Distaff Promises to Be Best Race

With one exception, large fields are the order of the first Breeders’ Cup to be run outside the United States.

Only the Distaff will have fewer than 11 participants, but in this case quality makes up for the lack of numbers.

Without question, the $1-million Distaff, which will be the third of today’s seven Breeders’ Cup events, is the most interesting race. With her handlers unwisely choosing to run Yanks Music in the Classic, there will be only six participants, but they have combined to win 69 of 143 races and have earned $7,902,718.

Serena’s Song has earned a sizable portion of that, banking slightly more than $3 million while earning a reputation as one of the most consistent fillies or mares in history.

The 4-year-old daughter of Rahy is the one to beat whenever she competes. She has won 18 times and finished second on nine occasions in her 36-race career.

However, she has posted many of those seconds this year and is coming off two no-excuse defeats, by Yanks Music in the Ruffian and Beldame at Belmont Park. She was able to lead both races without pressure but couldn’t last.

With the pace in the Distaff likely to be moderate, owner Bob and Beverly Lewis’ filly will be dangerous and she won’t have to spot anybody weight.

There is only one entrant going into the 1 1/8-mile race undefeated this year and a loser only once in her career. That would be Different, who is being supplemented to the Distaff by owner Sid Craig for $200,000, which he also did with 1992 Distaff winner Paseana.

Second in her only defeat in six starts in Argentina, the Candy Stripes filly is perfect in four American races, including Grade I wins on both dirt, the Spinster earlier this month at Keeneland, and turf, the Beverly Hills in July at Hollywood Park.

Different has good tactical speed, should lay fairly close to the pace and has shown she can finish. She could very well give trainer Ron McAnally his fourth victory in the race.

Wally Dollase will be looking for his first with Jewel Princess, who finished second as the favorite in the Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup Handicap earlier this month at Santa Anita. It was her first start since July 21, the day she beat Serena’s Song by three lengths in Hollywood Park’s Vanity. Not once in eight starts this year has she been worse than third.

My Flag, who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, remains one of the most overrated horses in the sport. She has won four times this year, but mostly against questionable competition. The Easy Goer filly couldn’t get close to Serena’s Song in the Beldame and both Different and Jewel Princess have better stretch kicks. Mud would help her today.