Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff Selections

By Rick Francis —-

A field of eight fillies and mares are slated to go in the running of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff; let’s have a look at the starters.

Del Mar

Race 9), 1&1/8th Mile. Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff Grade I. Purse $2,000,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES, THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD.
Post Time: 7:35/ 6:35/ 5:35/( 4:35)

Champagne Room (1), Eurton/Gutierrez; BC Juvenile Fillies champ is one across the board here; makes third start of the year; exits solid tune-up win at Remington and has been working lights out.

Stellar Wind (2), Sadler/Espinoza; has won three straight Grade 1’s, including the Clement Hirsch here back in July; this may not be her best distance, but always brings it and is a perfect 3-for-3 here.

Mopotism (3), O’Neill/Dettori; filly out of Uncle Mo appears overmatched against these, as several have beaten her this year.

Abel Tasman (4), Baffert/Smith; multiple Grade 1 and Kentucky Oaks winner broke slowly last out at PARX and it cost her. She’s a perfect 2-for-2 at this distance, and when your trainer and jockey team together, they hit a whopping 47 percent; looms large.

Elate (5), Mott/Ortiz, J; Medaglia d’Oro filly was but a head from being a perfect 3-for-3 this year. 3-year-old blew away the Grade 1 Alabama and Beldame fields in her last two, but this will be the toughest group she’s faced.

Forever Unbridled (6), Stewart/Velazquez; finished third a length back to legends Beholder and Songbird in this a year ago, but redeemed herself in last besting the latter in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign back in August at Saratoga. She’ll probably get little respect at the windows, but we’ll take her.

Paradise Woods (7), Mandella/Prat; has rebounded from two sub-par efforts in the Kentucky Oaks and TorreyPines with a a last out win in the Grade 1 Zenyatta. It’s hard to get overly excited with that win as she faced but three rivals; looking elsewhere for the top spot.

Romantic Vision (8), Arnold/Hernandez, B; mare by Lemon Drop Kid cleared the Grade 1 Spinster field last out to qualify, however it was her second straight graded stakes win; exotics.

Selections: 6, 4, 5, 2