In what hopefully will be a harbinger of even better moments ahead during Breeders’ Cup, a pair of Runnymede-bred distaffers won turf events at Santa Anita Park during the early days of October.

Beautiful Becca, a two-year-old Elusive Quality filly who is trained and co-owned by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, clearly relished a switch to turf when she surged home, victorious by a neck, in a 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight contest on the downhill grass course on October 10.

Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Beautiful Becca stopped the clock in a snappy 1:13.28, a huge reversal of her form on dirt in her debut at Del Mar, in which she was unplaced.

Beautiful Becca was produced by our Cryptoclearance mare One in a Romp, whose dam, Romp and Stomp, was a half sister to Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Volponi. Hollendorfer purchased Beautiful Becca from our Keeneland consignment for $140,000 in 2015 and she is co-owned by Three Kings Racing and George Todaro.

On October 6, Hillhouse High prevailed in a one-mile allowance race on grass in a notable 1:33.96 after holding the lead for much of the race in a competitive field.

Previously owned by Martin Schwartz and trained by Chad Brown, Hillhouse High was making just her second start for Golden Eagle Farm and trainer Richard Baltas following a runner-up effort by a nose at Del Mar in August.

A five-year-old by Exchange Rate and out of our Coronado’s Quest mare Pleasant Laughter, Hillhouse High has been a reliable earner in strong company throughout her career. She has amassed a bankroll of $268,487 while winning three times and placing in ten additional races amid her 19 starts.

Looking ahead to Breeders’ Cup, Runnymede-bred Grade/Group 1 winners Lady Eli and Undrafted are listed as contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and Turf Sprint (G1), respectively. In 2014, Lady Eli won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Santa Anita and Undrafted finished a close third in the Turf Sprint.