After an exciting weekend of racing, two undefeated juvenile fillies appear to be on a collision course for the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1), carded for October 31, 2025, at Del Mar. One, Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Iron Orchard, ran down Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) third Rileytole in the last stride to claim a “Win and You’re In” ticket to California. The other, Spinaway winner Tommy Jo, kept her undefeated record intact via the stewards’ box after being fouled by first-place finisher Percy’s Bar in the final furlong of the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (USA-G1) at Keeneland, also a “Win and You’re In” race.
Both fillies boast blue-blooded pedigrees to back up their racing resumes. A daughter of six-time American champion sire Into Mischief, Tommy Jo is the second foal and first winner from listed stakes winner Mother Mother, who placed three times at the Grade 1 level. A half sister to 2014 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) runner-up Commanding Curve (by Master Command), Mother Mother is by multiple Grade 1 winner and 2009 Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile, a son of 2003 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Empire Maker who gained fame as the sire of 2015 American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
Mother Mother’s dam is the winner Mother, whose sire Lion Hearted is a Grade 2-placed son of Storm Cat and Easy Goer’s full sister Cadillacing (winner of the 1988 Ballerina Stakes, USA-G1). Mother was produced from Proper Lassie, a half sister by the good Northern Dancer horse Topsider to stakes winner Proper Ridge (by Cox’s Ridge), and Proper Lassie, in turn, is out of the listed stakes winner Proper Miss (by 1965 American champion 3-year-old male Tom Rolfe), a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Proper Reality (by In Reality) and listed stakes winners Proper Native (by Our Native) and Proper Reflection (by Relaunch). The female line traces back to the important 20th-century broodmare Alablue.
Iron Orchard is from the same sire line as Tommy Jo as she is the first Grade 1 winner sired by 2020 American Horse of the Year Authentic (by Into Mischief). She is the third named foal and second winner from stakes-placed Onebrethatatime, whose sire Brethren (by Distorted Humor) won the 2011 Sam F. Davis Stakes (USA-G3) and has had some success as a regional sire in Florida. A half sister to 2011 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA-G3) winner Wonderlandbynight (by Sky Mesa), Onebrethatatime is also a half sister to Gilded Miracle (by Gilded Time), dam of 2023 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Exaulted (by Twirling Candy) and second dam of 2023 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (USA-G2) winner Accomplished Girl (by Street Boss).
Onebrethatatime and her siblings are out of the winning Gulch mare Onemiracleatatime, a half sister to listed stakes winner Timeless Love (by Gilded Time). The next dam in the tail-female line, Katie Love (by 1986 American champion turf male Manila) is out of the Francis S. mare Gonfalon, also the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Ogygian (by Damascus) and second dam of 1996 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Honour and Glory (by Relaunch).
On paper, Tommy Jo looks to be the faster of these two fillies based both on speed figures and on a line through Rileytole, but anything can happen on Breeders’ Cup day and often does. The West Coast contingent also cannot be taken lightly after Explora’s monster race in the Oak Leaf Stakes Presented by Oak Leaf Racing Association (USA-G2), and it must be remembered that Bottle of Rouge beat her for the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (USA-G1) at Del Mar, where she is now 2-for-2 (see “Mares on Monday: Bottle of Rouge Is the Toast of the Del Mar Debutante,” September 8, 2025). As daughters of Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1) winners Blame and Vino Rosso, respectively, they should have no trouble with the 8.5-furlong distance and may well improve next year to boot. In any event, the Juvenile Fillies should be one of the more interesting races on the Breeders’ Cup card and will probably crown this year’s junior princess of the sport in the United States, regardless of which filly wins.
Both fillies boast blue-blooded pedigrees to back up their racing resumes. A daughter of six-time American champion sire Into Mischief, Tommy Jo is the second foal and first winner from listed stakes winner Mother Mother, who placed three times at the Grade 1 level. A half sister to 2014 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) runner-up Commanding Curve (by Master Command), Mother Mother is by multiple Grade 1 winner and 2009 Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile, a son of 2003 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Empire Maker who gained fame as the sire of 2015 American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
Mother Mother’s dam is the winner Mother, whose sire Lion Hearted is a Grade 2-placed son of Storm Cat and Easy Goer’s full sister Cadillacing (winner of the 1988 Ballerina Stakes, USA-G1). Mother was produced from Proper Lassie, a half sister by the good Northern Dancer horse Topsider to stakes winner Proper Ridge (by Cox’s Ridge), and Proper Lassie, in turn, is out of the listed stakes winner Proper Miss (by 1965 American champion 3-year-old male Tom Rolfe), a half sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Proper Reality (by In Reality) and listed stakes winners Proper Native (by Our Native) and Proper Reflection (by Relaunch). The female line traces back to the important 20th-century broodmare Alablue.
Iron Orchard is from the same sire line as Tommy Jo as she is the first Grade 1 winner sired by 2020 American Horse of the Year Authentic (by Into Mischief). She is the third named foal and second winner from stakes-placed Onebrethatatime, whose sire Brethren (by Distorted Humor) won the 2011 Sam F. Davis Stakes (USA-G3) and has had some success as a regional sire in Florida. A half sister to 2011 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (USA-G3) winner Wonderlandbynight (by Sky Mesa), Onebrethatatime is also a half sister to Gilded Miracle (by Gilded Time), dam of 2023 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Exaulted (by Twirling Candy) and second dam of 2023 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (USA-G2) winner Accomplished Girl (by Street Boss).
Onebrethatatime and her siblings are out of the winning Gulch mare Onemiracleatatime, a half sister to listed stakes winner Timeless Love (by Gilded Time). The next dam in the tail-female line, Katie Love (by 1986 American champion turf male Manila) is out of the Francis S. mare Gonfalon, also the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Ogygian (by Damascus) and second dam of 1996 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Honour and Glory (by Relaunch).
On paper, Tommy Jo looks to be the faster of these two fillies based both on speed figures and on a line through Rileytole, but anything can happen on Breeders’ Cup day and often does. The West Coast contingent also cannot be taken lightly after Explora’s monster race in the Oak Leaf Stakes Presented by Oak Leaf Racing Association (USA-G2), and it must be remembered that Bottle of Rouge beat her for the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (USA-G1) at Del Mar, where she is now 2-for-2 (see “Mares on Monday: Bottle of Rouge Is the Toast of the Del Mar Debutante,” September 8, 2025). As daughters of Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1) winners Blame and Vino Rosso, respectively, they should have no trouble with the 8.5-furlong distance and may well improve next year to boot. In any event, the Juvenile Fillies should be one of the more interesting races on the Breeders’ Cup card and will probably crown this year’s junior princess of the sport in the United States, regardless of which filly wins.
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