By Joe Bianca
As impressive as 'TDN Rising Star' Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) looked in capturing her debut Sept. 16 at Belmont, it was the performance of the runner-up next out that really built up her stature. Now that Rushing Fall went on to annex the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, that in turn makes the racing world even more excited to see what that runner-up, Daddy Is a Legend (Scat Daddy), can do as the likely favorite in Saturday's GIII Jimmy Durante S. at Del Mar.
After a fifth-place effort to begin her career, the Jim and Susan Hill colorbearer improved with blinkers added in that Sept. 16 effort and graduated powerfully despite a slow start and wide trip Oct. 27 at Keeneland to earn her own 'Rising Star' badge. The $160,000 KEESEP pickup got a feel for the local course with a five-furlong workout in 1:01 (4/15) around dogs Nov. 19.
The ascendant Fatale Bere (Fr) (Pedro the Great) is an interesting player. A winner of two of three in her native land, the bay took the Surfer Girl S. in her Stateside bow Oct. 9 at Santa Anita and ran well to be fifth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf after being caught wide on both turns. She's stuck on the outside again here, however, and will require maneuvering from Mike Smith from the 13-hole.
With Rushing Fall on the shelf, Chad Brown sends out Data Dependent (More Than Ready) for Klaravich Stables. The $145,000 Fasig-Tipton October grad rallied into a pace that otherwise held together Oct. 22 at Belmont, breaking her maiden going away while running a :22.02 final quarter.
Graham Motion, who won this race a year ago with Journey Home (War Front), has Thewayiam (Fr) (Thewayyouare). A troubled third at 21-1 in the Prix Roland de Chambure July 14 at Saint-Cloud, the bay tallied in an allowance Oct. 22 at Keeneland.
Robert S. Evans's Raucous (Speightstown) tries to make it three-for-three on turf after pulling a 41-1 upset in the Chelsey Flower S. Nov. 4 at Aqueduct.
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