LADIES CLASSIC

ASK THE MOON
IT'S TRICKY
MEDAGLIA D'AMOUR--OUT
MISS MATCH
PACHATTACK
PLUM PRETTY
ROYAL DELTA
SATAN'S QUICK CHICK
SUPER ESPRESSO
ULTRA BLEND

Past Performances

ASK THE MOON (MD)
Trainer: Martin Wolfson
Owner: Farnsworth Stables LLC
Breeder: Mr. and Mrs. Charles McGinnes and CountryLife Farm
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Malibu Moon (A.P. Indy, Macoumba)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Always Asking (Valid Appeal, Willing 'N Waiting)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 9-7-12-0-0 (28) 3.67
Age: 6

In 2010, Ask the Moon was second in the All Brandy Stakes at Laurel. He was third in the 1 1/8-mile Lady's Secret at Monmouth, the Monmouth Beach Stakes going a mile and 70 yards, the 8 1/2-furlong Politely Stakes at Monmouth, and the one-mile Honey Bee, also at Monmouth.

Ask the Moon was claimed on June 15, 2011 for $75,000 by the owner. On July 1, Ask the Moon ran to a third-place finish in the Sky Beauty Stakes at Belmont Park in her first start for her new owner.

July 31, Grade I Ruffian Handicap, Saratoga, 1 1/8 Mile. It was 18-1 longshot Ask the Moon who had a front-running victory. Javier Castellano put Ask the Moon in front and led the field of seven through an opening quarter-mile in :23.61 and a half in a brisk :46.92, but she was still able to hold on ahead of the rest of the faltering field while bobbing and weaving through the stretch.

Super Espresso (second), favored Payton d’Oro (moved from fourth to third on a DQ) and Tiz Miz Sue (moved from third to fourth) tried to mount bids on the turn, but the 6-year-old mare hit the wire 5 3/4 lengths clear for her first Grade I victory and a winning time of 1:50.46.

It was her ninth win from 31 lifetime starts. She was the longest shot on the board..

Javier Castellano: “It was a pretty decent pace, but the way she did it, on the lead, she was doing it so easily. She got a little tired at the end, but she gave me a good race and was strong.”

Martin Wolfson: “She’s a beautiful mare, that’s why I claimed her. That, and the Malibu Moon. I loved that there was less speed in the race. I told Javier sometimes when you go to the lead, they’ll back off and leave you alone. When they backed off on us, and left us alone, that was exactly what I wanted.”

Wolfson said the next start for Ask the Moon could be the Grade I Personal Ensign Invitational.

Sept. 3, Grade I Personal Ensign Invitational Stakes, Saratoga, 1 1/4 Mile. Ask the Moon's odds were much lower this race--she was sent off at just under 2-1--and with Havre de Grace winning the Woodward later on the card, Ask the Moon was a handy 2 3/4-length winner. She was timed in 2:04.21. Under Javier Castellano, Ask the Moon set splits of :23.43, :47.37 and 1:11.59. She was challenged once, by Pachattack, and then drew off from the one-length lead she had at the furlong marker.

This race will be remembered partly for Ask the Moon's severe drifting out at the three-sixteenths pole before she drew off from the runner-up, Pachattack.

Ask the Moon has breeding that suggested the Personal Ensign distance might have been beyond her scope.

Heather Irion, assistant to Martin Wolfson: “She has been here for about a week due to the hurricane. She came up here last Saturday, and she breezed over the track with Javier on Tuesday. She obviously loves this track. She’s been amazing. We never dreamed she would do this when we claimed her. Marty loved her. He told me when he sent her over, ‘This filly is really special to me.’ But I think she has blown us away with two Grade I wins right off the bat. She’s just a dream. She does it all on her own.”

“We were worried. Distance was definitely an issue for us.She’s got a lot of heart. She was all heart down the lane. She was obviously tired. She digs in. She gives everything she’s got. She’s all class.”

Javier Castellano: “She improved. People said that maybe she got lucky last time--'they let her go on the lead and stole the race.' I don’t think so. She improved a lot, she’s a nice filly, she’s won two Grade I's, and I’m glad to get on the filly.

“She’s a very fast filly, and I think the key is not fighting too much with her. She ducked out a little bit because she was getting tired, and I tried to push her a little hard and squeeze her a little bit, and she responded.”  

Sept. 4 NOTE: Ask the Moon may be pointed to the Grade I Lady’s Secret at Santa Anita, where she'd likely face Blind Luck. Wolfson he believes Ask the Moon prefers two-turn races, so he will likely avoid the Beldame. Wolfson said that ultimately Ask the Moon would point toward the Breeders’ Cup and then be sold in the November Breeding Stock Sale at Keeneland.

Sept. 28 NOTE: Shipped west for the Lady's Secret, Ask the Moon had 10 wins, five seconds and seven thirds for earnings of $713,640.

Oct. 1, Grade I Lady's Secret Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. The trip out West did not go well  Ask the Moon tracked Champagne d'Oro in second but backed up badly to finish sixth of seven. She was beaten 8 1/2 lengths by Zazu.

Oct. 21 NOTE: “She was sick coming out of that race,” trainer Wolfson said. “Everything was out of whack. She had a high white count."

IT'S TRICKY (KY)
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Owner: Godolphin Racing
Breeder: Stonerside Stable
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Mineshaft (A.P. Indy, Prospector's Delite)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Catbpat (Tale of the Cat, Northern Fleet)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 9-6-11-0-0 (26) 3.73
Age: 3

July 23, Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks, Saratoga, 1 1/8 Mile. It’s Tricky wore down pacesetter Plum Pretty while the other three runners looked on.

Trying 1 1/8 miles for the second in her career, It’s Tricky tugged at jockey Eddie Castro as she raced outside horses in second, shadowing pacesetter and Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty through fractions of :23.88 and :47.55. The top two began to sneak away from their opponents on the far turn, and they moved in tandem until It’s Tricky gained the upper hand with a sixteenth left en route to a three-quarter length triumph.

It’s Tricky completed the distance in 1:49.15 and returned $10.60. Royal Delta finished 7 1/4 lengths behind the winner in third, and she was followed home by Buster’s Ready and Joyful Victory.

“Around the three-eighths, I knew (Martin Garcia aboard Plum Pretty) had a lot of horse, too,” said Castro. “I had to put pressure and ride her really hard. When that filly came past her, she changed leads, and when I hit her left again she swung back again, she fought again.”

It’s Tricky entered the race off an upset in the Grade I TVG Acorn on June 11 at Belmont Park. Although that race was a one-turn mile, It’s Tricky’s breeding and a pair of victories traveling a mile and 70 yards this winter gave trainer Kiaran McLaughlin confidence.

“This is her third time around two turns that she’s won,” said McLaughlin. “We always thought that by Mineshaft, the distance should be no problem.”

It’s Tricky is now 4-0-0 from 5 starts, with her sole defeat being a fourth-place finish in the Grade II Gulfstream Park Oaks in April.

McLaughlin said It’s Tricky lives up to her name, but that her misbehavior Saturday morning was a good omen.

“She’s tricky,” said McLaughlin. “It took us a long time to catch her in the stall this morning to put her halter on. But that’s a good thing. You want to see that, because in Florida, she did everything right. We want her to be tricky. And she was tricky this morning. She won, she didn’t do anything wrong in the paddock or in the race, and Eddie rode a great race.

“Next, probably the Alabama, but we’ll find out from the Godolphin people,” said McLaughlin.

July 24 NOTE: Trainer McLaughlin reported that It's Tricky came out of the race in good order and would be pointed to the Alabama on Aug. 20.

“She ate up well, not everything, but ate up well,” said McLaughlin. “She was tired, but she’s in good shape..... She’s a day-by-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute filly when it comes to how she’s doing and what’s going on."

Aug. 20, Grade I Alabama Stakes, Saratoga, 1 1/4 Mile. Royal Delta defeated It’s Tricky and four others after running third behind It’s Tricky and Plum Pretty in the Grade I TVG Coaching Club American Oaks at the Spa on July 23. Royal Delta emphatically reversed the form of that race, blowing past favored It’s Tricky at the eighth pole to post a 5 1/2-length victory. Pacesetter Plum Pretty faded to fourth.

Royal Delta settled in third as she skimmed the rail, raced two lengths off the pace behind Plum Pretty’s moderate fractions of :49.31 and 1:13.12. Waiting as It’s Tricky ranged up to the lead nearing the quarter-pole, she rallied outside horses to take the lead in midstretch, and widened the margin despite ducking in sharply and brushing the rail after forging to the front. The final time was 2:03.13.

Kiaran McLaughlin: “She ran well. I thought we ran our race and looked good. The winner probably needed her last race and a mile and a quarter. But we ran a nice race; no excuse. We couldn’t have done anything different. We were just second-best.”

Aug. 21 NOTE: “We were second best yesterday at that distance, and we never have to run a mile and a quarter again,” trainer McLaughlin said. It’s Tricky was said to be pointed to the Grade II Cotillion on Oct. 1 at Parx as a tune-up for the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic.

Oct. 1, Grade II Cotillion Stakes, Parx, 1 1/16 Mile. It's Tricky ran OK, but she was no match for Plum Pretty, who obliterated the field of six with a 7 1/2-length win, and the winner wasn't asked for much.  It's Tricky was second, with 72-1 Daring Reality another 4 1/4 lengths back in third, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Buster's Ready. The winner was timed in 1:41.19, and she wasn't running that hard at the end.

Oct. 2 NOTE: “The track at Parx was wet, drying out, but it was wet and speed favoring a little bit, but we were second best,” trainer McLaughlin said. “Bob Baffert’s filly ran huge. I do think it was a funny track though and (Plum Pretty) liked it and ran a huge race. We’ll talk about pointing for the Breeders’ Cup and just see what’s going on with all of the competition. You know, if Havre de Grace goes to the Classic, and you don’t know what happened with Blind Luck…it could turn out to be a 3-year-old filly race. So, we’ll just have to see, but we will definitely talk about it. There are no other options, it’s either the Breeders’ Cup or just sit on her for awhile.”

MEDAGLIA D'AMOUR (KY)--OUT
Trainer: Ben Cecil
Owner: Kristina Cecil & Zillah Reddam
Breeder: Allen E. Paulson Living Trust
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Medaglia d'Oro (El Prado (IRE), Cappucino Bay)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Izara (Blushing John, Zalataia (FR))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 3-2-9-2-0 (16) 1.46
Age: 5

Her most notable accomplishment this year was a second-place finish in the Grade II Palomar Handicap on the turf at Del Mar.

MISS MATCH (ARG)
Trainer: Neil Drysdale
Owner: Cloros Bloodstock
Breeder: La Quebrada
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Indygo Shiner (A.P. Indy, Navarra)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Miss Simpatia (ARG) (Southern Halo, Miss Peggy (ARGG))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 7-5-14-0-0 (26) 2.71
Age: 6

From 24 starts, Miss Match has six wins, two places and seven shows. She Has earnings of $621,614.

She began her career in Argentina, running six times there at age three (by Southern Hemisphere rules) and won the Group 1 Argentine Oaks; was second in the Pr. Francisco J. Beazley; and third in the Group 1 G.P. Copa De Plata and Group 2 Pr. General Luis Maria Campos.

The next year, her best efforts were to finish third in the 1 1/16-mile Winter Melody Stakes at Delaware Park and also in the 1 1/16-mile Wayward Lass Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

This year after winning an allowance race at Golden Gate, she won the 1 1/8-mile, Grade I Santa Margarita Invitational Stakes at Santa Anita on March 12; was fourth in the Grade I Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on April 15; and was third in the 1 1/8-mile, Grade I Vanity Handicap at Hollywood on June 18.

She then raced against boys twice, finishing seventh, beaten 8 1/2 lengths, in the 1 1/4-mile, Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup on July 9; and fourth, beaten 5 1/4 lengths, in the 1 1/8-mile, Grade I Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1.

On Oct. 7, Miss Match worked three in :36.80 (4/16) at HOL.
On Oct. 13, Miss Match worked six in 1:15.00 (6/8) at HOL.
On Oct. 20, Miss Match worked six in 1:14.00 (4/9) at HOL.
On Oct. 28, Miss Match worked seven in 1:26.80 (1/4) at HOL.

PACHATTACK (KY)
Trainer: Gerard Butler
Owner: M. V. Deegan
Breeder: Dapple Broodmares 2004
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Pulpit (A.P. Indy, Preach)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): El Laoob (Red Ransom, Ajfan)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 7-6-18-1-0 (32) 2.20
Age: 5

After 21 starts in Europe, all on turf or synthetic tracks, Pachattack was brought over and made her first two starts at Arlington Park. She won the Grade III Arlington Matron by six lengths on the main synthetic track, then was blown away on a yielding turf course in the 1 3/16-mile, Grade I Beverly D on Aug. 13.

Sept. 3, Grade I Personal Ensign Invitational Stakes, Saratoga, 1 1/4 Mile. Pachattack finished second in her dirt debut as the 5-2 second choice. Ask the Moon's odds were just under 2-1. Ask the Moon was a handy 2 3/4-length winner. She was timed in 2:04.21. Under Javier Castellano, Ask the Moon set splits of :23.43, :47.37 and 1:11.59. She was challenged once, by Pachattack and Rajiv Maragh, and then drew off from the one-length lead she had at the furlong marker.

This race will be remembered partly for Ask the Moon's severe drifting out at the three-sixteenths pole before she drew off from the runner-up, Pachattack.

Michael Deegan, owner: “Well, look, it was a good (dirt) debut, wasn’t it? I think we met a good horse today. She traveled very well on the back, the jockey was making up ground, which is all we wanted to see, so obviously she liked it. There are a couple of races coming up that we’re going to consider, but obviously, ultimately, the goal is the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic.

"There’s a bit of work between this and then, but for her first race and the way she fought on the backstretch, we’ll take that.”

Rajiv Maragh: “I was within arms reach of Ask the Moon. She was in front, but it was a very honest pace for the distance, so I was comfortable where I was. I felt that once my horse kicked in I was really in striking distance of Ask the Moon. She trained well on the dirt, so we were thinking that she would definitely handle it, and it would have been a surprise to us all if she hadn’t.”

Oct. 9, Grade I Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, Keeneland, 1 1/8 Mile. Aruna swept past the leaders with a six-wide move at the eighth pole and defeated Pachattack by a diminishing half-length. Pachattack was 1 1/2 length behind the winner at the furlong marker, gaining a length on her in the final eighth mile.

In making her synthetic track debut, Aruna raced seventh in the field of 12 in the early going as Embur’s Song led the field through fractions of :23.39, :46.41 and 1:10.76 while getting token pressure from Tapitsfly and Dynazaper.

Dominguez kept Aruna in the clear and began to move to the outside leaving the far turn. Embur’s Song gave up the lead at the eighth pole as Aruna, Pachattack and a wave of stretch runners surged past, with Aruna coasting to the wire in 1:47.88 for the 1 1/8 mile.

La Gran Bailadora rallied for third, another 11/4 lengths back under Corey Lanerie. Completing the field in order were Protesting, Stars to Shine, Well Monied, Sugar Again, Dynazaper, Tesoro de Amor, Super Espresso, Embur’s Song and Tapitsfly.

Rajiv Maragh, rider of second-place finisher Pachattack: “She put her best foot forward. She tried really hard. She gave me all she had and it was a good race.”

On Oct. 29, Pachattack breezed three in :35.60 (1/13) at KEE.
 

PLUM PRETTY (PA)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Owner: Peachtree Stable
Breeder: Silent Indy Stables LLC & DDS Stables
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Medaglia D' Oro (El Prado (IRE), Cappucino Bay)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Liszy (A.P. Indy, Silent Account)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 3-8-13-2-0 (26) 2.06
Age: 3

The 2011 Sunland Park Oaks and Kentucky Oaks winner.

July 23, Grade Coaching Club American Oaks, Saratoga, 1 1/8 Mile. It’s Tricky wore down pacesetter Plum Pretty while the other three runners looked on.

Trying 1 1/8 miles for the second in her career, It’s Tricky tugged at jockey Eddie Castro as she raced outside horses in second, shadowing pacesetter and Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty through fractions of :23.88 and :47.55. The top two began to sneak away from their opponents on the far turn, and they moved in tandem until It’s Tricky gained the upper hand with a sixteenth left en route to a three-quarter length triumph.

It’s Tricky completed the distance in 1:49.15. Plum Pretty was the favorite at less than 2-1. Royal Delta finished 7 ¼ lengths behind the winner in third, and she was followed home by Buster’s Ready and Joyful Victory.

Jim Barnes, assistant to trainer Baffert:: “She ran her eyeballs out. It was a tough beat. Martin said she gave him everything she had.”

Martin Garcia: “My filly ran a really good race. The other filly is such a good filly, too. She looked like she was going to come back, but (It’s Tricky) just started running too. She broke really, really sharp so I didn’t want to fight with her, I wanted to let her run her own race.”

July 24 NOTE: Plum Pretty remained at Saratogo after coming out of her race in good shape, assistant Tonja Terranova reported. “She looks great,” said Terranova. “Everything is fine with her. She ran really hard, and came out of it great.”

Terranova said she doesn’t know whether trainer Baffert will keep the Kentucky Oaks winner at Saratoga for a possible start in the Alabama. “I haven’t talked to Bob yet this morning, so I’m not sure what they’ve decided yet,” said Terranova. “She is here at the moment. There’s a plane coming on Aug. 4, and I know he’s planning on sending quite a few more. It’s a little ways off, but he’s planning on filling up his stalls here.”

Aug. 4 NOTE: Following her first breeze back: “She cruised around there in :48, out in a minute,” said John Terranova, the trainer who with wife Tonja oversees Bob Baffert’s horses in New York. “She looked fantastic. It couldn’t have been any easier or better. She hit the ground beautifully, and it looks she like came out of the race really well.”

Aug. 10 NOTE: She began a breeze about 15 to 20 lengths behind two other workers on the track and was easily by them inside the eighth pole. “She looked good. Got a little tired at the end there,” trainer Baffert said following the 1:11.80 move, galloping out in 1:24.76. “When she works like that, she is really on her game. I wasn’t thinking Alabama, but after watching her work today, she deserves a chance. It’s a tough race, but she’s speed, so … She looks good."

Aug. 20, Grade I Alabama Stakes, Saratoga, 1 1/4 Mile. Plum Pretty set the pace but did not hit the board in the six-filly field. She faded to fourth.

Royal Delta defeated It’s Tricky and four others after running third behind It’s Tricky and Plum Pretty in the Grade I TVG Coaching Club American Oaks at the Spa on July 23. Royal Delta reversed the form of that race, blowing past favored It’s Tricky at the eighth pole to post a 5 1/2-length victory.

Royal Delta settled in third as she skimmed the rail, raced two lengths off the pace behind Plum Pretty’s moderate fractions of :49.31 and 1:13.12. Waiting as It’s Tricky ranged up to the lead nearing the quarter-pole, she rallied outside horses to take the lead in midstretch, and widened the margin despite ducking in sharply and brushing the rail after forging to the front. The final time was 2:03.13.

Oct. 1, Grade II Cotillion Stakes, Parx, 1 1/16 Mile. Plum Pretty obliterated the field of six with a 7 1/2-length win, and she wasn't asked for much. The winner was timed in 1:41.19, and she wasn't running that hard at the end. The chart call accurately says she "came in slightly after an alert start, set pace inside under light rating, shook loose without need of coaxing entering the stretch, opened a long lead with a furlong to run and continued to draw out while being taken in hand through the final sixteenth." Rafael Bejarano handled the reins. It's Tricky was second, with 72-1 Daring Reality another 4 1/4 lengths back in third, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Buster's Ready.

Some say she really liked the track at Parx that day; of course, she liked the track at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks day, too.

ROYAL DELTA (KY)
Trainer: Bill Mott
Owner: Estate of Prince Saud bin Khaled
Breeder: Palides Investments, N.V., Inc.
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Empire Maker (Unbridled, Toussaud)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Delta Princess (A.P. Indy, Lyphard's Delta)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 10-11-17-0-2 (40) 2.81
Age: 3

Out of multiple graded turf stakes winner Delta Princess.

Royal Delta finished third behind It’s Tricky and Plum Pretty in the Grade I TVG Coaching Club American Oaks at the Spa on July 23.

The CCA Oaks was Royal Delta’s first start since an impressive victory in the Grade II Black-Eyed Susan in May at Pimlico. After that, she missed the Grade I Mother Goose in June at Belmont Park with a bruised foot and came into the CCA Oaks a little behind schedule.

Aug. 20, Grade I Alabama Stakes, Saratoga, 1 1/4 Mile. Royal Delta defeated It’s Tricky and four others. Royal Delta emphatically reversed the form of that race, blowing past favored It’s Tricky at the eighth pole to post a 5 ½-length victory. Pacesetter Plum Pretty faded to fourth.

Royal Delta settled in third as she skimmed the rail, raced two lengths off the pace behind Plum Pretty’s moderate fractions of :49.31 and 1:13.12. Waiting as It’s Tricky ranged up to the lead nearing the quarter-pole, she rallied outside horses to take the lead in midstretch, and widened the margin despite ducking in sharply and brushing the rail after forging to the front. She was the 5-1 fifth choice. The final time was 2:03.13.

Both Jose Lezcano and trainer Mott credited Royal Delta for relaxing in the early stages of the race.

Lezcano: “Last time she was a little rank, she fought with the bit. But today, I let her break and run the first quarter, and after that I took a little hold and she got very relaxed. I asked her at the quarter pole and took her out, and she gave me a big kick. She really took off.”

Mott: “I think she needed (the CCA Oaks) in a lot of ways, not just conditioning, but also mentally. She was a little fresh in that race, and we tried to sit in behind.... Today the plan was to lay closer and let her find her stride, and she was able to do that. She was really comfortable. Jose did a great job, and she had plenty left. It’s a matter of her relaxing and conserving energy for the final run, which she didn’t do the time before.

“This is a very important race obviously, a Grade I, and it was our first choice. We’ve got those (grass) options down the road. I think she’s a filly that seems to do anything. She will run over any surface. She has won on the synthetics, won a Grade I on the dirt, and has worked well over the grass. Our options are always open, but there is nothing like a good old-fashioned dirt race like the Alabama.”

Royal Delta was now 4-0-1 from six starts. The $300,000 winner’s share of the Alabama purse more than doubled her earnings to $544,600.

Aug. 21 NOTE: “Everything is an option, I suppose, at this point," trainer Mott said. "If you stay on the dirt, you kind of get into the group of older fillies if you’re going to stay in New York. We’ll just play it by ear, I suppose.”

Sept. 18 NOTE: Following a :59-and-change breeze at Belmont Park: “Anytime you’ll be going into any of those big races, you want to have a good work in them,” said assistant trainer Leana Willaford. “Our M.O. is two works prior, we’ll put a nice, strong work in them, and then more of an on-the-bridle work right before the race. For us, that seems to work. I know she went fast today, but she did it very easily. We’ll probably come back and put a half-mile in her.”

Sept. 28 NOTE: "You don’t want to get in a wrestling match with her; that’s the key,” said assistant trainer Leana Willaford. Royal Delta had been entered in the Beldame.

Oct. 1, Grade I Beldame Invitational Stakes, Belmont Park, 1 1/8 Mile. Havre de Grace won by 8 1/4 lengths timed in 1:49.39 on a muddy track. She tracked Life At Ten, took over leaving the turn and coasted home with gas left in the tank.

Royal Delta was second, followed distantly by lesseer lights Satan's Quick Chick, Banker's Buy and Life At Ten.

Bill Mott: “She ran second to a very good filly. Havre de Grace is one of the top two fillies in the country. It’s no disgrace to be beaten by her with a 3-year-old filly. I thought our filly ran well. I think the Breeders’ Cup (Ladies Classic) is a possibility. We’ll see.”

Jose Lezcano: “She ran well. The filly that beat her is the best filly in the country. I think my filly ran a very good race.”

SATANS QUICK CHICK (KY)
Trainer: Jeff Odintz
Owner: Jerry Jamgotchian
Breeder: Hargus & Sandra Sexton
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Sky Mesa (Pulpit, Caress)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Dancing Devlette (Devil's Bag, Terpsichorist)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 5-2-12-3-0 (22) 1.44
Age: 5

This veteran runner has not won beyond 1 1/16 mile, but there's a first time for anything. Her accomplishments this year include:

A win of the 1 1/16-mile Pippin Stakes at Oaklawn Park; second place finishes in the 1 1/16-mile Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn; the 1 1/16-mile Sky Beauty Stakes at Belmont Park; and the 1 1/8-mile Sightseek Stakes at Saratoga.

Most recently, she was thrown into Grade I company in the Beldame Invitational, and she finished a respectable third going 1 1/8 mile; but she was beaten 14 lengths by Havre de Grace.

On Oct. 30, Satans Quick Chick breezed four in :49.00 (20/58) at CD.

SUPER ESPRESSO (KY)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Bobby Flay
Breeder: Liberation Farm & Stonewall Farm
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Medaglia D' Oro (El Prado (IRE), Cappucino Bay)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Amizette (Forty Niner, Courtly Dee)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 9-4-10-2-1 (26) 2.25
Age: 4

April 28, Grade III Bewitch Stakes, Keeneland, 1 1/2 Mile (T). Eased, walked off a yielding turf course.

May 21, Grade II Allaire duPont Distaff, Pimlico, 1 1/16 Mile. Super Espresso took this race going wide in the stretch and pushing past Payton d'Oro to win by less than a length.

June 18, Grade I Ogden Phipps Handicap, Belmont Park, 1 1/16 Mile. Asked to pick it up in the sole turn of the race, she checked in third behind Awesome Maria and Payton d'Oro.

July 31, Grade I Ruffian Handicap, Saratoga, 1 1/8 Mile. Super Espresso finished second, beaten 5 3/4 lengths by Ask the Moon. This time she was asked early in the far turn.

Sept. 3, Grade I Personal Ensign, Saratoga, 1 1/4 MIle. This time she came in fifth, beaten eight lengths by Ask the Moon, after a less-than-desirable trip inside.

Oct. 9, Grade I Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, Keeneland, 1 1/8 Mile. Super Espresso was tenth at the first call, and she was tenth when the race ended.

ULTRA BLEND (CA)
Trainer: Art Sherman
Owner: Nels Erickson
Breeder: BnD Chase Thoroughbreds & Elven Adams
Sire (Sire's Sire, Dam): Richly Blended (Rizzi (CAN), Valid Blend)
Dam (Dam's Sire, Dam): Ankha (Desert Classic, Distant Runner)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 3-3-4-0-0 (10) 4.00
Age: 5

Earlier in the year, Ultra Blend went on winning tear in the one-mile Valentine Dancer Handicap at Santa Anita, the 1 1/16-mile, Grade II Milady Handicap at Hollywood Park and the 7 1/2-furlong B Thoughtful Stakes at Hollywood. She also finished second in the A Gleam Handicap going seven furlongs at Hollywood Park, and she was third in the 1 1/16-mile Sunshine Millions Distaff at Santa Anita.

Aug. 6, Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, Del Mar, 1 1/16 Mile. Ultra Blend, the longest shot in the short field of fillies and mares at 10-1, rallied from last place to win by a neck over Zazu under Tyler Baze. Switch, the 3-5 favorite, was a length-and-a-quarter back in third. St. Trinians was fourth and pacemaker Freedom Star faded to fifth and last. The final time was a solid 1:42.28.

Ultra Blend notched her eleventh victory in 23 starts, with five seconds and five thirds, increasing her earnings to $845,646.

Tyler Baze: “Just amazing. Four months ago I don’t know if I’m ever going to ride again because of my vision (problems). And now here today I win a Grade I at Del Mar. Amazing. I’d been on this filly once before in the morning. But this was the first time to race. The trainer just said ‘Ride her,’ and I played it by ear out there. When I asked her, she gave it to me and now here we are.”

Art Sherman: ”She’s just one of those game, tryin’ fillies. She doesn’t get a lot of respect being a Cal-bred running against open company. But she should get some Cal-bred award this year, don’t you think? I asked Mike Mitchell (trainer of St. Trinians), who’s a friend, you want to loan me $500 so I can bet her horse-for-horse? She never really gets the respect unless she’s running against Cal breds, then they kind of bet on her. Open company, she never gets the respect.”

Oct. 1, Grade I Lady's Secret Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 Mile. The Lady's Secret was won by a horse other than Zenyatta for the first time since 2007. Ultra Blend ran a heck of a race from off the pace, but it was Zazu who kept it in the family, winning for Jerry and Ann Moss, who own retired superstar Zenyatta. Zazu came from further off the pace and was timed in 1:41.59 on the newly refurbished Santa Anita dirt surface. She got by Ultra Blend to prevail by 1/2 length. Great Hot was another 1 1/2 length back, and Champagne d'Oro was beaten 4 1/4 lengths overall after setting a six-furlong pace of 1:10.28.

Art Sherman: “I’m proud of her. She gave everything she had. She tried. There’re no excuses. We’re heading to the Breeders’ Cup.”