18:04 Churchill Downs

Saturday 3 November 2018

All14:4515:1516:0016:3817:1618:0418:4619:3620:1620:5621:4422:22

Race 6 - Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Grade 1)

Off time: 18:10 | Winning time: -

(1)

Fourstar Crook²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Irad Ortiz Jr| T: Chad Brown| OR: 115

7/1

Has been in fine form this season and impressive when winning a Belmont Park Grade 1 last time. Won't mind some cut in the ground and this extra furlong should suit; can't be ruled out if she gets some luck in running.

Form: 3-12121

(2)

Thais⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Manuel Franco| T: Chad Brown| OR: 108

50/1

Respectable effort at bid odds in an Arlington Grade 1 last time but she would need a significant step up on that form to have a say here.

Form: 233-163

(3)

Wild Illusion²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 116

9/4

Progressive sort who improved from placed effort in the Epsom Oaks and Ribblesdale Stakes with a pair of Group 1 wins, the latter an impressive win at Longchamp (Magic Wand second). Soft ground in her favour and has leading claims.

Form: 1-42211

(4)

Paved³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Joel Rosario| T: Michael McCarthy| OR: 120

40/1

Grade 2 winner at Santa Anita on firm ground and bounced back from a couple of below par efforts with a second in a Grade 1 back at Santa Anita in September. Extra furlong may help but needs a clear career best.

Form: 131862

(5)

Princess Yaiza^b²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 107

25/1

Steadily progressive and won a Group 2 at Longchamp last time. That didn't look like the strongest race for the grade but she will handle conditions here and will have no issue seeing out this trip.

Form: 333221

(6)

Sistercharlie⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: John Velazquez| T: Chad Brown| OR: 116

5/1

Arrives bidding for a third straight Grade 1 win and impressive when getting better of Fourstar Crook last time at Belmont Park. Handled cut in the ground when trained in France and expected to run well if she gets some luck in running.

Form: 22-1211

(7)

Smart Choice¹³²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Flavien Prat| T: Todd Pletcher

40/1

Improving sort who landed a Group 1 in Peru last time but it's likely she will need a huge step forward to play any part here. Starts out for a new yard here and others preferred.

Form: 42-3321

(8)

Fuhriously Kissed²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Tyler Gaffalione| T: Anthony Quartarolo| OR: 104

100/1

Last seen finishing fourth on dirt in a Grade 1 at Keeneland but seemingly not as effective on turf and she has plenty to find on form.

Form: 374414

(9)

A Raving Beauty²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Javier Castellano| T: Chad Brown| OR: 116

10/1

Two-time Grade 1 winner who stayed on gamely to win at Keeneland last time. Needs to prove her stamina for this test though and a career best needed.

Form: 2-11341

(10)

Magic Wand²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 113| D

5/1

Only narrowly edged out of a first Group 1 success at Longchamp last time by Wild Illusion. May struggle to reverse that form on this sort of ground from a worse draw though.

Form: 415522

(11)

Mom's On Strike^b⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Adam Beschizza| T: Joe Sharp| OR: 111| BF

40/1

Has run okay when runner-up on her last couple of starts but this is a big step up in class, the draw isn't ideal and she would probably want quicker ground.

Form: 141422

(12)

Santa Monica²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Jose Ortiz| T: Chad Brown| OR: 108| BF| D

33/1

Very consistent since switched to this yard and posted a career best at Woodbine in a Grade 1 last time. More needed here though and has been dealt a blow with this draw.

Form: 9-13123

(13)

Athena²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118

33/1

Very impressive when justifying a huge step up in class to Grade 1 company at Belmont. Not as effective with cut in the ground though and well behind several of these at Longchamp last time. Moore prefers Magic Wand.

Form: 431748

(14)

Eziyra⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: L Dettori| T: D K Weld| OR: 111

6/1

Useful sort who won a Group 2 at the Curragh last time but generally finds a couple too good at the top level and the widest draw is a blow to her chance. Goes on soft ground at least.

Form: 311-131

Forecasts

Wild Illusion (9/4), Sistercharlie (5/1), Magic Wand (5/1), Eziyra (6/1), Fourstar Crook (7/1), A Raving Beauty (10/1), Princess Yaiza (25/1), Athena (33/1), Santa Monica (33/1), Smart Choice (40/1), Paved (40/1), Mom's On Strike (40/1), Thais (50/1), Fuhriously Kissed (100/1)

Charlie Appleby won this last year and WILD ILLUSION has rock solid claims of giving him another success after an impressive Group 1 win at Longchamp last time and conditions have come in her favour again. Chad Brown has won three of the last six renewals and saddles five runners; Sistercharlie rates as his best chance and is the main danger to the selection. Fourstar Crook is a live each-way player after a career best last time.