2014 Breeders Cup Distaff

[Man o Taz]

Examining the fields for the 2014 Distaff we have the favorites...Beholder and Close Hatches.

I wonder about Untapable...

Close Hatches has been impressive winning against the best of the older horse division, but her BSFs have not been very impressive...and neither have Beholders.

Untapable has had the best BSFs for a female route horse...then again...her best times were in March and May...

Beholder
G1 Zenyatta, 8.5 furlongs
4th G1 Ogden Phipps, 8.5 furlongs
Saint Lucia Stakes, 8.5 furlongs

Belle Galantey
G1 Beldame, 9 furlongs
6th G1 Personal Ensign
G1 Delaware Handicap, 10 furlongs
5th G1 Ogden Phipps, 8.5 furlongs

Close Hatches
4th G1 Spinster, 9 furlongs
G1 Personal Ensign, 9 furlongs
G1 Ogden Phipps, 8.5 furlongs
G1 Apple Blossom Stakes, 8.5 furlongs
G3 Azeri Stakes, 8.5 furlongs

Don't Tell Sophia
G1 Spinster, 9 furlongs
Locust Grove, 8.5 furlongs
3rd G3 Azeri, 8.5 furlongs
Bayakoa, 8.5 furlongs
Pippin, 8.5 furlongs

Fiftyshadesofhay
5th G1 Beldame, 9 furlongs
2nd G1 Personal Ensign, 9 furlongs
4th G1 Clement Hirsch, 8.5 furlongs
2nd G2 Fleur De Lis, 9 furlongs
G2 Ruffian, 8 furlongs
6th G1 Santa Margarita, 9 furlongs
4th G2 La Canada, 8.5 furlongs

Iotapa
3rd G1 Zenyatta, 8.5 furlongs
G1 Clement Hirsch, 8.5 furlongs
G1 Vanity, 9 furlongs
6th G1 Humana Distaff, 7 furlongs
2nd G1 Santa Margarita, 9 furlongs
G2 Santa Maria, 8.5 furlongs
2nd G2 Santa Monica, 7 furlongs

Ria Antonia
2nd G1 Spinster Stakes, 9 furlongs
4th Locust Grove, 8.5 furlongs
4th G3 Monmouth Oaks, 8.5 furlongs
2nd G3 Iowa Oaks, 8.5 furlongs
10th G1 Preakness Stakes, 9.5 furlongs
6th G1 Kentucky Oaks, 9 furlongs
2nd G1 Santa Anita Oaks, 8.5 furlongs
4th G3 Rachel Alexandra, 8.5 furlongs

Stanwyck
4th G1 Beldame, 9 furlongs
3rd G1 Personal Ensign, 9 furlongs
2nd G3 Shuvee, 9 furlongs
3rd G1 Apple Blossom Stakes, 8.5 furlongs
3rd G1 Santa Margarita Stakes, 9 furlongs
3rd G2 Santa Maria Stakes, 8.5 furlongs
2nd Paseana Stakes, 8.5 furlongs

Stopchargingmaria
2nd G1 Beldame, 9 furlongs
G1 Alabama Stakes, 1 furlongs
G1 Coaching Club American Oaks, 9 furlongs
G2 Black-eyed Susan, 9 furlongs
4th G3 Fantasy Stakes, 8.5 furlongs
5th G2 Davona Dale, 8.5 furlongs

Untapable
G1 Cotillion Stakes, 9 furlongs
6th G1 Haskell Stakes, 9 furlongs
G1 Mother Goose Stakes, 8.5 furlongs
G1 Kentucky Oaks, 9 furlongs
G2 Fairground Oaks, 8.5 furlongs
G3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes

[Man o Taz]

I think this race is really Beholder's to lose.

It will take a huge effort to defeat Beholder on this track.

She finished second in one race at Santa Anita. It was the Santa Ynez 6.5 furlongs race she lost in her first race of the year to Renee's Titan in January 2013.

Before that she had won twice at distances of 6 and 8.5 furlongs - an allowance and the G1 BC Juvenile Fillies.

After that she has won five times at distances between 8 and 9 furlongs capturing 5 G1 races including the BC Distaff.

Could this be the shortest odds race of the BC? 

[afleetphil]

Close Hatches will be tough.

[Man o Taz]

I hope its a close race.

[Man o Taz]

Very sad to hear that Beholder will miss the chance to defend her title.

It looks like Untapable may be installed as the morning line favorite.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/88119/two-time-champion-beholder-out-of-bc-distaff
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/88122/untapable-tops-worktab-sunday-at-santa-anita

[Man o Taz]

Here are the pre-entries:

Belle Galantey
Close Hatches
Don't Tell Sophia
Fiftyshadesofhay
Iotapa

L'Amore de Ma Vie
9th G1 Premio Dettorio de Capua, 8 furlongs
4th G1 Prix Rothschild, 8 furlongs
2nd G2 Duke of Cambridge, 8 furlongs
11th G1 Jebel Hatta, 9 furlongs
G2 Balanchine, 9 furlongs
2nd G2 Cape Verdi, 8 furlongs (T)

Molly Morgan
3rd G1 Spinster, 9 furlongs
2nd Locust Grove Stakes, 8.5 furlongs
G3 Gardenia Stakes, 8 furlongs
5th G1 Delaware Handicap, 10 furlongs
G2 Fleur De Lis, 9 furlongs
2nd G1 La Troienne, 8.5 furlongs
3rd Allowance, 8 furlongs
8th Allowance, 8 furlongs (T)

Parranda
3rd G1 Rode Drive Stakes, 10 furlongs (T)
2nd G2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap, 8.5 furlongs (T)
3rd G1 Clement Hirsch, 8.5 furlongs
G2 Royal Heroine Stakes, 8 furlongs (T)
3rd G1 Gamely Stakes, 9 furlongs (T)
G3 Wilshire Handicap, 8 furlongs (T)
6th G2 Honey Fox, 8 furlongs (T)
G3 Suwanne River, 9 furlongs (T)
Sunshine Millions Filly-Mare Turf, 9 furlongs
Ria Antonia
Stopchargingmaria

Tiz Midnight
2nd G1 Zenyatta, 8.5 furlongs
Allowance, 8 furlongs
Allowance, 8 furlongs
Maiden, 8.5 furlolngs
2nd Maiden, 8.5 furlongs

Untapable

Valiant Emilia
Clasico Cesar Del Rio in Peru

[Man o Taz]

RACE 9 LONGINES BREEDERS' CUP DISTAFF (GRADE I)   POST TIME - 4:35 PM

ENTRIES PLUS PPS & SELECTIONS
Exacta / Trifecta / Superfecta Special Daily Double / Super High Five

Santa Anita Park STAKES

Purse $2,000,000. For Fillies And Mares, Three-Year-Olds And Upward. Northern Hemisphere Three-Year-Olds, 121 Lbs.; Older, 124 Lbs.; Southern Hemisphere Three-Year-Olds, 116 Lbs.; Older, 124 Lbs. $20,000 to pre-enter, $20,000 to enter, with guaranteed $2 million purse including travel awards of which 55% to the owner of the winner, 18% to second, 10% to third, 6% to fourth and 3% to fifth; plus travel awards to starters not based in California. One And One Eighth Miles.
P#   PP   Horse   Virtual
Stable   A/S   Med   Jockey   Wgt   Trainer   M/L

1   L'Amour de Ma Vie (KY)   5/M   L1   M H Guyon   124   P Brandt   15/1
2   Tiz Midnight (KY)      4/F   L   V Espinoza   124   B Baffert   10/1
3   Iotapa (KY)               4/F   L   J Talamo           124   J W Sadler   6/1
4   Belle Gallantey (KY)      5/M   L   J L Ortiz           124   R R Rodriguez   6/1
5   Unbridled Forever (KY)   3/F   L   J R Velazquez   121   D Stewart   20/1
6   Stanwyck (KY)              5/M   L   C S Nakatani   124   J A Shirreffs   20/1
7   Don't Tell Sophia (KY)   6/M   L   J Rocco, Jr.   124   P A Sims   5/1
8   Valiant Emilia (PER)      5/M   L   R Bejarano   124   G Mandella   20/1
9   Ria Antonia (KY)      3/F   L   P Lopez           121   T M Amoss   15/1
10   Untapable (KY)              3/F   L   R Napravnik   121   S M Asmussen   5/2
11   Close Hatches (KY)      4/F   L   J Rosario           124   W I Mott   3/1

Owners: 1 - Pegasus Farms LTD; 2 - Mike Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman; 3 - Hronis Racing LLC; 4 - Michael Dubb, Gary Aisquith & Bethlehem Stables LLC; 5 - Charles E. Fipke; 6 - Mr. & Mrs. Jerome S. Moss; 7 - Philip A. Sims and Jerry Namy; 8 - Teneri Farm, Inc.; 9 - Loooch Racing Stable, Inc. & Christopher T. Dunn; 10 - Winchell Thoroughbreds, LLC; 11 - Juddmonte Farms

Breeders: 1 - Palides Investments N.V., Inc.; 2 - Karl Watson & Paul Weitman; 3 - GEM INC., Bajer & O'Hara; 4 - Pam and Martin Wygod; 5 - Charles Fipke; 6 - Mr. & Mrs. Jerome Moss; 7 - Stonerside Stable; 8 - Haras La Qallana; 9 - Lynn B. Schiff; 10 - Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; 11 - Millsec, LTD

[Man o Taz]

Untapable, Stanwyck and Close Hatches

[peeptoad]

SA9 The Distaff

I think #10 Untapable is the horse to beat, and by all accounts she's looked phenomenal since she's been at SA. #2 Tiz Midngiht imo is a live price... especially with early speed. Not sure she can beat Untapable or Close Hatches though and there are more questions about CH vs. Untapable for me.
I'll probably bet the 2 across or in some fashion, depending on the price, and box the 2, 10, and 11. Might throw in Sophia of the track appears to be okay for closing types.

[Man o Taz]

Well, one out of three ain't bad for me.

At least we got the winner.