Breeders' Cup Distaff: Sheer Drama will start from post 14

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Sheer Drama drew the far outside post as one of a handful of favorites in a remarkably contentious renewal of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Friday at Keeneland.

Winner of the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap and Grade 1 Personal Ensign in her last two starts, Sheer Drama will be ridden by Joe Bravo when breaking from post 14 in the 1 1/8-mile Distaff, for which a full gate of 14 (plus one also-eligible) was drawn Monday evening at the track. She was pegged the 9-2 second choice on a morning line set by Mike Battaglia.

“It's a fair enough run to the first turn. I’m confident in my rider that he’ll do what he needs to do,” said David Fawkes, trainer of Sheer Drama for owner-trainer Harold Queen.

Sheer Drama, Wedding Toast, Untapable, I’m a Chatterbox, Stopchargingmaria, and Got Lucky are among the fillies and mares who figure to draw strong wagering action in the deepest Distaff in years.

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Wedding Toast, with Jose Lezcano to ride, was assigned post 7 as the 4-1 program choice.

“It’s a very, very good field, but I’d like to think we have the horse to beat,” said Kiaran McLaughlin, trainer of Wedding Toast, a Godolphin homebred entered off three straight major filly-mare stakes at her home track, Belmont Park.

“I don’t know why she would have to be considered a ‘New York-only’ kind of horse,” added McLaughlin. “She’s trained super, and we’re going in there with optimism.”

Untapable, the 2014 Distaff winner at Santa Anita and the lone Eclipse Award winner in the lineup, was assigned post 11. The 4-year-old filly, a winner in 1 of 6 starts this year, breezed Monday morning at Keeneland, going a half-mile in 50.78 seconds for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Stopchargingmaria and Got Lucky, along with Curalina, hail from the powerhouse Todd Pletcher barn. Pletcher won the 2004 Distaff with Ashado.

I’m a Chatterbox, trained by Larry Jones, is one of six 3-year-olds entered, along with Curalina, Stellar Wind, Salama, Calamity Kate, and Peace and War.

From the rail, this is the Distaff field: I’m a Chatterbox, Frivolous, Salama, Stopchargingmaria, Calamity Kate, My Sweet Addiction, Wedding Toast, Curalina, Stellar Wind, Yahilwa, Untapable, Got Lucky, Warren’s Venada, and Sheer Drama.

Sixteen horses were pre-entered in the Distaff, but with Beholder opting for the BC Classic, Calamity Kate, the first alternate, became part of the post draw. The lone remaining also-eligible, Peace and War, will get in (and automatically start from the far outside post) only in case of a defection prior to the 8 a.m. Eastern Friday scratch time in effect for both BC programs.

The Distaff is carded as the last of four Breeders’ Cup events, and the ninth of 10 overall races, on a Friday card that starts at 12:30 p.m. Post time for the Distaff is 5:35.

As usual, the Distaff ends a handful of multi-race wagers Friday while starting off a two-day daily double wager linking it to Saturday’s BC Classic.