Breeders' Cup Distaff: Key contenders

Key contenders

Songbird, by Medaglia d’Oro

(Last 3 Beyers: 99-95-101)

◗ Songbird was billed as the likely pacesetter even before post positions were drawn. From the rail, she has no option other than set the pace. Songbird has always been able to establish position.

◗ Songbird is racing over a dirt track that favors speed. Through Sunday, most of the 17 dirt routes this meet at 1 1/16 miles or longer were won by forwardly placed runners – seven won by the pacesetter, five won by a horse within one length of the lead after the opening half-mile.

◗ Jockey Mike Smith has won more Breeders’ Cup races (22) than any rider. Smith’s Breeders’ Cup mounts have earned more than any other rider – $28,934,260.

◗ Smith believes Songbird’s most-recent start, a romping win Sept. 24 in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing, was the best of her career.

“Man, she was happy,” Smith said. “She pulled up, spun around, and she was like – ‘Woo-hoo!’” Now we’re going into it the right way.”

◗ Since returning from Parx to her Santa Anita base, Songbird has trained in outstanding fashion.

◗ Favorites have won five of the eight BC Distaffs held at Santa Anita; Songbird is the 8-5 favorite by Daily Racing Form, and 6-5 on the Santa Anita morning line.

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Beholder, by Henny Hughes

(Last 3 Beyers: 110-106-101)

◗ In her last two races, Beholder was compromised by an inside post in a small field and a lack of pace. Jockey Gary Stevens called her a “sitting duck.” She finished second both times after being hounded from the outside by Stellar Wind.

◗ The Distaff shapes up differently. Beholder drew the outside post 8 for the Distaff and should get a comfortable trip outside, using Songbird as the target.

◗ Stevens said, “I’ve never been on a horse that enjoys herself as much as” Beholder. She has looked the part. Beholder was full of herself while galloping this week and enters the final start of her career in excellent form.

Stellar Wind, by Curlin

(Last 3 Beyers: 110-102-99)

◗ Perceived as an off-the-pace runner, Stellar Wind employed more aggressive strategy in her two most recent starts by taking the fight to Beholder early. Stellar Wind pressed the pace and wore down her rival each time.

◗ It is unclear what strategy Stellar Wind will adopt Friday, pressing the pace or dropping back and rallying. Stellar Wind has options. She does not do anything easily, however. Espinoza handled her aggressively in both recent starts.

◗ Stellar Wind is not flashy in the mornings, but she worked very well Oct. 28 in a team drill with Hard Aces.

Curalina, by Curlin

(Last 3 Beyers: 101-105-96)

◗ She skipped the final round of preps and will be racing for the first time since Aug. 27. There are two reasons for doing this. First, Curalina runs best fresh. Second, trainer Todd Pletcher won the BC Distaff one year ago with Stopchargingmaria, who entered off a similar break.

◗ Curalina reportedly worked exceptionally well prior to leaving New York, and since arriving in California has galloped with energy over the Santa Anita track.

◗ She was cross-entered in the $1 million BC Filly and Mare Sprint, a race in which she likely would have been favored. Her connections ultimately went for the more prestigious race and bigger purse of the Distaff, although she is listed as an 8-1 outsider by Daily Racing Form and is 12-1 on the track line.

I’m a Chatterbox, by Munnings

(Last 3 Beyers: 100-100-97)

◗ Sandwiched between her Grade 1 win last out and a Grade 1 win three back is a fourth-place finish behind Cavorting, Curalina, and Forever Unbridled in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga. Trainer Larry Jones believes she might have been compromised by strategy in that race, similar to how Beholder was compromised setting the pace in her recent losses.

◗ In the Personal Ensign, I’m a Chatterbox drew the inside post, and she was “kind of obligated” to set the pace, Jones said. Had I’m a Chatterbox not drawn the rail, other tactics might have been employed, he added.

“The trip did not help her,” Jones said.

Forever Unbridled, by Unbridled’s Song

(Last 3 Beyers: 96-101-98)

◗ She enters with a consistent speed-figure pattern. Based on numbers, she runs virtually the same race every start.

“She’s fought it out all year long, all different racetracks,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “She’s a fighter; she needs to be engaged. I just hope at the quarter pole she’s right there and able to fight it out with them for at least a quarter-mile. As for making that one run and beating them on the wire, you’ll probably get beat doing that.”

◗ Stewart envisions jockey Joel Rosario putting her in position to battle the leaders turning for home. That could require an early move on the far turn.