Wind team hoping for stellar Distaff performance on third try in $2m feature

11.35pm Friday, Del Mar
Breeders' Cup Distaff | Grade 1 | 1m1f | dirt | 3yo+, f/m | ATR

Distaff favourite Stellar Wind (John Sadler/Victor Espinoza) is unbeaten in three starts this term, and unbeaten in three previous outings at Del Mar. Her connections are now hoping it will be a case of third time lucky in Friday's $2 million highlight after a pair of unfortunate efforts in the race.

Although the mare has an admirable win record of ten victories from 15 starts, two of those defeats came in the Distaff, in which she was beaten a neck in a controversial finish at Keeneland in 2015 before last year's fourth place after a dodgy start in an epic contest behind Beholder and Songbird.

"At Keeneland she had a rough trip and that was borne out by the long inquiry," recalled Sadler, yet to train a Breeders' Cup winner. "Last year she just picked a very inopportune time to not break well."

It remains a worry, despite Stellar Wind's flawless progress since, with three more Grade 1 wins in the bag before a deliberate break designed to keep her fresh for the Breeders' Cup, after which she will be sold at Keeneland.

"She's not nervous in the gate but she's a little distracted," said her trainer. "She's not the fastest gate horse in the world but now that Victor knows her so well I don’t think it'll be a problem."

Rivals in the usual top-quality field include last year's third Forever Unbridled (Dallas Stewart/John Velazquez), back for more after defeating the now-retired Songbird at Saratoga on her most recent outing.

She could be compromised by a come-from-behind style that seldom prevails on the Del Mar dirt track, an issue that might also concern supporters of Kentucky Oaks winner Abel Tasman (Bob Baffert/Mike Smith), bidding to give her legendary trainer a first winner in America's senior race for fillies and mares.

Although Abel Tasman led the three-year-old filly division after a Grade 1 spree in early summer, highly progressive Elate (Bill Mott/Jose Ortiz), whom she beat at Saratoga in July, is now much more fancied in the betting.

Her trainer Mott has won this five times, while fellow veteran Richard Mandella struck twice with Beholder; he saddles front-runner Paradise Woods (Flavien Prat) here; a spectacular winner of the Santa Anita Oaks when loose on the lead in April, she won the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes last month.

Champagne Room (Peter Eurton/Mario Gutierrez) was a shock winner of last year's Juvenile Fillies, while Frankie Dettori has picked up the ride on rank outsider Mopotism for Californian-based trainer Doug O'Neill.

Also on Friday

Del Mar: Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (Grade 1) | 1m | dirt | 3yo+ (10.05pm GMT, live on ATR)

Bob Baffert fields a hot favourite in Mor Spirit (Mike Smith), who thrashed the reopposing Smart Azteca (Jorge Navarro/Paco Lopez) by more than six lengths in a commanding performance to win the prestigious Met Mile in June.

The question mark is that the four-year-old hasn't been seen since, the race reportedly having taken a lot out of him. If he fails to fire, Baffert has a dangerous second string in Coolmore's Cupid (Rafael Bejarano), a mercurial type more than capable on his day.

Among other serious contenders here are Accelerate (John Sadler/Victor Espinoza), a Del Mar specialist who lowered the colours of none other than Arrogate in the summer, and east-coast visitor Practical Joke (Chad Brown/Joel Rosario), unbeaten in one-turn miles. Thanks to Del Mar's tight track configuration, this is two turns.

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