Comments by Jim Dunleavy, odds by Mike Watchmaker
Union Strike Shelbe Ruis 81-69 4-1 BC Juvenile Fillies, SA, Nov. 5
Won Del Mar Debutante going away with strong wide move; best in West at moment
Nonna Mela Todd Pletcher 79-64-51 5-1 Frizette, BEL, Oct. 8, or Alcibiades, KEE, Oct. 7
Will stretch out in distance following two blowout wins, including the Adirondack
Pretty City Dancer Mark Casse 75-75-59 6-1 Alcibiades, KEE, Oct. 7
A bit green while rallying for Spinaway dead heat; should love more distance
Sweet Loretta Todd Pletcher 75-75-63 6-1 BC Juvenile Fillies, SA, Nov. 5
Took lead in upper stretch and hung on for Spinaway dead heat after drifiting in stretch
American Cleopatra Bob Baffert 76-74 8-1 Chandelier, SA, Oct. 1
Pharoah's lil sis is a runner; made early move after Debutante leader, held well for second
Diadura Michael Stidham 81-69 10-1 Alcibiades, KEE, Oct. 7
Arlington-Washington Lassie winner is 2 for 2 on synthetic; dirt next
Champagne Room Peter Eurton 76-78-69 12-1 Chandelier, SA, Oct. 1 Eurton:
Del Mar Debutante third may have come too soon after Sorrento victory
Daddys Lil Darling Ken McPeek 68-69-56 15-1 Alcibiades, KEE, Oct. 7 or BC Juvenile Fillies, SA, Nov. 5
Used wide move into stretch to win Pocahontas and earn WAYI berth in BC
Ever So Clever Steve Asmussen 67-51-72 15-1 To be determined
Was getting to winner late when second in slop in Pocahontas; possible for Alcibiades
Noted and Quoted Bob Baffert 69-73-74 15-1 Chandelier, SA, Oct. 1
May not have fired best shot when fourth in Del Mar Debutante while returning on 27 days' rest
AE: Cherry Lodge
1 Colorful Charades Rudy Rodriguez Luis Saez 30-1
2 With Honors J. Keith Desormeaux Flavien Prat 10-1
3 Valadorna Mark E. Casse Julien Leparoux 5-1
4 Yellow Agate Christophe Clement Manny Franco 8-1
5 Sweet Loretta Todd A. Pletcher Javier Castellano 6-1
6 Champagne Room Peter A. Eurton Mario Gutierrez 20-1
7 Jamyson 'n Ginger Rudy Rodriguez Irad Ortiz Jr. 8-1
8 Dancing Rags H. Graham Motion Angel Cruz 12-1
9 Union Strike Craig Dollase Martin Garcia 6-1
10 Noted and Quoted Bob Baffert Rafael Bejarano 9-2
11 Daddys Lil Darling Kenneth G. McPeek Corey Lanerie 12-1
12 American Gal Bob Baffert Mike Smith 6-1
I am probably going with Yellow Agate, though I do also like Valadorna here. I thought her maiden breaker was actually pretty good, and it was at today's distance, she should be able to save ground from 3 and should be able to close into a moderate to solid pace. Agate is the more prominent of those two (despite the ML odds) and the only real negative is that she hasn't gone two turns yet, but does have the pedigree for it. The outside Baffert would be my third choice; not a fan of the post or the fact that she hasn't run beyond 6F.