Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare turf profile, for Wednesday
ANALYSIS: A formful race over its first three runnings, as winners Soaring Softly, Perfect Sting and Banks Hill were top-class grass fillies coming off solid efforts. Whether there’s “give” in the ground will play a big role; with little rain expected, it should be “firm” or “good” rather than “soft.”
The top contenders, Banks Hill, Golden Apples and Voodoo Dancer, all prefer firm going.
Banks Hill could become the fifth horse to win back-to-back Breeders’ Cup races. She’s lightly raced this year and had a nightmare trip last out finishing third in the Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita after shipping from Europe. Yellow Ribbon winner Golden Apples, based in California, took the Beverly D over this course in August.Voodoo Dancer, a close second in the Yellow Ribbon, has been 1-2-3 in 13-of-15 starts on turf. Flower Bowl winner Kazzia prefers soft going and has missed training because of a foot abscess.
LIVE LONGSHOTS: Starine, stablemate to Banks Hill, was a close fourth in the Flower Bowl after a wide trip. Islington led into the stretch before finishing fifth against Europe’s top males in the mile-and-a-half Arc de Triomphe. This is her best distance, but she’s had a long campaign.
Euro-invaders Gossamer and Turtle Bow are dangerous if the course is soft.
THE BET: Banks Hill, whose new rider, Jerry Bailey, won this race twice, can repeat. Key her 1-2 in trifectas with Voodoo Dancer, Golden Apples, Starine. Save with Starine to win. Play Gossamer across-the-board if it rains.
TOMORROW: Ray Kerrison on the Juvenile