Kentucky Derby 2023: Versatile Mage can do some Derby magic
Read this articleDank (GB) Back to Defend Title in $2 Million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf
The top level stakes action continues on Saturday at Santa Anita with the $2 million Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf. The mile and a quarter contest has drawn a field of eleven fillies and mares including the defending champion Dank (GB).
Dank (GB) has been tabbed as the morning line favorite at odds of 5-2 for trainer Sir Michael Stoute. The five-year-old daughter of Dansili (GB) has won half of her fourteen career starts including the Beverly D. (G1) and Filly and Mare Turf (G1) in 2013. This year, her best effort was a third-place finish in the Dubai Duty Free (G1) and she was last seen finishing fifth behind a star-studded field in the Prince of Wales (G1) at Royal Ascot in June. She will break from post three under Ryan Moore.
Former Juvenile Fillies Turf winner back for another title
Second choice on the morning line at odds of 3-1 is Stephanie’s Kitten, a homebred daughter of Kitten’s Joy for Ken and Sarah Ramsey. Trained by Chad Brown, the five-year-old mare won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs in 2011 and is a multiple Grade 1 winner. She delivered as the favorite in the Flower Bowl (G1) last time out to earn her eighth career victory. John Velazquez will be aboard from post ten.
Longshot Abaco a big closer with a chance
Also in the field and a longshot at 15-1 on the morning line is Abaco for trainer Claude McGaughey. Bred and owned by the Phipps Stable, the six-year-old daughter of Giant’s Causeway is out of their multi-generational homebred mare Cat Cay. Abaco was last seen finishing second to Stephanie’s Kitten in the Flower Bowl (G1) and prior to that took the Ballston Spa (G2) at Saratoga for her sole win of the year. Jose Ortiz has the mount from the rail.
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