Keeneland preview: Breeders’ Cup Distaff (21.35)
David Metcalf | October 30, 2015
Stellar Wind looks decent value to win a wide open renewal of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland (21.35).
The John Sadler trained filly has won four of her five starts since making her racecourse debut back in February.
Stellar Wind’s only defeat came in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, where after being held-up well off the pace she was forced to make a move out wide and stayed on to finish a never nearer 4 3/4 length fourth of 14 to Lovely Maria.
In the circumstances it was a solid effort given such a tough passage, and the three-year-old was arguably given too much too do.
Since then Stellar Wind has gone on to register very easy successes in Grade 2 and 3 contests, and the daughter of Curlin comes into the race following a break to freshen-up.
There are also plenty of horses in opposition who like to race up with the pace, and they could well cut each others throats and set it up for a close like Stellar Wind.
Wedding Toast favourite for Distaff
One of those that likes to be at the head of affairs is the favourite Wedding Toast, and she looks the obvious danger.
The Kiaran McLaughlin trained mare has steadily climbed the ranks since making her debut in 2013, winning all bar one start as a three-year-old.
Wedding Toast then suffered some training problems and had just one run the following season when finishing second, but has shown this year that she is better than ever.
The five-year-old has won her last three starts by wide margins, and the last two of those have been in Grade 1 contests.
In the first Wedding Toast showed a smart turn of foot to beat Untapable by five lengths, and the daughter of Street Sense followed up with an easy 2 3/4 length victory over Curalina at Belmont.
Judge on those efforts Wedding Toast is a massive player, but her best form has come when being allowed to dominate and that is going to be tough with the likes of the speedy Yahilwa and Calamity Kate in the line-up.
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Coral’s top tip: There is every chance of the race being set up for a closer, and that makes Stellar Wind look cracking value in a wide open contest
