Connections pondering possible BC Distaff start for Super Corredora

ARCADIA, Calif. − The first goal was achieved on Sunday.

Super Corredora, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2025, returned from a layoff of more than six months, to win her first stakes against older fillies and mares in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.

The victory was Super Corredora’s first since her championship-clinching win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar last October.

Now comes decision time for the partnership that owns the filly and trainer John Sadler.

Super Corredora earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Distaff at 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland on Oct. 31. A decision on whether she will start in such a race will be determined in coming weeks. The deadline for a pre-entry is Oct. 19.

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“We’ll see how she looks and everything,” Sadler said. “I need to look at the landscape” of the race.

“It’s a pretty strong race – for now.”

Nitrogen, winner of the Grade 2 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park on Friday; Fully Subscribed, who won the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes by 9 3/4 lengths at Saratoga on Aug. 29; Splendora, a five-time stakes winner this year; and the 3-year-old filly Counting Stars, who won two Grade 1 races at Saratoga in June and July, are rated as major hopefuls for the BC Distaff.

Counting Stars is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, who co-owns Super Corredora with Spartan Equine Racing, Robert Gardiner and Michael Olszewski.

Super Corredora had a poor late winter campaign at Santa Anita earlier this year, finishing fourth in the Las Virgenes Stakes at a mile in February after disputing the early pace, and sixth of seven in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 8 after a troubled start. She was sent to Kentucky for a rest a few weeks later.

A comeback against older fillies and mares was not ideal, neither was traveling outside of California for Super Corredora’s first start after a rest, Sadler said.

“I wanted to run on the home circuit first,” Sadler said. “She’s a quality horse, a champion last year. For her to come back and grab some really good form off the layoff is great.”

Super Corredora has won 3 of 6 starts, leading throughout or stalking the pace in her three victories. Sadler insists she is not speed-reliant.

“I think she can do more. She has that good style,” he said. “She has speed and she can carry it. I don’t think she needs to make that certain trip all the time.”

Sadler acknowledged that racing near the front in dirt races was a favorable position at the start of Santa Anita’s fall meeting from Friday through Sunday.

“Nobody was closing the first three days,” he said.

Super Corredora may be the only runner from the $201,000 Zenyatta to start in the BC Distaff. Majestic Oops, who finished second, will be considered for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland on Oct. 31, trainer Phil D’Amato said.

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