Breeders' Cup Spotlight | Filly & Mare Turf

FILLY & MARE TURF

Date: Saturday, Oct. 31, at Keeneland. Race 6. Post time: 2:10 EDT.

Purse: $2 million.

Division: 3-year-olds and up fillies and mares

Distance: 1 3/16 miles

TV: NBC Sports Network

Radio/livestreaming: Horse Racing Radio Network, including 93.9-FM and 680-AM in Louisville and horseracingradio.net.

The favorite: She was the 8-5 favorite in Ireland's Group 1 Matron Stakes on Sept. 12, and the versatile Legatissimo (8-5) won for fun going a mile. The Matron was preceded by a victory in the 1 1/4-mile, Group 1 Nassau Stakes. She's won on both good and yielding ground. Lately Legatissimo has employed a stalking style. David Wachman trains. Ryan Moore, winner of this race two years ago, rides.

Contenders: The second morning line choice is Miss France (6-1), a winner of three of 10 career starts. Last time out, she was beaten a half-length by the filly Impassable, a contender in the Mile two races after the Filly & Mare Turf. Dacita (8-1) makes her second start in the U. S. after being imported from her native Chile. She edged Tepin, another contender in the Mile, to win the Grade II Ballston Spa at Saratoga in August. Secret Gesture (8-1) was fifth, beaten only two lengths, in this race last year and won the Grade I Beverly D in August only to be taken down by stewards. She's mainly raced in Ireland, England and France.

Worth knowing: It's the Breeders' Cup, so let's look at breeding. Danehill, the sire's sire of Legatissimo and Miss France, is the sire or sire's sire of three winners of the Filly & Mare Turf. Sadler's Wells, the sire's sire of Photo Call (12-1), Secret Gesture and also-eligible Elektrum (30-1) and the dam sire of Bawina (15-1), is the sire's sire of two prior winners. Green Desert, sire's sire of Watsdachances (20-1), is also the sire's sire of two previous winners.

- Dick Downey