By Christie DeBernardis
A full field of 14 fillies will vie for the final Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” spot in Wednesday's GII Jessamine S. at Keeneland, a qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Chad Brown won last year's renewal with 'TDN Rising Star' Rushing Fall (More Than Ready), who followed suit with a decisive score at the World Championships, and he has once chance to repeat with Fierce Scarlett (Scat Daddy. Fifth on debut sprinting over the Saratoga lawn Aug. 10, the $320,000 OBSAPR proved she just needed more distance when graduated by 4 1/2 lengths going away after a wide journey in a two-turn test over a yielding course at Belmont Sept. 15.
Jorge Abreau takes on his former boss with a pair of contenders in Moravia (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Espresso Shot (Mission Impazible). Formerly campaigned in Europe, Moravia broke her maiden at third asking at Leopardstown June 7 and was second in the G3 Silver Flash S. there last time July 26. She receives Lasix for the first time in the U.S. debut. Third in an Aug. 16 grass sprint against fellow Empire-breds at Saratoga, Espresso Shot donned cap and gown next out in a 1 1/16-mile off-the-turfer Sept. 14.
The greatest threat to Brown's morning-line favorite, however, appears to be coming from the Great White North in the form of My Gal Betty (Point of Entry). A debut winner sprinting over the Woodbine synthetic May 20, she crossed the wire first in that venue's My Dear S. July 7, but was disqualified and placed third for interference. Taking to the grass with aplomb with a 4 1/4-length decision in the Catch a Glimpse S. Aug. 25, the bay missed by just a length when second in the one-mile GI Natalma S. on the Woodbine lawn Sept. 16.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
