Rare full house for Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Although the country’s top female is not expected to run in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff, she will not be missed. Beholder was cross-entered in the Distaff but is likely to start a day later in the $5 million BC Classic, pending recovery from a minor fever.

A total of 16 fillies and mares were pre-entered in the Distaff, which is limited to 14 starters. The 1 1/8-mile Distaff is the top race on Friday, Oct. 30, at Keeneland. The three BC races preceding the Distaff are the Juvenile Turf, Dirt Mile, and Juvenile Fillies Turf.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2015: Pre-entered horses, odds, comments, and videos

Sheer Drama and Wedding Toast are the early Distaff favorites. Top contenders also include 2014 Distaff winner Untapable, the improving 3-year-old I’m a Chatterbox, and three Grade 1 winners trained by Todd Pletcher – Got Lucky, Curalina, and Stopchargingmaria.

:: Breeders’ Cup: Purchase the DRF Breeders’ Cup Player’s package now

The also-eligible list comprises Calamity Kate and Peace and War, who finished second and third behind I’m a Chatterbox in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx. Breeders’ Cup officials gave Calamity Kate preference, so she will get in if Beholder passes. Peace and War, winless since taking the Grade 1 Alcibiades last fall at Keeneland, can only crack the Distaff lineup with another defection.

The favorites are evenly matched. Sheer Drama’s trainer, David Fawkes, and owner and breeder, Harold Queen, won the 2010 BC Sprint with Sheer Drama’s sibling Big Drama. Sheer Drama is a 5-year-old Grade 1 winner; her rider is Joe Bravo. Sheer Drama has won six races and more than $1.3 million from 19 starts. She enters off Grade 1 wins in the Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park and the Personal Ensign at Saratoga.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP DRAW: Watch live on DRF.com followed by DRF Live video coverage at 6 pm ET Monday

Wedding Toast enters with back-to-back triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures for Grade 1 wins in the Ogden Phipps and Beldame at Belmont Park. Kiaran McLaughlin trains the 5-year-old, an eight-time winner of more than $1.4 million from 12 starts. Wedding Toast has raced twice around two turns. In 2013, she won a maiden race at Saratoga and the Grade 3 Comely at Aqueduct. Jose Lezcano is her rider.

While the field’s top 3-year-old is I’m a Chatterbox, Stellar Wind is not far behind. The California-based filly has won 4 of 5 this year, including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks. Her only loss was a tough-trip fourth in the Kentucky Oaks.

Distaff pre-entrants Warren’s Veneda and My Sweet Addiction won Grade 1 races early this year at Santa Anita. California-based Yahilwa finished a close third in the Spinster at Keeneland. Kentucky-based Frivolous finished fourth in the Spinster. Salama won a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race in Peru and finished a creditable second in her U.S. debut at Keeneland.

If 14 run, it will be the third Distaff with the maximum number of starters. The 2006 Distaff at Churchill Downs, won by Round Pond, and the 1992 Distaff at Gulfstream Park, won by Paseana, each had 14 starters.