Abel Tasman, in BC Distaff work, back at top form

ARCADIA, Calif. – An impressive five-furlong team work by Abel Tasman on Sunday morning at Santa Anita reestablished the Kentucky Oaks winner as a major player for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Abel Tasman did it the right way Sunday. She broke off about five lengths behind a workmate, relaxed comfortably, and blew past her rival inside the furlong pole. Abel Tasman was timed in 1:00.40. More importantly, she did it professionally.

“That was good,” trainer Bob Baffert said moments after the 9 a.m. workout. “She sat behind that horse.”

Baffert hoped Abel Tasman would relax behind her workmate, which she did not do in either of two recent races. She made a premature move in the Coaching Club American Oaks in July at Saratoga, which she won. But her early move in the Cotillion on Sept. 23 at Parx Racing, her most recent start, cost the filly her best chance. She finished second.

“She’s been getting rank going after those horses; she’s never been (rank) except those last two (races),” Baffert said. In the Sunday workout, Abel Tasman was relaxed and professional. “Very nice, perfect,” Baffert said.

Baffert said she galloped-out six furlongs in 1:13.20. The workout puts Abel Tasman back on the beam. Baffert cracked, “She never left the beam!”

Prior to the Cotillion, Abel Tasman emerged as the country’s top 3-year-old filly with three successive Grade 1 wins: the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn and Coaching Club American Oaks. She is owned by China Horse Club International Ltd. and Clearsky Farms.

Stellar Wind drills for BC Distaff

Stellar Wind emerged from her team workout Saturday in top shape. The early favorite for the BC Distaff, Stellar Wind was timed Saturday in 1:13.60 over a Santa Anita surface that continues to produce inordinately slow times.

Victor Espinoza was on Stellar Wind, who broke off three lengths behind a workmate and finished a length in front. “Victor was very happy; it was kind of her typical work,” trainer John Sadler said Sunday. “She’s doing great.”

Stellar Wind is not a flashy worker. Her work time was the sixth-fastest of 19 works at the distance. Stellar Wind is the 7-2 early favorite on the Daily Racing Form odds line for the Distaff.