Just under a month after her showcase front-running victory in the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland, Wonder Wheel showed off a new trick at the same track on Friday, rallying from a ground-saving trip to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
The daughter of Into Mischief veered out shortly after the break, to stay clear of And Tell Me Nolies, was also angling out next to her. Post time favorite Chop Chop was also knocked widest of all in the exchange, which affected her for the rest of her trip.
This left Wonder Wheel near the back of the pack heading into the first turn while Grand Love and Leave No Trace led the way.
Grand Love entered the backstretch after setting an opening quarter-mile in :22.90, while jockey Tyler Gaffalione settled Wonder Wheel back in on the rail, ahead of just two horses. Under an easy handle by jockey Florent Geroux, Grand Love gained some slight separation from chasers Leave No Trace and You're My Girl, and covered a half-mile in :47.22.
Longshot Leave No Trace began applying pressure to leader Grand Love at the three-quarter mark, crossing the pole in 1:12.80, and the rest of the field began closing in on the leaders through the final turn.
This left an opening on the rail for Gaffalione to accelerate with Wonder Wheel, and the duo picked up several placings through the bend. By the quarter pole, Wonder Wheel was directly behind Grand Love, who was still battling with Leave No Trace to stay in front.
Like what you're reading?
Support our journalism while accessing bonus behind-the-scenes content, Q&As, and more. Subscribe to our Patreon stream.
Gaffalione swung Wonder Wheel out three-wide, and slipped through a narrow hole to find daylight in the stretch, and she was even with the leaders with a sixteenth of a mile to go, setting the mile time in 1:38.63. With all of the momentum behind her, Wonder Wheel kicked away to win by three lengths. Leave No Trace carried on to finish second, one length ahead of third-place Raging Sea, who staged a late move from the rail.
Pacesetter Grand Love faded to sixth, and favorite Chop Chop was never in contention and finished last of 13.
Wonder Wheel completed the 1 1/16 mile race in 1:44.90 over a fast main track for owner D. J. Stable and trainer Mark Casse. She paid $15 to win.
Friday's race improved Wonder Wheel's lifetime record to four wins in five career starts.
Wonder Wheel was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm and Clearsky Farms, out of the multiple Grade 1-placed Tiz Wonderful mare Wonder Gal, who herself finished third in the 2014 running of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita Park.
The post Wonder Wheel Kicks Clear In Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
