From the Press Room: BB Juvenile Filly Press Conference

(Author’s note:  I hope it’s clear, but any ribbing at particular trainers or megaconglomerates is good-natured.  Fillies came here by different paths, but each earned her ticket and I hope that each of them realizes the bright future that is now apparent for them.)

So, after post positions were drawn, the trainers for the BB Juvenile Filly all wandered over the press area.  Some looked pleased with their selections, some less so.  Afc, who was representing the Superstables’ five fillies for the draw, managed to look all of the above since his girls were all over the place.  But all seemed excited and just a little bit relieved to know that their girls had succeeded in the crapshoot that is the early 2yo season.  Fourteen very talented and precocious young ladies are going to be running on Saturday – they’ve been speedy, they’ve been agile, and they’ve been lucky.  One of them is about to put all three of those traits together to get a major leg-up for year-end honors.

I made my way into the press area.  Here’s what the trainers had to say:

Afc, handling duties for the Superstables, first addressed Forty Red, who will break from the inside at 9/1.  The trainer, dressed in an Armani suit and tossing dollar bills into the crowd (my injuries from the resulting scuffle were minor – thanks for asking), the spokesman for the wealthy syndicate set up his PowerPoint presentation. Afc then cleared his throat, brought up the first slide, and commented that “this filly has been kicking the barn doors down the last few weeks.”  Asked about the late-charging filly’s chances, he said that the conglomerate initially considered her a “third-stringer,” but “she closed with a furious rally in the Grade 1 Fast Filly Stakes over this track to earn her trip to the BB.”  He thought that the extra ground would be to her benefit and her terrific jockey could only help.  She’s not yet a graded winner, but she has been improving with every race, which is good, since she’ll need to speed up just a little for this big race.

The trainer held onto the mike and switched to a slide of the next filly, the more accomplished Whip Smart, who will be in the 3 post at 10/1.  Smiling ironically, Afc commented that the filly was bred for sprinting,“we took a ‘what the hell’ approach with her in her last race [a route].”  The result?  She “simply exploded” in that Grade II race, her first attempt at a route.  After winning four of her first six, the trainer is feeling pretty comfortable with her abilities.  Her detractors will say that the she was losing her lead at the end of that route and that she benefited from an off track, but they’d be foolish to ignore this speedy girl, who likes to lie just off the pace.

Prompted by the BB staff, who were asking him to move along, Afc switched to a photo of a tall brown filly.  No Apagues la Luz (Spanish for “don’t turn out the lights”) is a rangy daughter of Empire Maker.  She’ll be breaking from the 11 hole at odds of 8/1. Packing a powerful late punch, this girl has won 4 of 5 including a Grade 2 route.  Smiling, Afc said that “She’s been a model of consistency and has yet to toss a bad race. She’s already won at the distance, but she made it closer than we would have liked. However, she did pull that one out under only mild urging, as the jock had strict instructions to save something for this race down the road.”  It’s hard to argue with a record like that.  Though conceding that traffic could be an issue, Afc grinned that “there could be a total eclipse at the finish line.”

On that note, he moved along to the Superstables’ fourth entry and their longest shot, the 15/1 Rosette, who drew the 13 slot.  Some have hinted that the Superstables may be sending her out as a rabbit to help out the other Super horses and the trainer doesn’t entirely deny it. “It’s fairly safe to say we wouldn’t mind seeing her set a blistering early pace to take the punch out of some of the stalkers and front runners in the field to set up the late runs of [their other horses].” But he hastened to add that she earned  her ticket and deserves respect in her own right. “She’s been training well, and she’s really finishing up strongly in her works. If she gets away early, she may just steal the thing on the front end.”  A hard-working, gritty speedball, her only time off the board was in a race where she stumbled out of the gate and failed to get the early lead.

Getting a little hoarse (ha ha) from having the burden of talking about so many horses, Afc turned to the last slide.  The photo showed an elegant girl the color of a burnished penny and the steely eye of a true competitor.  The text told us that she’s That Right, a Giant’s Causeway filly that Afc has been “crowing about since her very first start. She just has that “star quality” about her.”  The winner of 5 of 6 starts, she’s improving with every outing and really stepped it up when she started routing.  She’s won her last two starts on this very track, so she clearly likes it.  Sounding awed, Afc told the crowd that “she needed a win in her final tuneup some four weeks ago to make the field, and she once again delivered in spades, again making up more than 10 lengths to nab the win in the final strides.”   Afc acknowledged that “this will be a big step up in class for her, but we feel she’s more than ready.”

“That’s it for us!” announced Afc with a rueful grin. “This is our deepest division. Maybe not the strongest, but certainly the deepest.”  He looked briefly at his diamond-encrusted Rolex and then flung it to the crowd, where it glanced off Snowchief’s head (she managed to grab it anyway).  “You guys keep that.  These fillies are all the bling we need.”

After that show, the attention turned to the trainer of Skippy, the #1-ranked filly in her class, who will break from the second slot at 9/1.  Shivering a bit from the New York chill, Scout4 came up and spoke with a lovely Aussie lilt.  “I only have one,” the trainer noted, “but that may be all I need.”  A lovely brown girl, Skippy has won four of five and has proved herself repeatedly in graded competition, including a win in the rough-and-tumble Grade I GSR Diamond.  Named for a tv kangaroo, she came to be when her mom hopped a fence and paid a visit to Afleet.  Scout4 said “She’s as sharp as can be and has been kicking down the barn doors.”  No surprises about her running style, she’ll start towards the back of the pack and Scout anticipates that she’ll be “within 2-3 lengths of the leaders coming into the straight and her turn of foot will get her just ahead and hold on from the late chargers.”  Her trainer concluded that “I got the jock I wanted and an inside draw, and am hoping for a great run.”  Then, unable to restrain the excitement of the moment, Scout4 yelled “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!”  “Oy! Oy! Oy!” returned the reporters.

Next up was veteran trainer Epic, with two fillies representing his Capsized and Pick4 stables.  The trainer first spoke about Pro Dubai, who will be at the 4 post and has been assigned odds of 11/1.  The daughter of Pro Dubai finished second to Skippy in the GSR Diamond last time out and has been on the board 5 of 6 starts.  “She’s a longshot,” acknowledged the trainer, “so we’re going to try something new with her this race.”  When prompted to reveal details, the trainer demurred, not wanting to give anything up to his rivals.  Though not a favorite, she has been a close second in two graded races and deserves respect.  If she gets a boost from changing her running styles, look out! 

Epic then turned to Papua Theft, who will be a few slots away in the 7 hole.  She’s looking like a bargain at 16/1.  The daughter of A.P. Indy looked truly exciting in her last time out, narrowly edging out Forty Red for the victory in the Grade 1 Fast Filly in her first route.  “She is 3 for 3 on dirt so you never know if there’s improvement waiting to come out” Epic commented, adding that “I think has a real legit chance.”  She has won three straight on the dirt and has improved each time.  With a Grade I win in her last outing, this late-running girl looks like a major threat at an attractive price. “Both my girls are sharp as a tack and ready to run,” Epic commented as he turned over the mike to the next speaker.

Pick6 walked up to the stand to talk about the filly Groomed to Romp T.  “I think she knows she’s cofavorite,” grinned the trainer.  “She is completely full of herself this week and takes a piece out of anyone who doesn’t worship the ground she walks on.”  As well she should.  The veteran of the race, with 7 starts under her belt, she’s been in 4 graded races and never finished worse than third.  The daughter of Gone West ran very well in her first attempt at a route, but doubters thought she faded a bit late and wonder how the extra distance will affect her.  “I don’t think it’ll be a big deal,” opined Pick6.  “That was a tough race with 20 horses and she still finished second.  We’ve been working her at longer distances and think she has more stamina in her now.”  The trainer added “We’re thrilled to have jockey P Harzheim on our team and are confident the jockey will bring out her best.”  With a deep bow, he handed the stage to………..

Topicount, who looked exhausted.  On top of co-guiding the five Superstables entries in the race, the overscheduled trainer managed to get one of her own in.  The boldly named Winning Season looks like a potential monster in the making.  “I was happy when she won her debut, but then was floored when she did so well in her second start,” Topicount grinned ruefully.  “I thought she’d ultimately be best routing, and so far, her two starts at a mile have proven me right.” The Lemon Drop Kid filly has dominated her two route starts, including a decisive win in the 20-horse Grade 1 ARSE a few weeks back.  The trainer, busy juggling several very full stables, didn’t actually realize how big the ARSE field was.  “My voice was hoarse the rest of the day after cheering her on to her win, and that 92 SF was the best speed figure any of my 2 year olds.”  The filly’s took it easy for a bit before reving up for the BB.  “”I like the amount of time she’s had between that win and the BB, I think the extra 1/16th can only help her, and Winning Season’s come up sharp for the big day.”  Will she be able to handle this tough, aggressive field?  Topicount gave a small, predatory smile. “Winning Season’s shown she’s a tough customer herself, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”  She continued, “I don’t have a watch to fling out at  you like my partner did, but I’ve got a nice crisp $100 for the person who brings my Ferrari around.”

Once the room refilled, Triska stepped up to discuss Ampuria.  The least-raced filly here, she has only 4 starts under her belt.  But those included a win and close third in two Grade 1 races.  “We’re thrilled to be here,” Triska began, “And we know she likes the track.  She was a whisker shy in the Fast Filly last time out and we’re optimistic that she’ll be even better here.”  Others are less sure, noting that she gave up the lead in that race.  “But she’s been training well and is a little more used to the idea of routing.  Anyway, that race was hardly a weak one – she took on the best and was a strong third. On top of that, her speed figs just get better as she stretches out.”  The daughter of Unbridled’s Song has   one of the weaker jockeys in the field, but he’s still been winning at a very respectable 15% clip, so Triska isn’t concerned.  “Foster and I go way back and I know he’ll treat her right.”   Ampuria, a strong frontrunning contender, will break from the 8 spot at 11/1.

Then up steps the man famous for having the best hair in Simland.  I have to say, it did not disappoint.  Yochem, king of the Hollandia empire, is bringing Baldo Hollandia to the big dance and she is ready to rumba.  A longtime horseman, Yochem had his first BB runner last year, commenting ruefully that “I guess I take some time to develop.” This year he has several and is optimistic about his girl’s chances.  She’s a daughter of the rather obscure sire Pure Prize; a pretty coppery girl with long flowing mane and tail.  A canny breeder, Yochem has used this sire several times to good effect, noting that “his fillies do well in the Dutch sea-climate.”  Now one of them will attempt to retake dominance in the land once called New Holland.  He dismissed those saying that she would be tired, saying “I realize she only had 3 weeks rest, but in this time of year it is not such a huge factor.”  She earned her trip with a third in the Grade 1 Frickazee and could do some damage with a big race.  Yochem closed by saying “if she can improve a little she can definitely earn a check. She has options enough to improve, so I am going confident in this race.” The tool guru then left the stage with a flourish.

Polandfarm was next to discuss Thnxmsslew, a hard-running daughter of Forty Niner.  She won four of five sprints, then faltered in her first route attempt.  That was the very tough Fast Filly Stakes, which featured many of the runners here this weekend.  The trainer hurried to point out that while she was 9^th, she was only 5 lengths back at the wire.  Polandfarm stated firmly that “the question of is she a sprinter or did she have her first off race was not answered.”  This will be a very important race for this filly, determining whether she’s a contender for next year’s Oaks or if she is destined to be a brilliant sprinter.  She has looked phenomenal in her sprints, so she is assured a bright future either way.

Last but not least came Unworldly ready and eager to discuss his filly St. Goar.  “She was named after a small town in Germany where I picked up some Ice Wine and Clay Steins during a Contiki tour in January this year.”  But despite her German name, “she’s running for Australia.”  The daughter of Cuvee perked up substantially in her first route attempt, the Grade 2 Walnut Tree, which she won by daylight after stalking the pace.  Unworldly felt uncertain about this girl when she floundered in her first stakes race, but after she handled allowances easily, he decided that race was a fluke.  She responded with a strong second and then her big graded win when she stretched out.  “When she won this 3 weeks ago, only then did I think she could be a BB chance so I was hoping she would come up for this week and she has, so she’s in with a genuine chance.” Luckily, she came back from that race in fine form and the trainer finds himself with a BB winner that only a month ago he truly didn’t expect.  It’s been a wonderful surprise for the Unworldly stable.

Thus closed the press conference.  It was wonderful to see such a diverse array of people – the vets and the newer players, the big spenders and the bp breeders, the vocal MB participants and the more quietly successful types.  They all add to the thrill of this game and are all contributing to a race that truly could belong to anyone.

Hope everyone’s fillies come back safe and sound!