the 3-year-old debut of the daughter of Rachel Alexandra and Bernardini.
I had to do some research on the others.
• Third-place Dothraki Queen likewise placed third in the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes on Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs. Trainer Kenny McPeek said she's a week to 10 days from being ready to breeze at Oaklawn Park, according to a tweet on Thursday from Oaklawn's Robert Yates. He also tweeted that Dothraki Queen will be targeted to the 1000 Guineas for 3-year-old fillies at Newmarket on May 1.
• Fifth place Ma Can Do It has not worked nor raced since the Juvenile Fillies. The same is true for tenth place Bold Quality.
• Sixth place Tap To It has recorded four works this year, the last Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park. Owing perhaps to her sire or her good looks, she is 41st on Horse Racing Nation's fan rankings.
• Seventh place Land Over Sea, who has been working steadily at Santa Anita, is also entered in the Las Virgenes, with early odds of 8-1. She chased Songbird through her juvenile season and lines up against her rival once again.
• Eighth place Forever Darling won the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 2.
• Ninth place Right There will run Saturday in the California Oaks at Golden Gate. She was third in her prep for that race, an Allowance Optional Claiming on Jan. 8 at Santa Anita.
Back at Oaklawn, Nickname faces a field of quality fillies.
My Master Plan was undefeated in four starts at Remington Park last fall.
Ready to Confess and Dorodansa share a co-top speed figure for the field from an Optional Claiming race at Oaklawn on opening day, Jan. 15, when Ready to Confess was the half-length winner. The same day, Marquee Miss surprised favorite Durango to finish first in the Dixie Belle – although neither of these girls has run two turns.
Lovable Lyss has two dominating wins on her resume from Fairgrounds before a lackluster last-out on Jan. 16, also at Fairgrounds.
Lastly, Red Fern Doll exits her maiden victory on turf at Fairgrounds, a key race.
For purposes of my own handicapping, Nickname is clearly the class of the field and wins with any amount of improvement. But both Ready to Confess and Dorodansa are contenders who showed great heart in their stretch battle last out. I expect Durango to improve. I'm taking a wait and see approach to Marquee Miss and My Master Plan and I'll rule out the others.