7.43 Santa Anita
Breeders' Cup Filly And Mare Turf (Grade 1) (Class 1) (3YO plus)
Winner $1,144,200
Advice: 1 pt win, 2 pts place Romantica (5/1 and 10/11 Hills)
Dank: Like so many for her trainer, has improved hand over
first since turning four, being beaten only once this season in Windsor Forest
Stakes at Royal Ascot (over a mile) before convincing success in Curragh Group
2; First US start was her career best performance when destroying field in Beverley
D Stakes at Arlington, having key rival Marketing Mix well behind when winning
by nearly 5 lengths; If getting a clear run from inside draw, should take the
beating. 
Romantica: Daughter of previous winner Banks Hill; Won Prix
De La Nonenette last year and improved this season, winning Group 3 at
Chantilly in April and making breakthrough at Group 1 level when winning Prix
Jean Romanet at Deauville, beating quality pair of Aga Khan fillies in style;
Never able to land a blow in Vermille but very clear that she doesn’t like soft
ground/1m4f and rates a big threat to everyone with ideal conditions today. 
Tiz Flirtatious: Took revenge on other top US performer Marketing
Mix when capturing Rodeo Drive Stakes over C&D, making amends for her only
defeat in 5 races this season with a sharp turn of foot that saw her win in
definitive fashion; Was getting 3lbs from main rival there but has to be
respected anyway. 
Alterite: Taking similar route to many successful distaffers
on turf here, formerly with Jean Claude-Rouget in France where she was beaten
just a head by Silasol in Saint-Alary; In just two starts for Chad Brown (had
Zagaora win here last year); Won Garden City Stakes on US debut and unlucky not
to win at Keenland latest (bumped in her run by Say when making challenge);
This a whole different challenge and while she can’t be discounted, several
look stronger. 
Lady of Shamrock: Coinsestent and likeable horse who gives
her all but has been beaten the last three times she’s met Tiz Flirtatious and
was well behind Marketing Mix at Hollywood in May; Far more needed. 
Marketing Mix: Close second in this last year behind Zagora;
Since a game winner over Tiz Flirtatious at Hollywood Park but smashed out of
sight by Dank (ran like she was below form though) in Beverley D at Arlington;
Possible that Santa Anita suits more though (never out of first two here);
Beaten just about fair and square here latest but giving 3lbs to runner up and
can be best of the home team. 
Laughing: Broke well from wide draw and never looked in
trouble when making all to win Flower Bowl Invitational, her fourth win in a
row in graded company; Shouldn’t have much serious competition for the lead
here which makes us for the 
Emollient: Proven unbeatable away from dirt so far; Special
performance when she put nine lengths between herself and field in Ashland
Stakes and winning debut on turf when landing American Oaks but disappointment
in Garden City Stakes behind Alterite (is weighted to reverse form); Bounced
back in style with ready win latest and interesting for all this is much 
Quschchi: Successful time of things since switching to US
and outran her odds in Grade 1 fourth latest but this a whole different matter.
Kitten’s Dumplings: Beaten favourite when looking for a four
timer (could have done with a stronger pace possibly but caught for speed) but
just beat Alterite with a neck to spare latest (a little lucky though); Needs
more based on that effort still and widest draw of all not helpful.
VERDICT: Any number can be given a chance in a race with
plenty of front running type although not a huge amount of strong pace. Dank is
by all means the one they have to beat after her Beverly D romp and will take a
huge amount of catching but fellow European ROMANTICA, also a Group 1 winner this
year, has been overlooked, is 3-4 over 10 furlongs and will relish the fast
ground. With a sprint finish no trouble to her, she appeals as each/way value
and can make a bold bid to follow in the footsteps of her dam Banks Hill, a
previous winner of this event. Tiz Flirtatious and Marketing Mix are both going
to be tough horses to pass, with preference for the latter of the two, and the
same can be said about Laughing around a track where so much comes to speed.
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