2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

First Filly Grass Contest Had Heart Shaped Ending With Laragh Third

Nov 17, 2008 BarbaraAnne Helberg

New on the card at 2008's Breeders' Cup World Championships was the Juvenile Fillies Turf event. It rendered a blazing finish. Heart Shaped caught early leader Laragh.

Laragh, a Tapit filly with Edgar Prado up, attempted to wire the field in the first ever Juvenile Fillies Turf contest newly placed on the 2008 card of the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park October 24. She was caught in midstretch by the winner, unbeaten Maram, and left a length shy by the blitzing Heart Shaped, who gave it her all but couldn't get the last stride soon enough.

On the first day of the BC, females only raced, creating the first ever "Fillies Friday" atmosphere. Laragh got a great early edge, and Heart Shaped demonstrated the never give in attitude of her grandsire. They provided a thrilling finish for second place.

Complete Order of Finish BC Juvenile Fillies Turf

The complete order of finish of the Juvenile Fillies Turf, along with entrants' 2008 race records prior to the event, and their pedigrees and jockeys follows:

  1. Maram ----- 2:2-0-0 ----- Sahm--American Dreamer, by Quest for Fame (GB) ----- J. Lezcano
  2. Heart Shaped ----- 5:1-0-1 ----- Storm Cat--Twenty Eight Carat, by Alydar ----- J. Murtagh
  3. Laragh ----- 4:2-0-0 ----- Tapit--Rose of Summer, by El Prado (IRE) ----- E. Prado
  4. Saucey Evening ----- 4:2-1-0 ----- More Than Ready--Jeweled Lady, by General Meeting ----- G. Gomez
  5. Emmy Darling ----- 4:1-1-1 ----- Graeme Hall--Dance Delight, by Colonial Affair ----- R. Bejarano
  6. Consequence ----- 2:1-0-0 ----- El Prado (IRE)--Educated Risk, by Mr. Prospector ----- J. Velazquez
  7. Sugar Mom ----- 6:3-2-0 ----- Monarchos--Plenty of Sugar, by Ascot Knight ----- E. Coa
  8. C Karma ----- 5:2-1-2 ----- Exchange Rate--C B Carm, by Slick ----- C. Velasquez
  9. Freedom Rings ----- 3:0-2-1 ----- Proud Citizen--Dana's Wedding, by Compliance ----- A. Garcia
  10. Renda ----- 5:3-0-0 ----- Medaglia d' Oro--Ten Carats, by Capote ----- S. Madrid
  11. April Pride (GB) ----- 7:1-3-1 ----- Falbrav (IRE)--Hasta, by Theatrical (IRE) ----- D. Flores
  12. Beyond Our Reach (IRE) ----- 3:0-0-2 ----- Danehill Dancer (IRE)--Bluebell Wood (IRE), by Bluebird ----- F. Dettori

Winner Maram Dream Come True

Maram, interpreted simply, means "wish", or "dream". Such was the win in the Juvenile Fillies Turf for one of Maram's owners, Karen Woods. For her, Maram delivered a wish and a dream come true.

In owner partnership with Saud bin Khaled, Woods said in an interview after the BC victory, "People, there's always a woman behind a good man". Maram is the lone horse in the stable of the one man-one woman partnership.

First Running of the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf

There are few races available for juvenile fillies on turf. The first ever BC turf run for two-year-old fillies drew a crowd -- twelve. The youngsters bolted from the gate almost in a single line group, with Laragh grabbing the lead spot shortly after the exit.

Laragh was made the favorite based on her strong front running in the Jessamine at Keeneland two weeks prior to the BC. Most of the fillies entered had no grass experience.

Heart Shaped Gave Typical Alydar Performance

The European-based filly Heart Shaped, a granddaughter of Alydar, the only horse in history to finish second in all three of the American Triple Crown races, showed her well-bred heart as she relentlessly chased the leaders through the stretch after breaking from the No. 12 gate.

Her grandpa would have been proud.

The copyright of the article 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in Horse Racing is owned by BarbaraAnne Helberg. Permission to republish 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.