Breeders' Cup Distaff: Idiomatic, Adare Manor bring long win streaks
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Idiomatic and Adare Manor will enter the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff with the field’s longest U.S. win streaks and likely shortest odds when the 1 1/8-mile race is run Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
Thirteen fillies and mares pre-entered the Distaff, including nine Grade 1/Group 1 winners. While a case could be made for more than half the field, none are in better form than Kentucky-based Idiomatic and California-based Adare Manor, one-two favorites on the Distaff early odds line by Daily Racing Form.
Idiomatic, trained by Brad Cox and owned by breeder Juddmonte Farms, has won four straight graded stakes, including Grade 1 romps her last two. Sired by Curlin, 4-year-old Idiomatic is the 5-2 favorite by DRF based on wins in the Personal Ensign and Spinster. Idiomatic would be the first Distaff winner for Juddmonte; regular rider Florent Geroux won the Distaff with Cox-trained Monomoy Girl in 2018 and 2020.
Adare Manor, trained by Bob Baffert and owned by Michael Lund Peterson, has won five in a row, including a Grade 1 and three Grade 2s. Sired by Uncle Mo, 4-year-old Adare Manor is the 4-1 second choice. Adare Manor would be the first Distaff winner for Baffert; jockey Juan Hernandez is seeking his first victory in a Breeders’ Cup race.
Distaff pre-entrants also include New York-based Grade 1 winners Search Results and Randomized, both trained by Chad Brown and owned by Klaravich Stables. Search Results, a 5-year-old, enters off a Grade 3 victory. Randomized, a 3-year-old, scored daylight wins in both recent graded races in New York. Search Results is 5-1 third choice; Randomized is 6-1. Brown is seeking his first Distaff win.
The four top choices won prep races leading gate to wire, inviting the possibility of a Distaff pace duel. That would suit the remaining pre-entrants; many are late-runners.
Clairiere, a come-from-behind three-time Grade 1 winner, misfired in her most recent start Aug. 29 at Saratoga, fifth by more than 17 lengths in the Personal Ensign. She has worked well at Santa Anita since trainer Steve Asmussen shipped her to California. Clairiere is listed at 8-1. Asmussen won the 2014 Distaff at Santa Anita with Untapable.
If early favorite Idiomatic is not enough for Cox, the trainer starts a pair of longshots with credentials. A Mo Reay ran the race of her career in March at Santa Anita, winning the Grade 1 Beholder Mile. Wet Paint won the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks two starts back. Both fillies finished second to Randomized last out. A Mo Reay is 12-1; Wet Paint is 15-1.
Pretty Mischevious is the nation’s only 3-year-old filly with four graded wins, and the only filly with three Grade 1s – Kentucky Oaks, Acorn and Test. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Pretty Mischievous would be the first Distaff winner for owner-breeder Godolphin. She is 10-1; the remaining pre-entrants are 20-1 or higher.
Desert Dawn finished in the money in eight of her last 10 starts, all graded stakes.
Distaff longshots include Hooser Philly, Le Da Vida, and Sabra Tuff.
The South American import Belleza de Arteaga, who had nine consecutive wins, was removed from the pre-entries after she was put on the veterinarian’s list.
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