Songbird vs. 'Valentina' in Juvenile Fillies

The top fillies from each coast—both undefeated—are set to tangle in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.



The expected favorite is Fox Hill Farms' Songbird, not only for the margins of her victories but also for the distance at which she won her last, the 1 1/16-mile Chandelier (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park Sept. 26.



NOVAK: Songbird Soars to Chandelier Victory



The frontrunning daughter of Medaglia d'Oro   cruised to a 4 1/2-length victory in the Chandelier at the Juvenile Fillies distance, which appears to give her a leg up on Rachel's Valentina, who is owned by Stonestreet Stables and 2-for-2 in one-turn races, including the seven-furlong Spinaway (gr. I) last time out Sept. 15 at Saratoga Race Course.



NOVAK: Rachel's Valentina Solid in Spinaway



They also differ greatly in style. Rachel's Valentina, a daughter of champions Bernardini   and Rachel Alexandra trained by Todd Pletcher, has come from off the pace in both of her victories. Songbird, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, has never trailed at any point of call in her three-race career, which also includes a score in the Del Mar Debutante (gr. I). Songbird will have to overcome an outside post, however, the widest of all in the field of 10. Rachel's Valentina will be just to her left under Hall of Famer John Velazquez in post 9.



Songbird should have the lead with regular rider Mike Smith in the irons, but could get a challenge for the front from LNJ Foxwoods' Nickname, last-out winner of the Frizette (gr. I) Oct. 3 at Belmont Park. The Scat Daddy   filly stalked and pounced to win the one-turn mile event on a sloppy track, but sped through her six-furlong maiden-breaking victory a start before at Saratoga. If inclement weather does strike Breeders' Cup weekend, the Steve Asmussen trainee could hold the advantage.



Nickname isn't the only filly with experience on a wet track—Dothraki Queen ran second and Ma Can Do It finished fourth in the sloppy Alcibiades (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 2—but Nickname is the only entrant with a victory over an off track.



MITCHELL: Nickname Wins Frizette Driving in the Slop



Tap to It, Bold Quality, Forever Darling, Nemoralia, and Right There all broke their maidens in sprints, but have yet to earn victories at longer distances. Tap to It and Bold Quality have all come close, however, with second-place finishes in graded events last time out.



Land Over Sea also provides an intriguing angle with her successful maiden-breaking run going a mile over turf at Del Mar in July for trainer Doug O'Neill, but she has finished well back behind Songbird—second and third, respectively—in the Chandelier and Del Mar Debutante.