10.50 Santa Anita
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1) (Class 1) (2YO only)
Winner $572,101
Advice: 1 pt each/way Al Thakira (6/1 Hills, Ladbrokes)
Advice: 1 pt each/way Al Thakira, 1,000 Guineas (14/1
general)
Nesso: Wide margin winner on debut at Calder (5 furlongs,
dirt) before heavy beatings the last twice behind reopposing Clenor; No obvious
reason that she should be able to turn around that form and this looks far too
hard for her on that evidence. 
Al Tahkira: Keen early and the last to get going but an easy
winner as favourite when landing soft ground Yarmouth maiden (6f) in style;
Took the step up in class and trip in her stride when even more impressive in
the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last time, drawing right away after hitting
front early; Looked then as if she’d relish this extra distance and while
course and ground are new to her, given no sign she can’t cope with both. 
Colonel Joan: Never able to get into contention on cushion
track debut but unlucky to be denied when flying late to take second at Del Mar
but beaten fair and square behind Clenor latest in C&D trial getting weight
from winner and others make more appeal. 
Kitten Kaboodle: Unlucky not to have won first two starts at
Saratoga but put both defeats right with an impressive win in the Jessamine
Stakes at Keenland latest which should put her near the top of Chad Brown’s
four strong hand; Can go well. Granny’s Mckitten: Started favourite for the Miss Grillo
Stakes following her maiden win at Saratoga (another to have just failed on
debut) but could raise no challenge to Testa Rossi’s mid race move at Belmont;
Looks exposed on that basis. 
Vorda: Been one of Europe’s standout over sprint distances,
a convincing winner of Prix Robert Papin and Cheveley Park with a Morny second
sandwiched inbetween those two (ahead of Rizzena who boosted form since); Has
to go two furlongs further than she ever has before but Santa Anita’s tight
course should favour her and likely speed will count for more than stamina
here; Can go well. 
Street Sailing: Always pressing the pace and never
challenged when a sixth length winner at Keenland latest but that a shock
result following low grade efforts at Presque Isle and others look much better.
Chriselliam: Put two runs together for the first time in her
life when running out a very ready winner of Fillies’ Mile, having Moyglare
Stakes winner Rizzena well beaten in second with tidy turn of foot after a slowly
run race; Seeemed to relish the quicker ground that she enjoyed there and
should go well. 
Dancing House: Not upto matching the top dirt fillies in the
Spinaway at Saratoga and while she took closer order in the Miss Grillo,
couldn’t get close to stablemate Sky Painter and Testa Rossi; Don’t see her
getting any closer. 
Clenor: Unbeaten since moving here from Tommy Stack (winless
in three over in Ireland), breaking maiden with little fuss before landing Oak
Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes at Del Mar and winning over C&D in the
Surfer Girl Stakes where she had two of today’s rivals behind; Needs a
significant step up on that today and others make more appeal.
Ready to Act: Was set to be a convincing winner of key trial
for this when two lengths up entering the final furlong of the Natalama Stakes
but veered badly right and lost Rajiv Maragh; Had previously been a good winner
at Saratoga on debut and clearly talented, although wide post in 11 and focus
two issues for her in a quality field.
Testa Rossi: Need three tries to break her maiden but
competed four timer latest with Miss Grillo win; Only won by a nose from Sky
Painter but last to first move around the turn was extremely taking and way she
held out again impressive; Question with her is that she’ll have to do it all
over again given wide post unless she drops in and waits for a run or goes
early, and lasting home will be all the harder; One of four for Chad Brown. Sky Painter: Gave herself a lot of ground to make up but
always getting there on Saratoga debut and pushed Testa Rossi right to the
limit late on, coming from deep (although winner that day circled her);
Progressive and unexposed but second widest post is a tactical negative and
likely to test her stamina to new limit too. 
My Conquestadory: Strongest form of any of the home team,
having won an open Grade 2 at Woodbine on her debut before then following up
with Albicaides Stakes at Keenland latest (overcame much trouble in running) to
get to lead too; Has looked a little out of the ordinary but widest draw of all
a huge spoiler on her chances; Not without a chance that she can still play a
big part though.
VERDICT: A very strong renewal of a race that has quickly
gathered it’s own identity and one to look forward to. Europe has won one of
the five renewals but the raiding part is arguably the strongest yet and AL
THAKIRA can underline her Guineas chances with a win for Marco Botti and the
rapidly growing Qatar operation. A deeply impressive winner of the Rockfel
Stakes, if she gets a clear run then she makes the most appeal of the raiding
party, and thus, the field. Vorda has to go two furlongs further than she has
before but the tight turning nature of this track and sprint finish nature of
this race should suit her, while Chriselliam must be respected on her Fillies’
Mile win. My Conquesatadory is best of the home team and has looked a,little
special but has been lumbered with the nightmare 14 draw, and a similar
predicament tempers enthusiasm for Miss Grillo, leaving Kitten Kaboodle as the
most tempting of Chad Brown’s four and maybe the home team.
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