BC Fillies & Mares Turf- Grade I

11/4/11 Churchill Downs

1 3/8 Turf for Fillies and Mares

Three years and Upward

Purse: $2,000.000

We all knew that the Barcelona Farms trained, A Little Oblivion was a

great filly, but after her performance Friday in the $2,000.000 Grade I BC

Fillies & Mares Turf race, it is safe to say she has now earned the title

of superstar.

After taking the lead shortly after the half mile pole in the 1 3/8 turf race at

Churchill Downs, A Little Oblivion led by a length until Madame Harriet,

winner of this race last year, caught her at the 3/4 mile marker, and it was

war. In an epic stretch run, the two four-year-old fillies battled one another

with everything they had, exchanging the lead several times, until just before

the wire, when A Little Oblivion was able to get her head in front for the win.

Her win in the BC Fillies & Mares Turf race was the fifth consecutive graded

stakes win for A Little Oblivion, but as if that were not enough, the daughter

of Current Issuess finished the race over firm turf in 2:11.09; not only a new

stakes record, but also a new track record for 1 3/8 over the Churchill Downs

turf. We saw an amazing race Friday from an truly amazing filly, who showed

the world what a champion racehorse she is.

While everyone is talking about A Little Oblivion's win, take nothing away

from runner-up, Madame Harriet. She ran the race of a lifetime finishing

just a head shy from winning the BC Fillies & Mares Turf back to back. The

daughter of Fast Penny, trained by Chateau Gill was outstanding here, and

where many horses would have tired or given up after a fierce speed duel, all

the way from the 3/4 mile pole to the end of the race, Madame Harriet dug

deep and showed an enormous amount of heart in her narrow defeat, running

like the champion filly she is.

Third and fourth place went to two three-year-olds, who ran just beautifully

here and should be proud of their performances. Funky Music trained by

Paradise Stable was third, and finished closing hard to be three lengths

from the winner. The daughter of Dunderfunk, ran into a couple of minor

traffic issues, but did not let them derail her, as she fought on hard and

showed what a tough, talented filly she is.

Maahes, trained by Fatboy Slayer came home fourth, and fought hard to

run head to head with Funky Music near the end of the race, but started

to tire right at the end, and slipped to a half a length behind Funky Music

at the wire. This was the third big race in just 35 days, for the daughter of

Nineveh, and if she was tired, it didn't show until the very end of the race.

Both Funky Music and Maahes look like they should continue to run well

next year at age four, so be sure to watch for the pair in 2012.

Unfortunately for many in this year's BC Fillies & Mares Turf, the pace

A Little Oblivion set for the race after taking the lead at the half mile pole,

left many struggling just to keep up with this super filly, causing many in

field to tire early. No matter, where they finished in the race, all fourteen of

these fillies and mares deserve a huge round of applause, as just earning a

spot in any BC race, is a great accomplishment, so congratulations to all

everyone in the 2011 BC Fillies & Mares Turf!

A Little Oblivion is a four-year-old daughter of Current Issues, and for her

win in the BC Fillies & Mares turf, earned $1,200.000 for trainer Barcelona

Farms. She now has lifetime earnings of $2, 980.430, and an amazing race

record of 17-13-2-0.

Madame Harriet trained by Chateau Gill took home $400.000 for her 2nd

place finish here. Funky Music finished 3rd for Paradise Stable, earning

$320.000, and Maahes came home 4th for her trainer, Fatboy Slayer to

earn $80.000.

Official Order of Finish

Scratched: Warbling, Matilda Lane, Le Feu de Tabagisme, Princess Boadicea

How the race was run:

7    A Little Oblivion: SF 100 Won by a head. Ran third early,

      then took the lead near the half mile pole, where she led by

      one length until Madame Harriet pulled along side her at the

      3/4 mark. The two battled, exchanging the lead several time,

      until A Little Oblivion was able to stick a head in front at the

      wire for the win.

9    Madame Harriet: SF 100 Finished 2nd, just a head behind

      the winner. Settled just off the lead early, and then made a

      big move to pull even with the leader at the 3/4 mark. After

      dueling with A Little Oblivion, and taking the lead briefly a

      few times, just got edged out by a head at the wire.

6    Funky Music: SF 97 Finished in 3rd, three lengths from the

      winner. Dropped back to 11th early, five lengths off the lead,

      encountered some traffic issues around the 3/4 mark, but was

      able to overcome them to finish third, running strong.

2    Maahes: SF 96 Finished 4th, four lengths behind the winner.

      Ran well the entire race, and was near the lead the entire time.

      Was in 3rd, one length back at the 3/4 mile pole, and began

      to tire right at the end, to finish four lengths from the winner,

      just 1/2 a length behind 3rd place, Funky Music.

1    Fine Propchecy: SF 96 Finished 5th, four lengths from the

      winner. Ran a great race, and was just three lengths from the

      lead much of the race. Did not look tired, at the end, but lost a

      length right before the wire as the front runners increased their

      speed, to finish four lengths back.

3    Miz Liz: SF 95  Finished in 6th, five lengths back. After the

      break, dropped back and was taken to the rail to run 10th, five

      lengths from the lead. Moved up to run 7th, midpack much of

      the race and never gave up, to finish running strongly in 6th,

      but just could not catch the front runners.

4    T S Light: SF 95 Finished 7th, five lengths from the winner.

      Ran 12th early, six lengths off the lead, and by the 3/4 mile

      pole had made her way up to 4th, just two lengths from the

      the leader. Distance looked a bit long for her, as she hit the

      one mile mark, she tired and fell to 7th, five lengths back.

5    Floral Design: SF 93 Finished in 8th place, seven lengths

      from the winner. Was taken back early where she ran 13th,

      eight lengths off the lead. Was able to gain some ground,

      and was in 10th, six lengths back a the 3/4 mile mark, and

      got up for 8th at the end, and was running hard, but could

      not catch the front runners.

11  Over It: SF 92 Finished 9th, eight lengths back from the

      winner. Ran great early in 4th, just two lengths off the lead,

      and at the 1/2 mile pole was in 6th, three lengths back. It

      looked like distance was a bit much for her, she tired at the

      mile pole, and dropped back to finish 9th, eight lengths back.

8    Tiz Elemental: SF 87 Finished 10th, thirteen lengths from

      the winner. Broke well and ran in 9th, just four lengths off of

      the leader, but as she neared the 1/2 mile mark, she was

      losing ground, and was in 13th, seven lengths back. Think

      distance her was just too long for her.

12   Millyon Dollar Baby: SF 87 Finished 11th, thirteen lengths

       behind the winner. Ran well early just three lengths from the  

       the lead, but distance and pace may have been too much,

       and as she hit the 1/2 mile marker, she tired and continued

       to lose ground to finish thirteen lengths back in 11th place.

10   Silver Mile: SF 86 Finished 12th, fourteen lengths back at

       the wire. After a sharp break, was taken to the front, where

       she lead the race early by one length. Was passed by the

       eventual winner at the 1/2 mile, and ran 2nd, one length back,

       but distance was too much as she tired at the 3/4 mark, and

       she faded back fourteen lengths to finish 12th.

13   Sakura Noir: SF 86 Finished 13th, fourteen lengths behind

       the winner. Ran well early in the race, running midpack, four

       lengths off the lead in 8th. The distance looked longer than

       she wanted to go, and at the 3/4 mile pole she was tiring

       badly, and dropped back fourteen lengths at the wire.

14   Resurrection Girl: SF 86 Finished in 14th, fourteen lengths

       from the winner. After the break, immediately dropped back

       to trail the field in 14th, fourteen lengths from the front. She

       remained 14th the entire race, and at the 1/2 mile was able

       to gain two lengths to be twelve lengths off the leader, but

       lost the two lengths just before the finish, to finish fourteen

       lengths back at the wire.