Following is a look at the morning activity and planned activity for the horses set to compete in the $2-million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita, plus comments from their trainers.
Horse: A Mo Reay
Trainer: Brad Cox
Set: 1st
Morning Activity: Worked 5f in :59 2/5 at Churchill with exercise rider Edwin Vargas.
Planned Activity: Will walk Sunday and ship Monday to California.
The Quote: “Good move. She worked with Saudi Crown. It was a really good morning. It's always good to get these last works out of the way. We probably won't do a whole lot until they get out to California early next week.” – Brad Cox
Horse: Adare Manor
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Set: 7:15 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped on main track .
Planned Activity: Work scheduled for Sunday.
The Quote: “She's never been better. She really likes this track.” – Bob Baffert
Horse: Clairiere
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Morning Activity: Galloped at Santa Anita and then schooled in the paddock.
Planned Activity: Expected to work Sunday.
Horse: Desert Dawn
Trainer: Phil D'Amato
Set: 6:45 a.m.
Morning Activity: Worked 5f under regular exercise rider Sherry Alexander in :59 4/5.
Planned Activity: Will walk on Sunday, jog Monday, and gallop into the race.
The Quote: “We're definitely going to run in the Distaff (she was cross entered in the Filly & Mare Sprint [G1]). She needs an honest pace to run her best race and it (the Distaff) looks like we will get it.” – Phil D'Amato
Horse: Hoosier Philly
Trainer: Tom Amoss
Set: Walked day after bullet 4f in :47 1/5 at Churchill Downs with Edgar Morales up
Morning Activity: Walked
Planned Activity: Will jog Sunday and stand in gate.
The Quote: “She worked in company and with quarter-cup blinkers. She may or may not wear them. She will stand in gate Sunday to get blinkers on her card. If we need it, we have it. The decision will be made at entry time. The work was swift by design. She has really good speed if we want to use it. We will have that discussion after the draw.” — Tom Amoss
Horse: Idiomatic
Trainer: Brad Cox
Set: 2nd
Morning Activity: Worked 5f in :59 3/5 with Kelvin Perez aboard
Planned Activity: Will walk Sunday and ship Monday to California
The Quote: “Idiomatic went really well. She's an unreal work horse. It was an unreal work. She's as good as she can get.” – Brad Cox
Horse: Le Da Vida (CHI)
Trainer: Ignacio Correas IV
Set: Keeneland
Morning Activity: One day after breezing 4f in 49 flat at Keeneland, the Spinster Stakes (G1) runner-up jogged an easy lap at the Lexington oval.
Planned Activity: Expected to ship from Kentucky to California on Monday.
Closer Look: Trainer Ignacio Correas will attempt to win his second edition of the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) by taking a proven path when he tightens the girth on Chilean import Le Da Vida (CHI) in the nine-furlong division-defining test. The Argentine conditioner expressed satisfaction Saturday morning with how the daughter of Gemologist has progressed leading into what will be her toughest task to date, reporting that the multiple stakes winner exited her 4f Friday breeze in :49 flat in good shape and jogged an easy circuit of Keeneland on Saturday.
“Her breeze was brilliant,” Correas said. “She worked too fast last week (4f in a best-of-79 :47 3/5 on Oct. 21) and that wasn't the plan. The plan was an easy work last week and a little bit more this week, so we had to adapt the work. She went easy yesterday and looked great. It was a very nice work and Vincent (Cheminaud, jockey) was very happy with her after the work.”
Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) contender Didia (ARG) and Le Da Vida will be Correas' fourth and fifth Breeders' Cup runners, with his lone victory coming the most recent time the World Championships were held at Santa Anita. On that occasion, his South American import Blue Prize (ARG), who annexed Spinster beforehand, again took home the lion's share in the $2-million Distaff. Sent off at 8-1, she upset odds-on favorite Midnight Bisou in the process.
Late-running Le Da Vida has raced eight times in 2023, winning once, but placing five times, including a determined second in the Spinster. Earlier in the season, she ran an eye-catching 101 Beyer Speed Figure when winning the Lady Jacqueline Stakes at Thistledown and sports an impressive 8-5-2-1 career record over nine furlongs — including that effort.
“I think in this race, she's going to need a little bit of help from the pace, of course, but I am sure she's going to run a very big race,” Correas said. “She always seems to run well and the only race I can't explain is the (Grade 3) Locust Grove (on Sept. 16), where she got very nervous in the paddock. She didn't run a lick that day, but then we schooled her a lot and she ran her race in the Spinster.
“If she runs her race, she will be right there, and if everyone goes crazy on the front end, you never know — she may surprise them. She's going to keep coming and is a very brave filly. I understand she's not considered the top of the class of the race, but at the same time, the winner of the Spinster (Idiomatic) probably won't get that easy trip this time with plenty of speed in the race. She's moving up and I only have one wish with her: I want to see her change leads for once in her life. It could happen whenever — and if she does that, she will have an extra gear. Maybe then she can win.
“Like I said, I think she's going to run a big race — it's just a matter of how big.”
Horse: Pretty Mischievous
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Set: Churchill Downs
Morning Activity: One day after breezing 4f at Churchill Downs in :49 1/5, 32nd-fastest of 71 works at the distance, the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Acorn (G1), and Test (G1) winner jogged a lap of the Louisville oval.
Planned Activity: Another light day is in store on Sunday before shipping to California for the Distaff on Monday.
The Quote: “She just jogged today and obviously worked yesterday. Her work was very good, just a nice even work. A maintenance work to keep her ticking over until she gets out there. She's fit and ready to go. I'm very, very happy with her. She leaves Monday morning, early, so hopefully it's an uneventful trip and we'll all be out there on Monday.” – Brendan Walsh
Horse: Randomized
Trainer: Chad Brown
Set: Belmont Park
Morning Activity: Breezed 4f at Belmont Park in :49.09, fifteenth-fastest of 34 works at the distance.
Planned Activity: Expected to ship from New York to California for the Distaff on Sunday.
Horse: Sabra Tuff
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Set: Churchill Downs
Morning Activity: Valene Farms' Grade 3-placed filly jogged a lap of the Louisville oval on Saturday morning, two days after breezing 5f in 1:00 3/5, eighth-fastest of 23 moves.
Planned Activity: Last year's Juvenile Fillies (G1) fourth-place finisher is expected to have a routine gallop at Churchill Downs on Sunday before shipping from Kentucky to California on Monday.
Horse: Search Results
Trainer: Chad Brown
Set: Belmont Park
Morning Activity: Breezed 4f at Belmont Park in :48.55, eighth-fastest of 34 works at the distance.
Planned Activity: Expected to ship from New York to California on Sunday.
Horse: Wet Paint
Trainer: Brad Cox
Set: 8 a.m.
Morning Activity: Worked 5f in 1:01 at Churchill with Flavien Prat aboard
Planned Activity: Will walk Sunday and ship Monday to California
The Quote: “Good work. Love what we've seen from her.” – Brad Cox
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