Wonder Wheel changes tactics, dominates the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Nov 04, 2022 J. Keeler Johnson

Wonder Wheel winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

A dramatic change in racing tactics couldn’t stop Wonder Wheel from recording a second consecutive Grade 1 win in Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland, cementing the two-year-old filly as the early favorite for the 2023 Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Wonder Wheel had previously secured her biggest victories in gate-to-wire fashion, leading all the way in both the Alcibiades (G1) and Debutante S. But the Mark Casse trainee was nowhere to be found during the early stages of the Juvenile Fillies, settling in 11th place as longshot Grand Love sprinted to the front through fractions of :22.90, :47.22, and 1:12.80.

“I have to watch the replay. I was like ‘oh my goodness.’ She’s usually close. I thought, ‘I can’t believe she’s not running,’” remarked Casse after the race. “There was lots of doubt probably the entire race given the way she has run in the past.”

But jockey Tyler Gaffalione wasn’t overly concerned as he deftly guided Wonder Wheel up the rail, through traffic, and to the outside for racing room down the homestretch.

“She didn’t break very well. I got pushed back a little further than I wanted to be,” said Gaffalione. “But when she broke her maiden, she took dirt and went in between horses and I wasn’t too concerned (today). Spots kept opening up inside so I just (kept) going forward and it just worked out.”

Indeed it did. Wonder Wheel surged past the pace-tracking Leave No Trace, who had previously defeated Wonder Wheel in the Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga, to draw off and win the Juvenile Fillies by three lengths. Her final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.90.

“She is just a really good horse,” continued Casse. “She is just special and now she is going to be champion.”

Leave No Trace held on for second place, followed by Raging Sea, Sabra Tuff, You’re My Girl, Grand Love, Atomically, And Tell Me Nolies, Alma Rosa, Vegas Magic, Shoplifter, Chocolate Gelato, and Chop Chop.

As Casse indicated, Wonder Wheel is almost certainly destined to earn the Eclipse Award for champion two-year-old filly. Her race record stands at four wins and a second from five starts, good for earnings of $1,550,725.

Now another great race beckons: the Kentucky Oaks. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies serves as a Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifier worth 30-12-9-6-3 points to the top five finishers. Having previously won the Alcibiades on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, Wonder Wheel ranks clearly atop the current qualification leaderboard with 40 points.

The Oaks is an obvious goal, but when asked about nominating Wonder Wheel to the Triple Crown, Casse—who has previously run fleet females like Tepin and Got Stormy against males in high-profile races—conceded he would leave the possibility open.

“I'm sure we'll be nominating, if that's your question,” said Casse. “Yeah, you know me.”

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