Illuminate, Harmonize to Meet in Fillies Turf

Two European-based fillies have won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) since its 2008 inauguration, and Denford Stud's Illuminate will try to become the third in this year's $1 million edition Oct. 30 at Keeneland.

 

The Juvenile Fillies Turf drew a full field of 14, including 7-2 morning-line favorite Harmonize, plus one also-eligible entrant. The one-mile race is scheduled as the eighth on Friday's 10-race card, with an approximate post time of 4:50 p.m. EDT.

 

Trainer Richard Hannon's Illuminate, a Zoffany filly, will look to regain her winning form in the mile race after losing her perfect record when a good half-length second to pacesetter Luminere in the Cheveley Park Stakes (Eng-I) Sept. 26 at Newmarket. The race was her first in more than two months, and neither Hannon nor jockey Frankie Dettori thought she lost anything in defeat. 

 

Illuminate was an unexpected presence in the pre-entries after Hannon said the filly had her final seasonal start in the Cheveley Park and would be pointed to next year's One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I). She won the first three starts of her career, including the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (Eng-II) in July at Newmarket, both at six furlongs, defeating subsequent two-time group winner Besharah by a nose in the latter before finding Luminere a bit too tough in the Cheveley Park.

 

Dettori has the return call from post 10.

 

Hannon and his father, Richard Hannon Sr. have had 11 previous Breeders' Cup starters without a breakthrough. Eventual One Thousand Guineas victress Sky Lantern finished eighth to fellow Euro-based Flotilla in the 2012 Juvenile Fillies Turf for the elder Hannon, and Osaila was third behind Euro-based and now-deceased Chriselliam last year for his son, who late in the 2013 season took the reins of his father's Herridge and Everleigh Racing Stables in England.

 

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has tallied nine overall Breeders' Cup wins from 84 starters and looks to add to that record with Larkin Armstrong's Harmonize, who comes in with back-to back wins in the JP Morgan Chase Jessamine Stakes gr. (gr. IIIT) Oct. 7 at Keeneland and listed P.G. Johnson Sept. 3 at Saratoga Race Course. 

 

A filly by red-hot sire Scat Daddy   and usually sharp from the gate, Harmonize came from far back to defeat Sapphire Kitten in the 1 1/16- mile Jessamine, earning an expenses-paid berth via the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. Junior Alvarado rider Harmonize from post 8.

 

Quality Rocks was Mott's runner in the Juvenile Fillies Turf last year and finished 10th. A Breeders' Cup winner would add some extra shine to an already sensational year for Ashford Stud's current leading sire of 2-year-olds, Scat Daddy, who has had nine previous starters at the World Championships. 

 

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Sapphire Kitten reopposes in vying to provide the Kentucky couple at second win in the race, following Stephanie's Kitten's 2011 triumph. She will vie for a breakthrough stakes win from post 7 with Julien Leparoux aboard for young trainer Joe Sharp.

 

Catch a Glimpse also earned a fees-paid start into the Juvenile Fillies Turf via Woobine in a runaway Natalma Stakes (Can-II) win Sept. 12. Trained by Mark Casse for Gary Barber, Michael James Ambler, and Jeff Begg's Windways Farm. The victory was the first stakes win from two wins in three starts for City Zip  's daughter. 

 

Casse is a Breeders' Cup veteran with 23 previous starters, albeit without a victory. He was 11th in 2014 Juvenile Fillies Turf with Conquest Harlanate, fourth in 2013 with My Conquestadory, and 13th in 2012 with Spring Venture.

 

Florent Geroux has the ride on Catch a Glimpse from post 4.

 

Other entrants include Frizette (gr. I) runner-up Nemoralia and Irish group I-placed Alice Springs.