Breeders' Cup Distaff: Stellar Wind looks superb

ARCADIA, Calif. – Based on how well she trained the past month and an impressive workout Friday morning at Santa Anita, Stellar Wind will not bounce in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Stellar Wind worked six furlongs Friday, and she could not have looked better.

She worked soon after the 6:30 a.m. renovation, broke off two lengths behind graded stakes winner Hard Aces, collared him in the lane, and finished strongly. Stellar Wind galloped out with run and acts like she is ready to reproduce the career-best 110 Beyer Speed Figure she earned last out.

“That was good,” trainer John Sadler said, breathing a sigh of relief. “Very happy.”

He should be. Stellar Wind has defeated Beholder two straight times, and the Friday workout suggested Stellar Wind will give Songbird all she can handle in the Distaff.

Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch timed Stellar Wind in 1:13.15; she galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26.47 and a mile in 1:40.61. Bettors that liked Stellar Wind before the work might love her now. Handicappers worried she might bounce have reason to pause.

In her most recent start, Stellar Wind won the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes. On all three speed-figure scales – Beyer, Thoro-Graph, and Ragozin – the number earned by Stellar Wind was exceptional.

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Sadler acknowledged the figure earned by Stellar Wind might be interpreted as too fast, but pointed out that she’s had only three races this year.

“I’ve been very cognizant of that,” he said. “That would have been a concern, but she’s done so well and she’s had [only] three races. It’s not a hard, all-year campaign.”

Some horsemen and handicappers believe horses are more likely to regress, or bounce, next out after a career-best figure. Sadler, leading trainer and student of handicapping nuance, does not disavow the bounce theory. However, he is confident Stellar Wind will reproduce her most recent performance. The Distaff is the fourth start of her campaign.

“If your problem is your horse has too good a number, that’s not the worst problem,” he said. “But she’s done so well, and it’s been five weeks [between starts]. I’m very happy with the way she’s doing. She looks just super.”