BC Internationals: Mile contender Roly Poly

Although Roly Poly was pre-entered with a first preference for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), the Coolmore/Ballydoyle brain trust ended up choosing the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) for the scrappy three-year-old filly.

Aside from scrapping the Filly & Mare Turf storyline about her trying to succeed where her four-time Group 1-winning dam, Misty for Me, just failed at Churchill Downs in 2011, the switch has also complicated the pace scenario for Roly Poly. If an honest pace in the distaffers’ race was guaranteed by Avenge, the Mile pace figures to be even swifter. The rerouting of Midnight Storm from the Dirt Mile to the turf Mile only adds to the front-end fracas with Godolphin’s Home of the Brave and Heart to Heart. Given Roly Poly’s forward style, she’s going to be in the cauldron in her first start against older males.

It’s worth recalling that the Aidan O’Brien trainee tired to a subpar ninth, as the favorite, in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) – likely as the result of chasing the ferocious pace of Lull.

Of course, that was a year ago, and the three-year-old model of Roly Poly may be stronger and better able to cope. And it’s not as though she were guaranteed to see out the nine furlongs of the Filly & Mare Turf either. As explained in her international profile for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, the War Front filly’s calling card has always been speed. In a choice between a step up in trip versus a deep and talented cast, and trying to sort out the tactics at her proven trip, I can see why they’d prefer to hazard the Mile.

Roly Poly took a couple of starts to gain traction this season. In her reappearing seventh in the Nell Gwyn (G3) at Newmarket, she lost position, but then kept on again. Maybe it was more of a concentration issue since she added cheekpieces next time, and she’s sported them ever since.

Sent to Deauville for the French 1000 Guineas (G1), Roly Poly struck the front before weakening on the very soft going.