Juvenile Fillies Turf Could Launch Next Star

Florent Geroux got off La Coronel at Saratoga Race Course in September and told trainer Mark Casse where he ranked the young filly, who had just broken her maiden.

"I think we have another Catch a Glimpse," said Geroux, speaking of the Canadian Horse of the Year who in 2015 won the same Breeders' Cup race La Coronel is now targeting.

Set for a ninth running Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park, the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT) has packed impressive amounts of quality into its short existance. Before Catch a Glimpse, Lady Eli took down the mile test. Along with those dual grade I winners, 2012 victress Flotilla, 2011 winner and eventual champion Stephanie's Kitten, and 2009 winner Tapitsfly all continued to grade I success in future seasons.

Catch a Glimpse, who provided Casse with his first Breeders' Cup win when she took the Juvenile Fillies Turf by three-quarters of a length under Geroux, returns in the Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) this year. La Coronel, who moved from her maiden win to a powerful 4 1/4-length victory in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (gr. IIIT) Oct. 12 at Keeneland, punched a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" ticket to this year's running.

NOVAK: La Coronel Powers Home in Jessamine

John Oxley's Colonel John   filly faces a loaded field, including her own stablemate—Live Oak Plantation's Natalma Stakes (Can-IT) winner Victory to Victory, another runner trained by Casse. Wearing blinkers for the first time, the Exchange Rate filly broke her maiden in the Natalma, the same race Catch a Glimpse used as a springboard to Breeders' Cup victory. She is out of 2009 Canadian champion turf female Points of Grace. 

Talented European invaders abound, including two trained by Aidan O'Brien—group I-placed Hydrangea and Kentucky-bred Roly Poly for Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derick Smith. O'Brien's son, former jockey Joseph O'Brien, will be represented by his first Breeders' Cup starter as a trainer with Mrs. C. C. Regalado-Gonzalez's Intricately, winner of the Sept. 11 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-I) last out.

Shadwell Rockfel Stakes (Eng-II) winner Spain Burg, winner of 4 of 5 in Europe and a recent high-dollar purchase by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and R.A. Hill Stable now trained by Kathy Ritvo, and Martin Schwartz's group III winner Cavale Doree both make their North American debuts, as does group III winner Madam Dancealot.

The top three from the Oct. 2 Miss Grillo (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park are entered; New Money Honey and Rymska for Chad Brown, and Coasted for Leah Gyarmati. 

Completing the field are Lull, a distant second to La Coronel in the Jessamine last out and German-bred La Force, third last out in the Surfer Girl Stakes.