Ante’ Up

The lone member of the 11 horses to emerge from a date in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Three Chimneys Farm’s Rainha Da Bateria (Broken Vow) will look to capitalize on a dip in class in today’s GIII Jimmy Durante S. over the Del Mar turf course named in the entertainer’s honor. 

A first-out winner sprinting5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga July 21, the $435,000 Keeneland September acquisition was forced very wide in the early going of her route debut in the Aug. 27 P.G. Johnson S. and rallied late to finish fourth. Well supported for the GIII Jessamine S. at Keeneland Oct. 8, the chestnut once again took the overland route home, but was good enough to score by 1 1/2 lengths over Quality Rocks (Rock Hard Ten). Showing her customary closing kick in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Oct. 31, she was again caught wide turning for home, but could not overcome that disadvantage and had to settle for ninth behind likely divisional finalist Lady Eli (Divine Park). Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith gets the call for the first time here. The one she’ll likely need to run down in the stretch will be Don’t Blame Me (Blame), who is making her turf bow for trainer Kristin Mulhall, who is 18% with those types. The Maryland-bred filly needed five starts to get off the mark, but appeared to turn the corner stretching to two turns for the first time at Santa Anita Sept. 26 and galloped home an easy 5 3/4-length winner. Favored in her latest over that track and trip, she was caught late and had to settle for second, beaten a neck. 

Trainer Tom Proctor has a pair of fillies enlisted, including Bobby Grace (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}), who kicked off her career under the care of trainer Paul Deegan. Victorious in her second and final start overseas in a six-furlong test at Navan July 11, she reappeared in Santa Anita’s Surfer Girl S. at this distance and came home a credible third behind the talented Her Emmynency (Successful Appeal). Proctor also sends out Craig Bernick’s Jaded Glory (Smart Strike), who flew home from off the pace in her career debut to graduate by 1 3/4 lengths down the hill at Santa Anita Oct. 30. Accompanied by Smith that day, she receives the services of another Hall of Famer in Gary Stevens.