Vodka With a Twist could not keep pace with Immersive in the stretch of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Nov. 1, finishing a well-beaten second to the undefeated favorite.
The BC Juvenile Fillies was Vodka With a Twist’s first start at 1 1/16 miles, and has led to another appearance at the distance in Saturday’s Grade 2 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos.
Since the BC Juvenile Fillies is essentially the national championship for the division, Vodka With a Twist’s presence in the $200,000 Starlet is the subject of high expectations. A repeat of her recent loss may be good enough to beat a solid field that includes six other Southern California-based 2-year-old fillies.
In the BC Juvenile Fillies, Vodka With a Twist was third early, and led on the turn and briefly in early stretch before she was caught. She was beaten 4 1/2 lengths.
“I thought it was a good race,” trainer Phil D’Amato said earlier this week. “The one thing I took into consideration is that it was her first race long. I thought she ran a creditable race.”
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Vodka With a Twist races for the partnership of Medallion Racing, Omar Aldabbagh, William Strauss, BlackRidge Stables, and Schwing Thoroughbreds. A winner of 2 of 6 starts, Vodka With a Twist won the Debutante Stakes at six furlongs at Churchill Downs in June in her debut for D’Amato, and has been second in her last three starts.
Even though she will be well backed in the Starlet, Vodka With a Twist may play the role of a spoiler, and possibly end Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s dominance of the leading race for 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos.
Baffert has won the Starlet for seven consecutive years, beginning in 2017.
This year, Baffert has three runners in Mawu, who was third in the Dezi Arnaz Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 16; Nooni, who was sixth in the BC Juvenile Fillies; and Tenma, who was third in the Grade 2 Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 5 in her last race.
Two recent maiden race winners were supplemented for $7,500 when entries were taken on Wednesday – Aunt Mo and Look Forward.
Aunt Mo, trained by Peter Eurton, led throughout a one-mile maiden race at Del Mar on Nov. 10, winning by nine lengths. Look Forward won her debut in a maiden race at six furlongs on Nov. 8, the final winner for trainer Ben Cecil before his passing on Nov. 29. Look Forward is now trained by Michael McCarthy, who once worked as an assistant for Cecil.
The Starlet is expected to have a spirited pace. Aunt Mo, Look Forward, and Nooni have shown speed. Nooni, who won the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar in August, set a fast pace in the BC Juvenile Fillies before fading to finish 21 1/2 lengths behind Immersive. Nooni was second in the Grade 2 Oak Leaf Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 5.
Baffert expects Nooni to have a forward position in the Starlet.
“She’s one-dimensional and we’ll give it another try,” he said.
Tenma won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs on Sept. 7 by closing from fifth of seven, helped by a quick pace set by Nooni, who faded to finish fifth. Tenma was a well-beaten third in the Oak Leaf Stakes in her first start at 1 1/16 miles.
“She ran well at Del Mar,” Baffert said. “Her race in the Oak Leaf, it was okay.
“I freshened her up. I didn’t think she was ready for the Breeders’ Cup. She seems to be training well.”
Practical Dream, winner of the Desi Arnaz Stakes, rates as a leading contender for trainer Tim Yakteen. Practical Dream led throughout the Desi Arnaz Stakes, but may not set the pace on Saturday.
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“In the mornings, from what I’ve seen, she is pretty handy,” Yakteen said.
Yakteen said jockey Antonio Fresu will be entrusted to “play the break” and decide where best to place Practical Dream in the opening furlongs.
“There is probably some serious speed in there,” Yakteen said.
“The main thing is she’s a big filly and the farther we go, the better. She’ll enjoy the distance. I’ve been looking forward to seeing her go two turns.”
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