Distaff contenders post final works leading up to Breeders' Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – Untapable and Close Hatches will command the most attention leading to the Breeders' Cup Distaff, and both are scheduled for their final workout Sunday.

Meanwhile on Saturday, several Distaff outsiders posted their final works, including a fast drill by Tiz Midnight that was among the quickest of the morning at Santa Anita.

The runner-up in the Grade 1 Zenyatta last out, Tiz Midnight worked six furlongs alone under Martin Garcia at 6:45 a.m. Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch timed her in 1:11.93, galloping out seven furlongs in 1:24.64 and a mile in 1:38.25. Track clockers credited Tiz Midnight with five furlongs in 59 seconds, third fastest of 77 at the distance.

Bob Baffert trains Tiz Midnight, who will be ridden by Victor Espinoza. Baffert was happy with the work.

“She looked good,” he said. “Her biggest problem is she gets worked up. Her composure is the thing. You have to watch her in the paddock.”

Tiz Midnight has won three of seven; the Zenyatta was her first start in a graded stakes following three straight wins in maiden and allowance races. She is expected to be among the Distaff pacesetters.

Belle Gallantey adds another element of speed to the Distaff. A former claiming filly, she won two Grade 1s this season for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who worked her five furlongs in 1:02.20 on a “good” track at Aqueduct.

“That’s what I was looking for. I’m happy with the way she’s going into the race,” Rodriguez said by phone. He added, jokingly, “I wish it was at Belmont.”

Belle Gallantey led gate to wire in the Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont on Sept. 27, earning a 103 Beyer that is the highest last-start figure by any Distaff pre-entrant. She ships Sunday to California.

Stanwyck worked five furlongs on the Belmont training track in 1:01 under Junior Alvarado. Corey Nakatani will ride her in the Distaff. Stanwyck, a stretch runner, is trained by John Shirreffs. Stanwyck finished fourth last out in the one-turn Beldame.

Valiant Emilia, 11 for 23 in Peru, worked five furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:00 for trainer Gary Mandella. Valiant Emilia worked in company with veteran Setsuko. Rafael Bejarano has been working Valiant Emilia and will ride her in the Distaff.

Bejarano said Valiant Emilia is better now than the first time he worked her.

“Big change from the first time,” he said. “She is so much more comfortable, more confident. She’s improving every time she works. Now that Beholder is out, everybody has a chance.”

Well, maybe.

Untapable and Close Hatches are the Distaff favorites. Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable has done very well since arriving at Santa Anita late last month. She galloped Saturday at 6:30 a.m. and will have her final workout Sunday for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Close Hatches will work a half-mile Sunday at Belmont, Bill Mott said. Rain and wet track conditions have complicated training patterns for many New York-based Breeders’ Cup contenders. The situation has not adversely affected Close Hatches, Mott said.

“We’ve had to do maybe a little less, but we haven’t had to modify much,” Mott said. “As long as we have a good track Sunday, that’s all. She’s fit. Conditioning-wise, I am not worried about anything. Just hope she shows up.”

Close Hatches was a no-show last out. Odds-on in the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland, she finished fourth.

“It’s a mystery,” Mott said. “She went into it well enough and came out well enough.”

Prior to the Spinster, Close Hatches won four straight, including three Grade 1s. She is scheduled to ship Monday to California.

Finally, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer on Saturday seemed to be leaning toward the Distaff with Parranda. She finished second last out in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive on turf and never has raced on “fast” dirt. But she has trained exceptionally well.

“I’m not scared of running her on the main track at all,” Hollendorfer said. “The other race [Filly and Mare Turf] is hard to figure.”

A final decision on Parranda is pending. Entries for the Distaff will be taken Monday.

The expected Distaff field, with riders: Untapable, Rosie Napravnik; Close Hatches, Joel Rosario; Don’t Tell Sophia, Joe Rocco; Iotapa, Joe Talamo; Tiz Midnight, Victor Espinoza; Ria Antonia, Paco Lopez; Belle Gallantey, Jose Ortiz; Valiant Emilia, Rafael Bejarano; Parranda, Elvis Trujillo; Stanwyck, Corey Nakatani; Unbridled Forever, John Velazquez. L’Amour de Ma Vie, a Europe-based turf filly, was cross-entered in the Filly and Mare Turf.