LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There is so much talent lined up in the Grade 1, $1 million Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs that one might think this is the first Saturday in November, not the first Saturday in May. For many of these female sprinters, the Derby City Distaff could very well be the first step toward the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Kopion comes in from Southern California for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, who has not started a horse at Churchill since 2018 and who has not won a race here since 2004. Kopion’s last two races have been exceptional, including a victory in the Grade 1 La Brea at 37-1 on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita when she came off an eight-month layoff precipitated by bone bruising. She backed that performance up with a 4 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2 Santa Monica, a race in which she beat only three horses but one for which she earned a 110 Beyer Speed Figure. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. “Whenever one runs as good as she did the last two times, it’s always nice – not surprising, but maybe better than expected,” Mandella said. “She always made us think she’s a very good horse.” That Kopion has not run since Feb. 1 was the result of a virus that set her back, Mandella said. Kopion has worked seven times since March 10. In her Santa Moncia victory, when ridden by Antonio Fresu, Kopion was up on the pace but was going fairly easy before Fresu asked her to run and she drew clear, easily beating Hope Road. Richi and Splendora, third and fourth in the Santa Monica, came back to run 1-2 in the Grade 2 Santa Maria. Kazushi Kimura, aboard for the La Brea victory, will be back aboard Saturday from post 2. “I think she’ll come out of there running and then he can size up what to do,” Mandella said. Sixteen were entered in the Derby City Distaff, only 14 will be permitted to run and even fewer actually will. Several horses are cross-entered in other spots. Haulin Ice, front-running winner of the Matron in the mud at Oaklawn last out, was entered for Sunday’s Grade 3 Vagrancy Stakes at Aqueduct. Owner Mark Cornett said Haulin Ice would run in Kentucky if the track is wet. Dorth Vader is expected to scratch to run in the La Troienne on Friday. Taxed also is cross-entered in the La Troienne. Awesome Treat is cross-entered in Friday’s Unbridled Sidney on turf. My Mane Squeeze is expected to scratch and point to the Ruffian on May 10 at Aqueduct. Vahva, who is 4 for 4 at Churchill Downs, won the Derby City Distaff last year, doing so after running a good second in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland. This time, Vahva makes her first start since she finished eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. “She’s training wonderfully. It’s a tough race and realistically if we hit the board we’re going to be really happy,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said. “Every year, she seems to be bigger, stronger, better.” Scylla, trained by Bill Mott, also is 4 for 4 over Churchill’s main track. Of the horses in this race that are coming out of last year’s BC Filly and Mare Sprint, Scylla had the best finish, beaten one length while finishing fourth behind Soul of an Angel. “She wasn’t supposed to be up on the pace in the Breeders’ Cup,” Mott said. “That’s not her style.” Scylla had to scratch from the Madison four weeks ago due to a fever. She has worked twice since then. Scylla will break from the rail under Joel Rosario. With scratches, Grand Job, also trained by Mott, will draw in from the also-eligible list. She has won 3 of 4 starts since coming to the United States, running mostly on the lead. “I don’t have to force the pace with her,” said Mott, who has Junior Alvarado to ride. Ways and Means, winner of the Grade 1 Test last year, was a head behind Scylla in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint. Trainer Chad Brown said Ways and Means came out of that race with a couple of issues that delayed her return. “It’s tight. I barely have her ready, but she’s ready,” Brown said. Positano Sunset and Emery ran 1-2 in the Grade 1 Madison. Emery won the Leslie’s Lady Overnight Stakes here last June. Positano Sunset was second to Vahva in the Chicago Stakes here last June. Benedetta was third in the Matron in the mud last out. Mystic Lake, winner of the Grade 2 Inside Information, and Hope Road, twice second to Kopion, figure to be part of what should be a wicked pace in the race. Miss Susan B, also on the also-eligible list, is coming off a maiden win at Turfway. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.