Yellow Agate Ready for Juvenile Fillies

Trainer Christophe Clement is still seeking his first Breeders' Cup victory, but could be situated to break through Nov. 5 in the $2 million 14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.

It's not like he hasn't been close. Clement has finished second in five Breeders' Cup events. Twice Gio Ponti   played runner-up—first to Zenyatta in the 2009 Classic (gr. I) then to Goldikova in the 2010 Mile (gr. IT)—but Za Approval was his most recent to just miss in 2013, when the son of Ghostzapper   finished three-quarter lengths behind Wise Dan in the 2013 Mile.

In the Juvenile Fillies, China Horse Club's undefeated Yellow Agate provides as good a shot as any to end Clement's streak.

A Gemologist filly, Yellow Agate won the Oct. 8 Frizette (gr. I) at Belmont Park by a head over Libby's Tail. In the one-turn mile, the top two were 9 1/4 lengths clear of Colorful Charades, who is also in for the Juvenile Fillies.

ANGST: Yellow Agate Gets Up Late to Win Frizette

Yellow Agate, however, is not the only undefeated filly entered coming off a hard-fought grade I victory.

St Elias Stable's Sweet Loretta earned her top-level victory via a dead heat with Pretty City Dancer in the seven-furlong Spinaway (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course. She came into that score off a 4 1/4-length victory in the Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III), also at Saratoga, and broke her maiden at Monmouth Park by seven lengths in her debut at five furlongs in June for trainer Todd Pletcher.

MITCHELL: 'Sweet', 'Pretty' Dead Heat in Spinaway

The New York grade I winners will be joined by Southern California's top-level representatives Noted and Quoted and Union Strike, who won the respective Chandelier (gr. I) and Del Mar Debutante (gr. I) stakes. Noted and Quoted, trained by Bob Baffert, ran fourth in the Debutante, but claimed the Oct. 1 Chandelier at 1 1/16 miles by a half-length ahead of With Honors, who is also in for the Juvenile Fillies, while Union Strike trained up to the Breeders' Cup.

ANGST: Noted and Quoted Swings in Chandelier

Chadds Ford Stable's Dancing Rags also brings two-turn experience at the highest level, off a one-length score over fellow Juvenile Fillies entrant Daddys Lil Darling in the Oct. 7 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland.

ANGST: Dancing Rags Delivers in Darley Alcibiades

A pair of impressive last-out maiden winners could also take the large step up to make their mark in their stakes debuts.

Magic Caps Stables' Jamyson 'n Ginger broke out in a big way in her third start Oct. 9, when the Bernardini   filly took to the Belmont slop and drew off to win a one-turn mile by 15 1/4 lengths. Stonestreet Stables' Valadorna, from the Mark Casse barn, also put on a show in her graduation, a six-length rout in a 1 1/16-mile special weight event at Keeneland Oct. 7, in which the Curlin   filly bobbled at the start.

Kaleem Shah's homebred undefeated but American Gal certainly could be a wildcard as Baffert's second entry. The Concord Point   filly won her 5 1/2-furlong debut in August at Del Mar and was pointed toward the Debutante before a minor illness knocked her out of consideration. In her return, however, she dazzled at Santa Anita, en route to a 6 1/2-length score in the Anoakia Stakes Oct. 23 at Santa Anita.