Breeders' Cup Distaff: Super Corredora working her way toward trip
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Super Corredora must clear several hurdles to convince John Sadler she’s ready to ship to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, but the 3-year-old filly has not let him down so far. With a recent victory in the Grade 2 Zenyatta and several encouraging workouts since, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner is well on her way.
“It looks like the Breeders’ Cup Distaff is such a tough race,” Sadler said. “We’ll make sure that we’re really happy. She has two more works, so we’ll see how she works this week.”
After her win at the Breeders’ Cup last year, Super Corredora did not return in sharp form as a 3-year-old, much to Sadler’s dismay. She finished a distant fourth in the $100,000 Las Virgenes before fading to lose by 40 lengths in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel.
But in her first start in nearly seven months, the Gun Runner filly looked right at home against older rivals in the Zenyatta, taking an uncontested early lead and edging clear by 2 3/4 lengths.
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In a Distaff field that will likely include front-running favorites Nitrogen and Splendora, Sadler acknowledged that Super Corredora would not get the same front-running trip at Keeneland.
“It’s tough against those older mares,” Sadler said. “As far as her, we don’t feel like she has to be in front, but we feel like she has to have a position. It’s key for her to get out and establish herself early because she has a high cruising speed.”
Even in her graded stakes score last month, Super Corredora still seemed uncomfortable in the gate, something Sadler hopes to resolve before going for another shot at an upset Breeders’ Cup victory. On Oct. 9, she completed her first workout since the Zenyatta, going four furlongs in 48 seconds.
“We’ve obviously done a lot of work with her,” Sadler said. “She’s already been back to the gate for additional schooling after the Zenyatta. She’ll go this week and next week.”
With Nitrogen expected to be one of the most daunting favorites at this year’s Breeders’ Cup, Super Corredora is one of a dwindling number of outsiders willing to take the chance. Others include the Grade 1 Personal Ensign runner-up Scottish Lassie, the Grade 3 Delaware Handicap winner Regaled, and the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch winner Eunomia.
Bodacious Bay and Counting Stars, 3-year-olds who established themselves well before Super Corredora this year, have already been shut down to prepare for their 4-year-old campaigns.
Fully Subscribed, the natural challenger to Nitrogen coming off three straight graded stakes victories, gained another slight edge earlier this month in the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland. It was an ideal prep for the Distaff, as the Tiz the Law filly handled the track well in an easy victory over Counting Stars.
Eunomia, another Grade 1 winner sired by Tiz the Law, got back to work Oct. 8 at Saratoga, completing a four-furlong workout in 47 seconds. Despite scratching from the Delaware Handicap on Oct. 3 because of worsening track conditions, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has repeatedly said he still intends to proceed to the Distaff.
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