Queen Goddess Could Make Career Bow in Goldikova

It's been a long time since Queen Goddess ' sparkling Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3T) victory, but if anyone can win coming off the bench, she can.

Campaigned by Eclipse Thoroughbreds and Gary Barber, Queen Goddess hasn't been to the starting gate since a narrow third-place effort in the May 29 Gamely Stakes (G1T), her third start since her Jan. 28 Pegasus triumph. The 5-year-old Empire Maker has proven herself successful entering off layoffs in the past, and she'll look to make it no different in the Nov. 5 $200,000 Goldikova Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park.

Although she's shortening up in trip for the mile Goldikova, with all of her finest performances occurring over 1 1/16 miles, the two-turn mile at Santa Anita should aid the cutback. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Queen Goddess has turned in three straight five-furlong works in the past month ahead of the Goldikova.

The Goldikova could also be the career finale for Queen Goddess, who is currently cataloged as Hip 172 by Bluewater Sales at the upcoming Fasig-Tipton November "Night of the Stars" Sale Nov. 7.

Luis Saez, the rider in her last three starts, has the call on Queen Goddess.

Run at Santa Anita the day after the Breeders' Cup, the Goldikova also features two fillies who were pre-entered in the Championships in the multiple graded stakes winning California-bred Closing Remarks  and the Phil D'Amato-trained Hamwood Flier .

Closing Remarks, an earner of over $857,000 from 23 starts, was under Breeders' Cup consideration before her connections ultimately opted for the Goldikova. Like Queen Goddess, the Vronsky mare is also cutting back in distance with her last win coming in the 1 1/8 Gamely Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar two starts back Sept. 9

The Harris Farms' owned runner, trained by Carla Gaines, was most recently fourth to Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) contender Didia  in the 1 1/4-mile Rodeo Drive (G2T) Oct. 7.

Hamwood Flier, one of two entrants for trainer Phil D'Amato (who will also saddle Lucky Girl ), was an impressive gate-to-wire winner over this course last year in the Swingtime Stakes. The speedy Irish-bred filly faded to eighth in this year's Swingtime Oct.9 in her first start from a ten-month layoff. Perhaps with a start under her belt and the advantage of a patient and chilly customer in jockey Flavien Pratt, the filly can relax long enough on the front end to add some graded black-type to her resume.

Anisette Looms Supreme Over Competitive Autumn Miss

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners have an excellent opportunity to land the stakes double on Sunday when likely morning-line favorite Anisette goes to post for the $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.

Trained by Leonard Powell, Anisette has gone 3 for 4 since coming to the U.S. from her native Ireland. In her final three outings, she took the San Clemente (G2T) and Del Mar Oaks (G1T) against her own age group in succession before settling for second behind the older Didia in the Rodeo Drive.

The late-running Anisette will be trying to catch one of her most formidable rivals in the Autumn Miss, the Richard Mandella pupil Ruby Nell .

A $1.2 million 2-year-old purchase for Spendthrift Farm, Ruby Nell's speed fell short when stretched out to 1 1/8 miles in the Del Mar Oaks, where she was fourth, but the Bolt d'Oro   filly rebounded with an authoritative score in the 6 1/2-furlong Unzip Me Stakes on Santa Anita's downhill turf course Oct. 1.