Dick Powell's Breeders' Cup Distaff Tipsheet

The $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on Saturday. It has attracted a field of eleven and there is a decent run into the first turn for them to sort themselves out.    

Top Breeders' Cup Distaff Picks

• 5 Dunbar Road
• 4 Midnight Bisou
• 1 Paradise Woods
• 11 Blue Prize

• $50 Win
  • 5
• $20 Exacta
  • 1, 4, with 5

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Breeders' Cup Distaff Contenders

#1 PARADISE WOODS is the most enigmatic runner on the whole weekend. Her best effort is better than anyone else’s but she doesn’t always bring her “A” game. This year, she shifted from Dick Mandella’s barn to John Shirreffs’. Back in April, she won a Grade 2 going this distance on this main track by 10 lengths but lost her last two. Back here at Santa Anita, she was a handy winner of the Zenyatta (G2) when racing up on the pace. The horse for the course draws the rail and gets the red-not Abel Cedillo back aboard.  

#2 OLLIE’S CANDY only has three starts on dirt but she won two of them and one was the Clement Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar. She chased the pace last out without making any impact in the stretch. John Sadler switches to Joel Rosario who will probably take her back off the pace and make one run.  

#3 STREET BAND ships West for Larry Jones and rarely puts two good races together. She was an even third in the Alabama (G1) two starts back then beat a strong field in the Cotillion (G1) last out when she rallied from way back to win going away. She would need a similar set-up today while taking on older rivals for the first time. Daughter of Istan is not impossible but just seems to be a cut below.

#4 MIDNIGHT BISOU was third in this race last year and has won all seven starts since then. There’s nothing to knock about her other than the price but some of her races are too close for comfort and she faces a deep and talented field today. She has won three of four starts over the track and has been out here training the past month.  

#5 DUNBAR ROAD is an emerging three-year-old filly that seems to be still improving. After winning the Mother Goose (G2), she came back at Saratoga and won the 10-furlong Alabama with a strong finish. She came back in the Spinster (G1) against older rivals but was stuck down on the inside and never was clear to stride forwardly. Today, she draws perfectly and Jose Ortiz can keep her out of trouble and if the main track comes up tiring, her 10-furlong form will be a big help going nine furlongs.  

#6 WOW CAT, for a filly that was a terrific second in this race last year, she has been flying under the radar screen all year. She started off the year at Saratoga with a second in the Shuvee (G3) going this distance then finished up the track in the Personal Ensign (G1) against the two best mares in the country. She was second in the Beldame (G2) last out and now moves back up in class for Chad Brown.

#7 SECRET SPICE is a horse for the course that won a grade one stakes here back in March going a two-turn mile. Since then, she has run second each time and two of them came against Grade 1 company. Daughter of Discreet Cat has been a picture of consistency but needs to find a couple of more lengths to be a danger today.

#8 LA FORCE was beaten 10 lengths by #1 PARADISE WOODS earlier in the year then she came back and won a Grade 2 race here. Her recent form keeps her out of the mix as she only has three wins from 28 starts.

#9 SERENGETI EXPRESS is an all-or-nothing horse but when she’s on, she’s real good. Last year, she won two stakes races by 32 lengths then could not make the lead in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and fell apart. She bounced back in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) when she overcame post 13 by going to the lead and never looked back. In the Acorn (G1), she ran into the immensely talented Guarana then she just missed in the seven-furlong Test (G1) where she dueled with Covfefe and only succumbed late in the stretch. Throw out her race in the Cotillion where she was cooked in a fast pace but is dangerous in any race she shows up in.

#10 MO SEE CAL is a horse for the course but just doesn’t seem talented enough to handle this caliber.

#11 BLUE PRIZE was only beaten 1 1/2 lengths in this race last year. She seems to be peaking at the right time with an easy stakes win at Saratoga going today’s distance and won the Spinster with a strong, wide rally. Her BRIS speed ratings put her in the mix but with her running style, I’m not sure what kind of trip Joe Bravo can work out from post 11.

Breeders' Cup Distaff Entries