Breeders' Cup Distaff: Parity the name of this game
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The last time the Breeders’ Cup Distaff got a full gate of 14 was in 2006 at Churchill Downs, where longshots led by Round Pond filled out a superfecta worth $19,297 for $1.
This does not necessarily imply that the favorites are vulnerable when a full field of 14 fillies and mares goes postward Friday in the $2 million Distaff at Keeneland because, really, are there any favorites this year?
Field size for the Distaff has averaged 9.1 horses in those last eight years in races dominated by such household names as Zenyatta, Royal Delta, Beholder, and Untapable. Without a marquee horse for this 32nd renewal, more than half of those in the field seem to have a legitimate shot.
The race lost defending champion Untapable when trainer Steve Asmussen announced Tuesday that the filly had spiked a temperature.
Daily Racing Form linemaker Brad Free lists Sheer Drama (7-2) and Wedding Toast (4-1) as morning-line choices, followed by four more starters in single-digit odds.
“It’s a very, very good race,” said Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains Wedding Toast. “I’d like to think we have the horse to beat, but I’m sure there are other folks with the same idea.”
Wedding Toast, coming off three straight dominant performances at Belmont Park, figures to be among the early leaders in the 1 1/8-mile Distaff, along with Yahilwa and longshots Calamity Kate and My Sweet Addiction. Among those chasing closely will be I’m a Chatterbox, who will break from the rail with Florent Geroux up, and Sheer Drama, who starts from post 13 with Joe Bravo.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Wedding Toast. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is 17-0-1-4 over the past five years in graded stakes at Keeneland. - Mike Hogan
No. 10 Yahilwa. Trainer James Cassidy is 14-2-2-4 (57% ITM) with a $4.24 ROI over the past year in dirt routes in the second start following a layoff. – Mike Hogan
Geroux, who has been among the hottest jockeys on the continent in recent months, said: “I’d like to be stalking the few horses going to the lead. I’ll be saving ground in the first turn, that’s for sure.”
I’m a Chatterbox, one of six 3-year-olds in the Distaff, comes off a victory in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing six weeks ago. In late July, she and Distaff entrant Curalina went toe-to-toe in a thrilling finish in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. I’m a Chatterbox finished first but was disqualified for stretch interference against Curalina, who was awarded a controversial victory.
Curalina is one of three Distaff entrants for Todd Pletcher, who once again leads all North American trainers in stable earnings ($21 million) entering the Breeders’ Cup. The other two Pletcher runners, Stopchargingmaria and Got Lucky, are 4-year-olds with solid credentials. Stopchargingmaria won graded races at Pimlico and Saratoga before running fourth as the favorite in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Travers Day, and Got Lucky was up in the final jumps to narrowly defeat Untapable and Yahilwa in the Grade 1 Spinster on opening weekend of the Keeneland fall meet.
Sheer Drama might well be regarded as the leader of the filly-and-mare division by virtue of her 1 1/4-length triumph in the Personal Ensign. Trainer David Fawkes said Sheer Drama might be at a slight disadvantage Friday with her outer post, but he still expects her to track the leaders.
“I think there’s enough speed in there that it won’t change where we want to be,” he said.
Stellar Wind is difficult to gauge because she is coming off two wins against inferior company in California. A 3-year-old trained by John Sadler, Stellar Wind was a troubled fourth as a lukewarm favorite in the Kentucky Oaks when she last ventured away from her home Southern California circuit.
As for longshots Frivolous, Salama, and Warren’s Veneda, well, Distaff history is dotted with big-priced winners such as One Dreamer (47-1), Spain (55-1), Adoration (40-1), and Pleasant Home (30-1).
Peace and War, carrying saddletowel No. 15, will take Untapable’s place in the gate and break from the outside post.
The Distaff was one of the original seven Breeders’ Cup races when it was won by Princess Rooney in its first running in 1984. Since the Breeders’ Cup went to an expanded two-day program in 2007, it has been the prime attraction on BC Friday. The race was known for five years as the Ladies’ Classic (2008-12).
The Distaff is carded as the last of four straight Breeders’ Cup events on a Friday card that starts at 12:30 p.m. Eastern. The lineup: Juvenile Turf (race 6, 3:30), Dirt Mile (race 7, 4:10), Juvenile Fillies Turf (race 8, 4:50), and Distaff (race 9, 5:35). Those races are linked in a pick four wager, and the Distaff kicks off a two-day daily double wager ending with the BC Classic on Saturday.
Television coverage of all Friday action can be found on NBC Sports Network and TVG.
After several days of rain through Wednesday, sunny skies and a high of 60 were in the forecast for Friday.