Usually, when it is announced that a top filly like the German-bred Danedream will not be entering the Breeders' Cup, it takes much of the interest out of the mile-and-an-eighth Ladies' Classic (previously known as the Distaff). That is definitely not true in 2011.
The popularity of the great filly Zenyatta, the only winner of both the BC Classic (in 2009) and the Ladies Classic (in 2008), and Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, plus the amazing European turf star and multiple Breeders' Cup champion Goldikova, has served to focus attention on the fillies and mares as never before. With fillies finishing first, second and third over Europe's top colts in the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France this year, no one is overlooking the distaff side. The only real question is whether the girls will stick to the filly and mare divisions or take on the colts this November at Churchill Downs in Lexington, Kentucky.
Havre de Grace May Enter the BC Classic
One of the top contenders could be the 4-year-old filly Havre de Grace. The Larry Jones trainee beat the boys in the Woodward (Grade 1) as well as winning the Beldame (G1) against top fillies. It seems likely that the Kentucky-bred daughter of Saint Liam will skip the Distaff to run in the Classic, where she will meet the likes of Uncle Mo, now back on form after being ill most of the spring. But she is being entered in both, so she has to be a possible favourite for the Ladies Classic.
Unfortunately, her arch rival, Blind Luck, had a terrible outing in the Lady's Secret Stakes (G1), where she finished last and eased. No physical problem has surfaced, but trainer and co-owner Jerry Hollendorfer said she is going to skip the Breeders' Cup and she will be sold at the November Keeneland breeding stock sale. Blind Luck, champion 3-year-old filly in 2010, is by Pollard's Vision.
With Havre de Grace probably going in the Classic and Blind Luck not running, Zazu, the Lady's Secret winner, was expected to be a leading contender in the Distaff. She is owned by Ann and Jerry Moss and is trained by John Sadler. However, Sadler announced October 19 that the filly is done for the season. He told the Daily Racing Form that Zazu came back from one of her works a little sore, and that a nuclear scan revealed inflammation in her right shoulder. The 3-year-old daughter of Tapit will be given three months off before resuming training next year.
With Zazu now out, next in line could be Ultra Blend, who was second to Zazu in the Lady's Secret and defeated her in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes in early August. The California-bred daughter of the deceased stallion Richly Blended is trained by Art Sherman.
Another filly who is making people take notice is Aruna, who won the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G-1) on Polytrack on October 9. She is a proven turf runner, so despite qualifying for the Ladies' Classic in the "Win and You're In" program with her Spinster victory on Polytrack, the Ladies Turf remains an option for the daughter of Mr. Greeley. Aruna is trained by Graham Motion.
Switch Could Surprise in the Ladies' Classic
One filly not to be overlooked is the 4-year-old Switch, another John Sadler trainee. The daughter of Quiet American most recently was third in the G-2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes. However, she was outshone in that race by the 3-year-old Kitten's Joy daughter Holiday For Kitten, who surprised everyone with her head victory over Musical Romance. Holiday For Kitten paid almost $40 to win. The winner, a 4-year-old Concorde's Tune filly trained by Wesley Ward, qualified for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint with this win, and is likely to go there rather than try the Distaff.
Switch, who had to take a back seat to Zenyatta in 2010, is a consistent performer who has been first or in the money in several stakes this year while competing against many of the top fillies and mares. She was second in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint in 2010, and may go that route again this year instead of entering the Ladies Classic, but no decision has been made by her connections regarding which she will enter.
Musical Romance, who earlier this year won the G-2 $400,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes, is not Breeders' Cup eligible. Since she did not win a qualifying race, it would cost her owners $100,000 to enter her. If entered, she is expected to stay in the Sprint and not try the longer Ladies Classic.
Ask the Moon, a 6-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon, earned a berth in the Ladies Classic on July 31 with an upset victory in the G-1 Ruffian at 1-1/8 miles. It was her first try in graded stakes company, and her first stakes win since June 2009. She followed up with a win in the 10-furlong Personal Ensign (G1) one month later to show the Ruffian victory was no fluke. She is trained by Marty Wolfson. If she can hold her form, this late-maturing mare could be a serious contender.
The great miler Goldikova, now 6, is staying in training to try and win her fourth consecutive BC Mile over colts. The Irish-bred daughter of Anabaa has been taking on colts all year in Europe, and has been a model of consistency, but she will not be entering the Ladies' Classic because of the distance.
Terry McNamee - As a community newspaper reporter for nearly 30 years, Terry McNamee won many regional, provincial and national awards for her writing.
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