Tipsheet: 2022 Breeders' Cup Distaff

A fantastic field of eight fillies and mares will go postward in Saturday’s $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland. The 1 1/8-mile dirt affair attracted seven individual Grade 1 heroines in what promises to be a memorable tussle.

RELATED: Meet the 2022 Breeders' Cup Distaff contenders

Breeders’ Cup Distaff picks

• #1 Malathaat
• #6 Nest
• #7 Search Results
• #2 Blue Stripe

Breeders’ Cup Distaff wagers

• $20 to win and place on #1 Malathaat
• $15 Exacta box: 1,6 ($30)
• $2 Superfecta: 1,6 with 1,6 with 2,3,7 with ALL ($60)
  Total: $110

Breeders’ Cup Distaff contenders

#1 MALATHAAT continues to impress for trainer Todd Pletcher. Top selection has never run a bad race in her career while compiling a 13-9-3-1 lifetime line, and the daughter of Curlin comes in off of a facile victory on the course to move her Keeneland mark to 3-for-3. The versatile bay will save ground in the early stages with regular pilot John Velazquez in the stirrups. 

#2 BLUE STRIPE was a non-factor in this contest last season but has been sharp from a trio of outings in 2022 for conditioner Marcelo Polanco. A convincing winner of the Clement L. Hirsch (G1) last time out, the Equal Stripes five-year-old has improved her Brisnet Speed rating with each performance since arriving in the U.S. and is a very good value contender for the exotics beneath Hector Berrios.

#3 SECRET OATH has lost four straight since eclipsing the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in the spring but is an obvious top-four contender for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The talented sophomore has been aiming for this race all season and will be dead-fit for her first try against elders. Arrogate three-year-old has been training in swift fashion as of late and will be doing her best work from off the pace with Luis Saez up.

RELATED: Secret Oath parlays perfect trip into Kentucky Oaks glory

#4 CLAIRIERE is the first of two fine performers for trainer Steve Asmussen. The well-bred four-year-old failed to fire at Saratoga in her most recent endeavor, but the daughter of Curlin defeated the top pick in two straight prior to that, and her best showing will give her a chance for sure after running a close fourth in the 2021 Distaff. Joel Rosario will be in the silks once again.

#5 AWAKE AT MIDNYTE looks to be overmatched as the lone contender in the field lacking a graded victory. Doug O’Neill trainee has solid current form, but she would be a substantial surprise on Saturday.

#6 NEST finished runner-up against the boys in the Belmont (G1) prior to reeling off a trio of graded tallies in succession with relative ease for Pletcher. The superb sophomore has been excellent at 1 1/8 miles and has all the tools to win this race as the morning line favorite. Kentucky-bred bay will track the pace from the break with regular rider Irad Ortiz up.

RELATED: Nest comes rolling into the Breeders' Cup Distaff

#7 SEARCH RESULTS brings fine form to the deep field for conditioner Chad Brown. Flatter four-year-old was a very good runner-up to the top play in the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga most recently, and she has trained well in the interim. The dark bay seems poised for a big effort coming off the shelf for a fine layoff outfit. Flavien Prat taking the reins adds to the appeal. 

#8 SOCIETY jumped out to a big lead and never looked back when annihilating her foes in the Cotillion (G1) at Parx last time out. By hot sire Gun Runner, the rapidly improving three-year-old is the expected pace of the race and returns to the site where she broke her maiden at first asking as a juvenile. Peter Blum homebred is training well on the oval and will be sent from the break by Florent Geroux.