Second Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
Thirteen Females Competed in "Filly Friday's" First Race
Nov 18, 2008 BarbaraAnne Helberg
On a sunny Santa Anita day, a field of thirteen led off the Breeders' Cup World Championships in the seven furlong Filly & Mare Sprint. The first day of the Oak Tree meet had already been nicknamed "Filly Friday". All five of the female races scheduled on the two-day, 14-race BC cards would be contested on Friday.
Although the atmosphere was charged and party-like with happy anticipation, trainer Bob Baffert was worried for his entry, Indian Blessing. She was good on dirt; very good. Coming into the BC, Indian Blessing had five wins from seven starts on the year. The three-year-old star also was twice placed. She had never finished worse than second.
But her only trip over a synthetic surface had been a trial. She had eked out a bare head victory in Santa Anita's winter running of the Santa Ynez Stakes (G-2) months ago.
"I'd feel much more confident if this were on the dirt," Baffert was heard saying before the F & M Sprint to Hal Earnhardt, Indian Blessing's co-owner and breeder.
Complete Order of Finish of the 2008 BC F & M Sprint
The complete order of finish in the 2008 BC Filly & Mare Sprint, along with entrants' race records prior to the contest, and their pedigrees and jockeys, follows:
- Ventura ----- 6:3-2-1 ----- Chester House--Estala (GB), by Be My Guest ----- G. Gomez
- Indian Blessing ----- 7:5-2-0 ----- Indian Charlie--Shameful, by Flying Chevron ----- J. Velazquez
- Zaftig ----- 4:3-0-0 ----- Gone West--Zoftig, by Cozzene ----- R. Bejarano
- Miraculous Miss ----- 4:0-2-0 ----- Mr. Greeley--No Small Miracle, by Silver Deputy ----- R. Dominguez
- Tizzy's Tune ----- 6:3-1-0 ----- Tiznow--Flowing Melody, by Eternal Prince ----- A. Solis
- Intangaroo ----- 6:4-0-1 ----- Orientate--Tasso's Magic Roo, by Tasso ----- A. Quinonez
- Magnificience ----- 4:1-1-1 -----Stormy Atlantic--Fashion Delight, by Fappiano ----- D. Flores
- Jazzy (ARG) ----- 5:0-1-1 ----- Mutakddim--Jollie Fille (ARG), by Southern Halo ----- A. Garcia
- Lady Sprinter ----- 2:2-0-0 ----- Orientate--Passionate Player, by Dixieland Band ----- R. Douglas
- La Tee ----- 8:1-3-2 ----- Broken Vow--Ashcreek, by Stalwart ----- J. Court
- Dearest Trickski ----- 4:3-0-0 ----- Proudest Romeo--Trickski, by Peteski ----- M. Smith
- Dream Rush ----- 3:0-1-2 ----- Wild Rush--Turbo Dream, by Unbridled ----- K. Desormeaux
- Tiz Elemental ----- 6:2-3-0 ----- Cee's Tizzy--Blending Element (IRE), by Great Commotion ----- J. Rosario
Ventura Never Better
Prior to the running of the BC Filly & Mare Sprint, trainer Robert "Bobby" J. Frankel said of his entry, Ventura, "...She's never been better than she is right now". Frankel seemed unconcerned about everything, including the switching out of jockeys which had taken place between Garrett Gomez and John Velazquez.
Gomez had ridden Indian Blessing, as well as Ventura during the season.
Winner Had Synthetic Experience
Ventura was experienced on synthetics prior to the BC Filly & Mare Sprint. Tizzy's Tune, Intangaroo, Tiz Elemental, and Dearest Trickski also had multiple wins on artificial surfaces.
Baffert was certain that the new Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita would slow down his speedster. It was the first season that the Breeders' Cup races were scheduled on synthetics.
Indian Blessing Chased Own Record
Indian Blessing had set a track record at Santa Anita in her Santa Ynez win -- 1:19.89. Ventura missed the mark by one-hundredth, scoring by a length in 1:19.90.
Baffert's worries hadn't played out. Indian Blessing was still a champion runner. Her second place finish was a result of Ventura having her finest day.
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