Breeders' Cup 2012: Fillies to Watch in Elite Thoroughbred Competition

The Breeders' Cup doesn't carry the same prestige as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes or even the Kentucky Oaks, but it's special in its own way.

A series of individual races decide some of the best Grade I thoroughbred horses in the world, some colts and some fillies.

For now, let's focus on the fillies' side of things. Out of all fillies' events and mixed events, a few horses stand out. Previous performances, exceptional pedigree or both could be the reason.

Let's take a look.

Sky Lantern

Sky Lantern's win at the Moyglare Stud Stakes earned her an automatic bid into the Breeders' Cup. She will be a threat to win the Juvenile Fillies Turf race on Friday, challenging Flashy Ways and Tara From the Cape for the crown.

Coming from Tally-Ho Stud, Sky Lantern has a winning pedigree. Negligent, her second dam, was a winning juvenile filly in the late 1980s. According to ESPN, she's also "half sister to the stakes winners Shanty Star, Hinton Admiral, and Arctic."

Sky Lantern has won three of her last five races, putting her in good position to perform well on Friday. She has great closing speed, which bodes well for her in the turf race.

If you're looking to place a bet, this is a good direction to go in.

Executiveprivilege

Of all juvenile fillies, Executiveprivilege is going to be tough to beat. With five wins in as many tries, this filly brings a ton of momentum and confidence to the table in Friday's action.

A blowout win at the Chandelier Stakes in late September cemented her spot as one of the favorites. Blowing away other quality horses like second-place finisher Scarlet Strike was no small task, but she did it anyway.

Bob Baffert's name attaches a certain mystique to any horse, and the Hall of Fame trainer is in Executivepriilege's corner. He knows what he's doing as one of the most successful trainers in horse racing history.

If momentum means anything, this filly is an obvious favorite entering this year's Breeders' Cup. With Baffert leading the way, her readiness is a safe bet.

Royal Delta

Royal Delta is a safe bet in Friday's final race, the Ladies' Classic. After winning the Beldame Invitational by 9.5 lengths in late September, she appears ready to win on an even bigger stage.

Winning the Beldame automatically qualified Royal Delta for Breeders' Cup competition. Her career record now stands at 8-3-1, showing how strong she is overall.

The real event to watch for Real Delta is the Breeders' Cup Classic. She's going to take on the boys in that one, and she's fast enough to keep up. Her endurance is going to be tested, but her past performances show that she has the talent to maintain pace.

A solid pedigree and proven track record make this filly an obvious favorite entering Breeders' Cup action.