2014 Breeders Cup Filly And Mare Turf: It's Euro Time Again

Now in its 16th running, the birth of Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf, added in 1999, to the original seven-race Breeders' Cup program that had been standard operating procedure since the Breeders Cup commenced in 1984, was the predecessor of expansion that followed to the championship event. In 2007, the Breeders Cup added three additional races and a second day of racing. In 2008, another trio of races were installed bringing the total to fourteen. The two-day program held firm at the even number until the elimination of the B.C. Marathon following its final running last year. The installment of the F & M Turf race has certainly accomplished what its purpose was intended for, to attract grass-oriented European runners. Ten of the fifteen winners were bred in Europe. Last year, the top three positions were filled out by European runners. This year's edition had a group of eight European-bred gals pre-entered, but one withdrawal and three defections to other Breeders Cup races left us with a quartet of shippers from across the Atlantic who are quite formidable. Let's meet the field from the rail out for this 1 1/4-mile $2 million Championship.

PP-Horse/Jockey/Trainer

1-Abaco/Jose Ortiz/Shug McGaughey--After five straight near misses in which she has been very unlucky against graded stakes competition, the 6-year old mare finally got the job done in the G2 Ballston Spa at Saratoga. In her final prep race, the G1 Flower Bowl at Belmont last month, she finished second after her patented late rally fell short by a little more than a length. Pretty consistent runner who would probably have a much better record if not for her misfortunate journeys.

2-Just the Judge (IRE)/Jamie Spencer/Charles Hills--Filly won four of her first five career starts. Most notable wins in that quintet were a G2 victory (Rockfel Stakes) in her third start, and a Group 1 score (Irish 1000 Guineas) two races later. Her first run of 2014 marked her U.S debut and it resulted in a third place finish in the Beverly D. She too came out of the Arlington race (Emollient and Stephanie's Kitten being the others) to win next out when she overcame a bad start as the favorite in her final B.C. prep, but managed to rule by a half-length in the 10 furlong G1 E.P. Taylor Stakes. She's operating on a quick turn around, but enters this championship event in peaking form.

3-Dank (GB)/Ryan Moore/Sir Michael Stoute--The winner of last year's F & M Turf has returned to Santa Anita to defend her title. In 2013, the daughter of Dansili headed into the Championship event on a two race winning streak, including victory in the G1 Beverly D, and a winner of three of four races. This year, things have not gone so smooth for the 5-year old mare as she has been below her best in two starts. Following her Championship win in November, she was rested until returning to the races in March where she finished third facing males in the G1 Dubai Duty Free. She next saw action (facing males again) in mid-June at Ascot in the G1 Prince Of Wales Stakes. She was placed near the back of the field and plugged along, but never got going at any point to get involved. The top two finishers from the race, The Fugue and Magician, reversed their positions from last year's Breeders Cup Turf and the P.O.W. third place finisher, Treve, went on to win a second straight Arc De Triomphe, arguably the greatest horse race in the world. Dank has had some physical issues since then, but the fact that her world-class trainer brings her over should silence those concerns. She won last year's Filly and Mare Turf off a two and a-half month layoff. This year, the task will be tougher as she'll try to repeat off a layoff of four and a half months. If all cylinders fire, another victory won't be a surprise.

4-Dayatthespa/Javier Castellano/Chad Brown--5-year old City Zip mare, who is making her final start, owns 10 wins (tied for most)) from her 17 starts, including a pair of G1's at Keeneland. Debuted at Saratoga as a juvenile, winning first time out. Since then, she has competed in stakes races at various levels. Went on a five race winning streak in 2012, which saw her nab her first G1 win, before going down to defeat in the G1 Matriarch in her final start that season. Coincidentally, she also wrapped up her 5-race 2013 season in the Matriarch. She's two for three this year and she comes here off consecutive wins: Yaddo and First Lady, the latter being her second G1 score. She's going good right now form wise, yet, unfamiliar with the distance she's about to encounter here, having never been further than 9 furlongs. Likely to be the pacesetter, but holding off the late cavalry charge may prove futile.

5-Secret Gesture (GB)/Patrick Smullen/Ralph Beckett--4-year old Galileo bred filly drew raves when landing the listed Oaks Trial at Lingfield by 10-lengths as a 2-year old. She was runner-up next out in the G1 Epsom Oaks behind her stablemate, followed by a narrow defeat in the G1 German Oaks in early August and then was a well-beaten third to The Fugue in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks at York later that month. In her final race of the 2013 season, she faded to last place in the G1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc Day. Returned to winning form at Nottingham in June. In the G2 York Stakes in July, she was beaten only a neck by the winner, who subsequently went on to take the G1 Northern Dancer Stakes at Woodbine. Her latest run saw her finish 3rd in the G1 Prix Jean Romanet. Well suited at 10 furlongs and is not intimidated in large fields. Solid threat.

6-Fiesolana (IRE)/Billy Lee/Willie McCreery--5 year-old mare came flying home in the late stages of the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown to capture a half-length victory and earned an automatic Breeders Cup. She's a multiple Group winner, but the 2014 Matron was her initial Group 1 victory. She vastly improved upon her fifth-place outing in last year's edition. She has been most effective from 7 furlongs to 1-mile, but she does have a 10 furlong victory to her credit, although it came way back in her last start as a juvenile. She was forwardly placed in the G1 Prix de la Foret on Arc day, but she couldn't sustain her run, fading back about 2 furlongs out. Hasn't raced this far in well over two seasons, but she's a most intriguing contender with a legitimate chance.

7-Emollient/Rosie Napravnik/Bill Mott--Daughter of Empire Maker flashed brilliance in her 3-year old season last year winning a trio of Grade 1's over both turf and synthetic, but her hard fought win last month in the G1 Rodeo Drive, which earned her an automatic berth in here, was her first victory of 2014. Prior to her last, this gal suffered through a 5-race winless skid which saw her finish off the board in three of those starts, including consecutive ninth-place finishes at Saratoga. She possesses a lot of early speed, but is very versatile in her running style, having not only won on the lead, but she has gotten the job done stalking and closing from far back. Over this same course last year, she led the B.C. Filly and Mare field after a half-mile, only to finish a solid fourth beaten less than two lengths. Her last race score only solidified that she has an affinity for the firm Santa Anita turf.

8-Irish Mission/Joel Rosario/Christophe Clement--She last prepped over this turf course in the G1 Rodeo Drive where she came from 10th-place with a quarter-mile to run to dead-heat for the show spot. Was able to catch the pacesetter in the final 50 yards to win the G3 Glens Falls Stakes by 1/2 length in August. It was her first win since taking an allowance race at Woodbine the previous summer. Prior to the Saratoga victory, this Canadian-bred 5-year-old Giant’s Causeway mare, had posted two straight runner-up finishes: The 2-mile Belmont Gold Cup Invitational in June and the G3 Matchmaker at Monmouth in July. In 2012, she won the Woodbine Oaks over the polytrack, then contested the Canadian Triple Crown. She was runner-up in the Queens Plate, won the Breeders Stakes going 12 furlongs over Woodbine turf course, but ended up off the board in the middle leg, when finishing sixth over the dirt surface at my home track of Fort Erie in the Prince Of Wales Stakes. She in excellent current form right now, loves to run a long distance of ground and is a viable longshot play if you fancy that way of wagering.

9-Parranda/Elvis Trujillo/Jerry Hollendorfer--In the money eight times from nine starts in 2014 and is tied for the most starts (27) and wins (10). Started off the year with her continued dominance of the Gulfstream Park turf by convincingly winning the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf. Six of Parranda’s ten lifetime wins have come over Gulfstream’s grass. However, she's also been successful away from South Florida turf with four additional grass victories, including two 1-mile scores over this Santa Anita course. Last outing was her initial 10-furlong attempt and she almost got her picture taken. Parranda stalked the pace before taking the lead at the top of the stretch, fighting on valiantly in defeat. She's always in the mix at the finish against this level of competition, but will have her hands full in this spot.

10-Stephanie's Kitten/John Velazquez/Chad Brown--Off two strong runner-up efforts in what may be, to date, the strongest female turf routes of the year: the G1 Beverly D and the G1 Diana, this daughter of turf champ Kitten's Joy was bet down to 6-5 favoritism and earned a "Win And You're In" with a score in the G1 Flower Bowl. It was the first victory of the year from 5 races for this multiple G1 winning millionaire who was winless since last summer at Saratoga. She does her best work late with a powerful rally, but 2014 has seen her suffer some frustrating trips with her one-run closing style. In the Flower Bowl however, this gal sat closer than usual and received a much smoother journey before taking over in mid-stretch. She appears to be the best U.S. threat

11-Rusty Slipper/Aaron Gryder/H.Graham Motion--4-year old filly has won half of her eight starts, but the G3 Violet Stakes at Monmouth is the highest level she's attained. Her last run was an inside stalking journey over this Santa Anita course in the G1 Rodeo Drive Stakes where she in a golden spot at the top of the lane, however, she was passed by the top two despite running on strongly through the lane and holding the show spot in a dead heat. She's overmatched.

ANALYSIS: European grass racing is far superior to North American races on the turf that bonafide Group 1 runners are usually receiving a bit of a class relief when opposing their Grade 1 U.S. rivals. With that said, the European runners hold a definitive class edge and are once again very capable of sweeping the top three spots.

At her best, DANK towers above the others in here, but the champ is coming in cold and her form is sketchy. However, she's back against her own sex, has been specifically pointed here and therefore cannot be easily discounted off her long vacation. She's no lock this time around, but merits mega respect. Bet her, or bet against her at your own risk. I chose to do the latter. I've made FIESOLANA my top call. Don't let the shorter distances she's been running fool you. She has produced past races that can win this. She too is back in against females and that's a huge plus. This mare should like the extra ground. SECRET GESTURE is in great form, love her strong pedigree and solid in the money record (10 of 11). JUST THE JUDGE has now won two races at the highest level in two countries and can stay the trip.

Thwarting the European dominance won't be an easy task for America's best chance, STEPHANIE'S KITTEN. She's a classy multiple G1 winner that possesses a quick turn of foot, but is also a deep closer who is going to need all the help she can get up front to get the necessary pace. However, the early tempo is expected to be unhurried, thus preventing her late charge from being successful.

As always, good luck and enjoy all the Breeders Cup races.