Juvenile Fillies Turf

Sometimes a horse just tells you when they're sitting on go. Nearly all the way from the post parade to the gate Friday at Del Mar, Donnacha O'Brien's Balantina (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) was taking jockey Oisin Murphy for a ride, kicking up her heels in dramatic fashion through her warm up and generally looking like a filly ready to roll. And ready she was. With a powerful late-running move, the 20-1 longshot exploded up the rail to capture the GI John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The most...

Already a proven winner over the 1 1/16-mile trip, Buchu (Justify) made the jump from maiden winner to graded-stakes winner Friday with an eye-catching come-from-behind performance in the GII Jessamine S. on Keeneland's opening day. Facing her fifth track in as many starts, the dark bay debuted with a pair of thirds on the dirt--first at Ellis Park June 16 and then to Saratoga in a rained-off event July 30. Sixth once she finally got on the turf in upstate New York Aug. 20, Buchu broke through at 4-1 by...