by Ed DeRosa
A common refrain at Keeneland Race Course during the Lexington track’s recently concluded fall meet was, “Another Woodbine shipper!”
Indeed, horses coming to Keeneland who had raced at Woodbine won prestigious races such as the Darley Alcibiades (G1) and the Perryville (G3) Stakes.
Negligee used her Alcibiades win as a springboard to the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juveniles Fillies (G1). Joining her in that race on Friday at Santa Anita Park is Mazarine Stakes (Can-G3) winner Biofuel.
Sovereign Stable acquired Negligee privately after the Northern Afleet filly finished second to next-out winner Franny Freud in the Ontario Debutante Stakes. Franny Freud’s trainer, John Terranova, was so impressed by the race she ran that he wanted the runner-up, too.
“It does seem like the last two years a lot of good two-year-olds have come from Woodbine and Calder,” said Matt Gastas, managing partner of Sovereign Stable. “You have Blind Luck as a favorite in the [Juvenile Fillies] having come from there, and last year, Mine That Bird was a two-year-old champion in Canada.”
Reade Baker trains Biofuel for breeder Brereton C. Jones. The Stormin Fever filly finished fourth in the Ontario Debutante.
“We figured that if Negligee is the one to beat in here, then we have a good shot because we know we can run with her,” Baker said.
Baker also trains Fatal Bullet, who could go as short as the second wagering choice for the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Fatal Bullet has won nine of 11 races on synthetic surfaces, including the Bold Venture Stakes in July at Woodbine to begin his four-year-old season. He won the Phoenix Stakes (G3) in his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup.
El Brujo won the Perryville but will be pointed toward a four-year-old campaign.
Ed DeRosa is news editor of Thoroughbred Times