Juddmonte's Emollient Thriving in California
Image:
Description:
Juddmonte Farms' homebred Emollient would seem to have a couple of advantages over her 10 competitors in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT). First, she is coming into the race off a grade I win at the championship race's distance of 1 1/4 miles. Second, that win was in the Rodeo Drive Stakes (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Park.
"It helps me knowing she likes the surface," said Bill Mott, trainer of the 4-year-old daughter of Empire Maker—Soothing Touch, by Touch Gold . "She is very peculiar about the surface she runs over. She always has been. That is why we would take a chance against this group of mares."
Emollient has had a spottier record this year compared with 2013. Out of six starts, she has won once and has placed twice. In two races—the Diana Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga and the Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington Park—she finished ninth under Joel Rosario. These off-the-board finishes have likely contributed to her early morning odds of 12-1.
"She either didn't like the surface, had rough trips, or the jockey didn't seem to get along with her that well," Mott said of the Diana and Beverly D. "If she gets off bad and gets into traffic, sometimes she is a little hard to handle."
In the Diana, Emollient got bumped in the stretch the first time past the grandstand and had to be severely checked by Rosario. She continued to fight the jockey through the first turn and was never a factor. Then in the Beverly D., Emollient was fighting Rosario in between horses going into the first turn, got crowded coming out of the second turn, and never fired in the stretch.
With Rosie Napravnik aboard, Emollient finished second by a nose to Miss Serendipity in the Gamely Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park and won the Rodeo Drive. Napravnik will be riding her in the Filly & Mare Turf.
"Rosie does a very good job with her and gets along with her," Mott said.
As for her prdominant running style, Emollient doesn't have one, according to her trainer. Mott said there is no point in even assessing where the other contenders will be because Emollient will be wherever she feels most comfortable after the break. She has won races after trailing at the back of the pack, and she's won with stalking trips, no more than half a length off the pacesetter.
Mott did say it would suit him best if she were more forwardly placed early in the Filly & Mare Turf.
"But whatever suits her best, suits me best," he said.
The filly has thrived while back in California. She galloped for 1 1/4 miles Oct. 29 and schooled in the gate. "We've walked her through the paddock and through the gate. She has done as well as anyone here."