BC Juvenile Fillies win would be bonus for Iron Orchard
For those who think Larry Doyle of KatieRich Farms acquired Iron Orchard for $2.5 million at Fasig-Tipton’s digital fall flash sale because he was convinced she will win the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Friday, think again.
Doyle said he and his farm manager, George Barnes, worked independently for three days ahead of the sale, studying her pedigree and various past performances. They each came to that price as fair value for the Grade 1-winning daughter of Authentic as part of their desire to enhance their 30-horse broodmare band and because they believe she has great earning opportunities as a New York-bred.
Breeders' Cup fields: Friday | Saturday
“I didn’t buy her to win the Breeders’ Cup. That would be silly,” Doyle said of his Oct. 16 purchase. “That would be gravy. That would be gorgeous. But who knows, right?”
Iron Orchard has done nothing wrong through three starts, rolling on the front end in her first two races to easily dispatch state-breds for trainer Danny Gargan before she showed a new and critical dimension by rallying from off the pace to prevail by a nose in the Grade 1 Frizette, a one-turn mile at Aqueduct, on Oct. 4.
Undoubtedly, she will be tested as never before in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. The field is led by Spendthrift Farms’ Tommy Jo, undefeated through three starts for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher after stewards elevated her from second to first in ruling that she was interfered with in the Alcibiades (G1) on Oct. 3 at Keeneland.
Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert, like Pletcher, long has excelled with juveniles. He has two expected starters in Bottle of Rouge and Explora who merit consideration. Bottle of Rouge became a Grade 1 winner when she captured the Del Mar Debutante by one length. Explora controlled the Oak Leaf (G2) by 4 1/4 lengths Oct. 4 at Santa Anita.
Doyle admitted that much of Iron Orchard’s quality remains to be determined. “I give myself a 20% chance of winning this race, to be honest with you,” he said. “There are good horses in this race.”
Doyle said the $2.5 million price tag worked for him because he believes she has an established value of $1.5 million as a broodmare. “She won a Grade 1. She did her job already,” he said. “I got a nice young broodmare. That’s the play. The racing is just additional.”
Whatever the Juvenile Fillies brings, he plans to give Iron Orchard a month or two off at KatieRich Farms in Midway, Ky., before she resumes training and is placed on the trail to the Kentucky Oaks (G1). In winning the Frizette, she already has 10 qualifying points for that prestigious race for 3-year-old fillies on May 1 at Churchill Downs.
Doyle admitted he is not sure whether she will prove during prep races that she belongs among the elite. “If she can’t cut it on the Oaks trail, I think I can make my money as a New York-bred,” he said.
Gargan said the previous owners had rejected an offer of $1.5 million for Iron Orchard as a broodmare whenever her racing career ends. When he was asked about her quality, he responded, “No New York-bred is going to beat her, and she’s proven she’s as good as any of the fillies.”
Gargan said the filly shipped well across the country to Del Mar. He is optimistic she can hit the board in the Juvenile Fillies, if not win, with regular rider Joel Rosario aboard.
“She’s got a big heart. She’s going to be right there,” he said. “At some point, somebody is going to try to get by her, and she fights.”
The trainer also praised Iron Orchard’s versatility. “She can settle and relax, or she can be in front. She kind of makes her own race,” he said. “Horses like that are always dangerous, and they can always win because they don’t depend on anybody.”