Stopchargingmaria rings up Breeders’ Cup Distaff win

Stopchargingmaria was fourth last out in the Personal Ensign S. (G1) at Saratoga – behind the re-opposing Sheer Drama, Got Lucky and Untapable – but on Friday got the best of all her rivals in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland.

The Todd Pletcher trainee settled into a wide trip down the backstretch, about four or five off the rail, as My Sweet Addiction set a pressured pace through splits of :23.57, :47.28 and 1:11.49 with Yahilwa just to her outside.

Stopchargingmaria and jockey Javier Castellano began moving up while still wide on the turn, and were floated well out entering the lane. They took command down the center of track but Stellar Wind had followed on the outside and refused to give ground.

Stopchargingmaria clung to her advantage but drifted out and bumped with that rival three times in the stretch run before prevailing by a neck. The inquiry sign was immediately posted, and was soon joined by an objection notice from Stellar Wind’s rider, Victor Espinoza.

While the two fillies circled in front of the Keeneland grandstand, the stewards reviewed the stretch duel before eventually declaring there wasn’t sufficient evidence to overturn the finish.

That left Town and Country Farms LLC’s Stopchargingmaria in charge of the winner’s circle, and she paraded there with her connections after finishing nine furlongs on the fast main track in 1:48.98.

The four-year-old lass suffered her only unplaced run in the Personal Ensign, and preceded it with a pair of wins in the Allaire DuPont Distaff (G3) at Pimlico and Shuvee H. (G3) at Saratoga. She began the season with a close half-length second at Keeneland sprinting seven furlongs in the Madison S. (G1).

Stopchargingmaria also captured the Alabama S. (G1), Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) as a sophomore before closing out her three-year-old campaign with a runner-up effort in the Beldame S. (G1).

The Kentucky-bred filly is now 16-9-3-1 for her career and paid $16.20 as the 7-1 fourth choice.

Click for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff quotes and transcript.

Photo by Wendy Wooley/EquiSport Photos