By Anthony Stabile
JUVENILE FILLIES TURF
$1 million; 1 mile (T); 2YO fillies
In 2007, the Juvenile Turf was run for the first time over a boggy Monmouth Park turf course.
It pitted the colts and geldings against fillies. A year later, the Juvenile Fillies Turf came into
existence and has been a mainstay on the Friday program.
While not the most formful event, as nary a favorite has won any of the first six runnings, it
hasn’t been bombs away either as the winners have been anywhere from 6-1 to 13-1, which
means there is plenty of money to be made from a wagering angle without having to think too far
U.S. based runners, starting with Maram in 2008, dominated the event for the first four years
before Flotilla and Chriselliam won consecutive runnings of this in 2012 and 2013 for Europe.
This year, the battle may take on more of an East Coast versus West Coast flavor as to the U.S
against the foreigners as the stateside contingent is seemingly a strong one, led by Sunset Glow
Though just a baby, Sunset Glow has done more travelling in her short time than most will do
in a lifetime. She debuted in Pennsylvania, broke her maiden on the grass against the boys at
Belmont then finished second just two weeks later across the pond at Royal Ascot. Upon her
return, she settled in California for trainer Wesley Ward and won both the G2 Sorrento and G1
Del Mar Debutante sprinting over Polytrack.
While Sunset Glow was establishing herself in California, Lady Eli broke her maiden in her
debut in remarkable fashion, overcoming a rough and tough trip to get the money at Saratoga
before storming home to win the G3 Miss Grillo last out at Belmont for trainer Chad Brown.
Brown will also send out the beaten favorite in the Miss Grillo, Tammy the Torpedo, who was
closer to a slow pace last out when settling for third. In her debut score, Tammy the Torpedo
closed from far back to win going away. Another Brown runner, Partisan Politics, was fourth in
the Miss Grillo and will be back as well.
Trainer Mike Stidham took advantage of the Del Mar “Ship and Win” bonus program this
summer by sending out a string to California. His star pupil turned out to be Her Emmynency.
Her Emmynency broke her maiden over the Polytrack in her debut then fell a neck short in the
Del Mar Debutante before taking the Surfer Girl in her turf debut in easy fashion last out over
the Santa Anita course. Minor stakes winner She’s Complete was second in the Surfer Girl for
trainer Doug O’Neill and will run in Leandro Mora’s name.
Conquest Harlanate represents Mark Casse and our neighbors to the north and comes into this
on a three race win streak that includes wins in the G2 Natalma on turf and G3 Mazarine over the
synthetic surface at Woodbine. Natalma runner-up Isabelle Sings will look to avenge her neck
defeat for trainer Todd Pletcher in here.
Rainha Da Bateria added Lasix for the G3 Jessamine at Keeneland and exploded through
the lane to win in ultra-impressive fashion for Graham Motion. Rainha Da Bateria broke her
maiden in a turf sprint at first asking before faltering in the P.G. Johnson at the Spa. Jessamine
bridesmaid Quality Rocks ran a winning race for Bill Mott last out.
As for the Euros, the state of their participation in the juvenile events is far less settled than their
presence in the older horse events. A couple of names being bandied about are those of a pair
of G3 winners in England, Malabar and Osaila. Another, Sivoliere is a three time winner in
France who has been training in New York for Brown.