Private Mission punches ticket for Breeders' Cup Distaff

ARCADIA, Calif. – The water is about to get deeper for 3-year-old Private Mission, a rapidly improving filly who scored a decisive victory in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita to earn a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Facing older fillies and mares for the first time in a stakes race, lightly raced Private Mission cruised to a decisive 2 1/4-length victory over As Times Goes By in the Zenyatta. The time for the 1 1/16-mile race was relatively fast – 1:43.77. Private Mission was given a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.

The win by Private Mission ($4.20 favorite) was trainer Bob Baffert’s third graded stakes of the weekend, and fourth for jockey Flavien Prat. Baffert won Grade 1s with Corniche and Medina Spirit; Prat won graded stakes with Dr. Schivel, Mo Forza, and United.

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Private Mission’s win also continued the chalky theme. Favorites won 10 of the 13 Breeders’ Cup prep races opening weekend at Santa Anita; the second favorite won three others.

While untested against Grade 1 rivals, Private Mission will enter the Distaff on a conspicuous upward pattern. “She’s definitely on the improve,” Baffert said. “She’s getting better and better."

Private Mission, by Into Mischief, has won four of five for owners Charles and Susan Chu. In her most recent start, Private Mission scored a romping victory over 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 3 Torrey Pines at Del Mar. Prat said she was a better filly Sunday at Santa Anita.

“At Del Mar she was pretty aggressive,” Prat said. “It was the first time I was on her, and she was quite aggressive. Today, she relaxed really well.”

Private Mission pressed the pace set by Samurai Charm, ran past that rival nearing the quarter pole, and won easily. As Time Goes By, also trained by Baffert, finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of Miss Bigly. Completing the order of finish was Stellar Sound, Lady Kate, Samurai Charm, Miss Stormy D and California Kook.

The competition will be stronger in the BC Distaff. In addition to early favorite Letruska, other top Distaff candidates include Shedaresthedevil and Grade 1-winning 3-year-olds Malathaat and Clairiere. Baffert recognizes the challenge.

“When you’re facing a mare like Letruska, that’s a serious mare right there,” he said.