Tag: brad cox

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Notes: Malathaat ‘Enjoys A Target,’ Shedaresthedevil Fulfilling Plan To ‘Peak In November’

As Time Goes By/Private Mission – Amazingly, for all his success in Breeders' Cup Championships as the winningest with 17 victories, Bob Baffert will be seeking his first victory in the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff when he sends out two starters in the nine-furlong event this Saturday.

Private Mission, a once-beaten sophomore, will be facing older opponents for the first time.

“I didn't like her drawing the rail,” Baffert said. “She's going to need to break well.

“I turned her out for a while after her only loss (last November). She's such a royally bred filly and she should only get better with both age and racing distance.”

She galloped once around the main oval this morning.

Baffert's other entrant, the 4-year-old filly As Time Goes By who will get a new rider in Luis Saez, was also out for a morning gallop of a mile this morning.

“Both of my fillies are training well, but I think As Time Goes By might prefer more distance, maybe a mile and one-quarter,” Baffert said. “This is a very tough race. It's a deep field.”

Blue Stripe (ARG) – Pozo de Luna's Blue Stripe (ARG) jogged twice around the main track with exercise rider Alex Jimenez aboard for trainer Marcelo Polanco.

The half-sister to 2019 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Blue Prize (ARG) will be making her U.S. debut in Saturday's $2 million Distaff. It will be her first start since winning the Group 1 Gran Primo Criadores at Hipodromo Argentino De Palermo on May 1 going 1 1/4 miles.

Polanco said there have been no setbacks for Blue Stripe since arriving in his barn in May.

“The plan all along was to wait and run in the Distaff,” Polanco said of Blue Stripe, who has had 18 works since first appearing on the Santa Anita work tab June 30.

Frankie Dettori, a 14-time Breeders' Cup-winning rider, will have the mount on Blue Stripe in the Distaff and possibly may have a get-acquainted session with the 4-year-old filly before Saturday's race.

“It is not likely, but still a possibility,” Polcano said.

Clairiere – Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has a lot of confidence in Stonestreet Stable LLC's 3-year-old filly Clairiere heading into the Distaff. The filly is a daughter of Curlin, his 2007 Classic winner and two-time Horse of the Year also owned by Stonestreet.

“I'm extremely excited about Clairiere in the fact that she has always been a quality filly, always kept or stayed in the highest level of competition and has continuously gotten better from it,” Asmussen said. “She had solid races over the winter in New Orleans, including the victory in the Rachel Alexandra and then the placing in the Fair Grounds Oaks and the fourth in the Kentucky Oaks. From there, the Mother Goose, Coaching Club and Alabama, just solid runs, getting a little better all the time. And, then for her to break through in her last start in the million-dollar, Grade 1 Cotillion, closing the way she did behind a slow pace.

“She has trained lights out since she's been out here in California. Obviously, we're well aware of the quality of the field of this year's Distaff, but Clairiere gives us a tremendous amount of confidence in her. We believe her best race to date will be this Saturday. It's special it is to train a filly like her for Stonestreet. It means everything as far as why you do this. A millionaire, a Grade 1 winner and a daughter of Curlin after what he meant to us. And, then she's out of the unbelievably brilliant race mare Cavorting trained by Kiaran McLaughlin. It's just a great reason to be in horse racing.”

Dunbar Road/Royal Flag – The Chad Brown-trained Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) duo of Dunbar Road and Royal Flag each went out for one-mile gallops of the Del Mar main track Wednesday morning just after the break.

W. S. Farish homebred Royal Flag is fresh off a dominant 4¼-length win in the Beldame Invitational and seeks her first Grade 1 victory. She will break from post two under Joel Rosario in the field of 11 and was assigned a morning line of 8-1.

“She's training very well and I like how she's coming in,” Brown said. “Her Beldame was very good.”

Peter Brant's Dunbar Road will make her final start in the Distaff and will be reunited with jockey Jose Ortiz, who piloted her to her biggest win, Saratoga's Alabama (G1) in 2019. Ortiz also teamed with the daughter of Quality Road to win Belmont's Mother Goose (G2), Churchill Downs' Shawnee Stakes and broke the six-time winner's maiden in March 2019 at Gulfstream Park.

“I'm looking forward to riding her one more time,” Ortiz said. “I'm getting back on her and I have a lot of respect for her and have some big wins on her. For this race, I'm excited because she's coming into the race in good form.”

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Horologist – Bill Mott-trained Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) contender Horologist galloped just over one mile of the Del Mar dirt track on Wednesday morning and, per her conditioner, has trained well for her formidable Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) test on Saturday.

Owned by There's a Chance Stable, Medallion Racing, Abbondanza Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Paradise Farms and David Staudacher, she enters off pace-setting runner-up effort in the Beldame Invitational (G2), a race she won last year prior to finishing ninth of 10 in the Distaff.

Letruska – Early in 2020, trainer Fausto Gutierrez thought Letruska might be a sprinter good enough to compete in the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. One race later, he changed his mind and put the 5-year-old mare on a course that has brought her to Del Mar as the 8-5 favorite in the $2 million Distaff.

During the early part of her career in Mexico and in the 2019 Copa Invitacional del Caribe Stakes she was unbeaten in distances from 5 ½ furlongs to 1 ¼ miles. An impressive win in the Added Elegance on June 27 at Gulfstream Park made Gutierrez think he had found her best distance.

“She ran one mile, just one turn, and she crossed the six furlongs in 1:08 and change,” Gutierrez said. “At that moment, I thought that maybe we had a spot for the Breeders' Cup, the Sprint.”

To test his theory, Gutierrez took her to Saratoga for the seven-furlong Ballerina. When she finished fifth, beaten 6 ¼ lengths, after contesting the first half-mile in 43.74 seconds with eventual winner Serengeti Empress, Gutierrez said he realized that his Breeders' Cup plan would not work and stretched her out again to nine furlongs.

“We switched our plans and went to the Shuvee, three weeks after,” he said. “I reconsidered very quickly and we moved again to the long distances.”

Letruska has run nine times since the Shuvee, all at a mile or more and has a 7-1-0 record. Using her speed, she has flourished at two turns and has won five straight races.

“If we go a mile and a quarter, I think it is even better for her,” Gutierrez said. “The more distance, she has the chance to go a little bit more relaxed.”

Letruska galloped 1 ½m Wednesday morning with exercise rider Roger Horgan aboard.

Malathaat – Words of praise for come easily from Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher for Shadwell Stables' 3-year-old filly Malathaat, who is testing older horses for the first time Saturday in the $2 million Distaff.

Purchased for $1,050,000 as a Keeneland yearling in 2019, Malathaat has won six of seven starts, including the Kentucky Oaks.

“She's a very special filly,” Pletcher said. “Part of it is that we trained the dam. Secondly, she has a tremendous personality. A very kind filly. Very professional. Really easy. She is a pleasure to have in the barn.”

Pletcher handled the dam, Dreaming of Julia, during her two-season, eight-race career. She was third in the 2012 Juvenile Fillies, her lone appearance in the Breeders' Cup.

The Distaff has drawn a field of 11, but a lot of the attention figures to be focused on the first meeting between the speedy 5-year-old mare Letruska, who has won five consecutive stakes, and Malathaat, the most-accomplished 3-year-old in the country. Letruska is the 8-5 morning line favorite, while Malathaat is the co-second choice with Shedaresthedevil at 4-1.

“It's what you would expect from any Breeders' Cup Distaff,” Pletcher said. “It's a collection of the best fillies and mares in the country. You've got some speed in there. You've got some closers. You've got some 3-year-old fillies, the best older mares. It's what you'd expect to see in the Distaff. Hopefully, there is a good, honest pace to run at and we can let our filly do her thing. She is kind of ideally suited to be a stalker. She enjoys a target.”

Malathaat drew post three and will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

Marche Lorraine (JPN) – U. Carrot Farm's Marche Lorraine (JPN) had a walk day following a three-furlong breeze Tuesday.

Shedaresthedevil – Flurry Racing Stable, Qatar Racing Limited and Big Aut Farm's Shedaresthedevil had an easy gallop under Edvin Vargas Wednesday morning before what is likely to be her last race in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. She is scheduled to be sold at the Fasig Tipton November sale a few days after the race. However, first she will try to secure championship honors in a race that has been the plan since skipping the race last year after she finished third in the Spinster Stakes at Keeneland. One race earlier, she pulled the upset in the Kentucky Oaks at odds of 15-1.

“This is obviously a bigger, tougher race this time around than the last one, but she's training really well,” trainer Brad Cox said “And we've been waiting for this. I told someone earlier, we've been pointing for this race with her basically since the day after the Spinster last year. We decided to pull the plug on her, give her a break and campaign this year in an attempt to get her out here and have her peak in November. So far, that plan is working.”

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Breeders’ Cup Classic Notes: Cox ‘Can’t Separate’ Knicks Go, Essential Quality

Art Collector – Bruce Lunsford's Bill Mott-trained homebred $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) contender Art Collector had an eventful gallop of the main track this morning at just prior to 9 o'clock, as a loose horse curtailed his routine exercise. It was the son of Bernardini's first gallop of the main track since his Oct. 31 breeze.

“We had an abbreviated gallop there, but he got a gallop in,” Mott said. “There was a loose horse on the track.”

The pace for the Classic appears to be a hot one, with multiple runners who like to be on or near the lead, including Art Collector. Seven of his eight victories have come when no farther than 1½ lengths back at the first call and four of his wins have been gate-to-wire. Two of those have been under the Mott banner.

“It's been a conscious thing to put him up in the race, which is what we wanted when we had Luis Saez, who does that well,” Mott said. “I don't think he has to be on the lead, but we wanted to let him use his speed when it's there. Sometimes if you have a horse who has a good cruising speed and you take it away from them, that doesn't work.

“We know Knicks Go is going to bolt out of there and he's right inside of us and Medina Spirit is outside, so we hope he is able to stalk, but you don't know until the race unfolds,” Mott continued. “We have a good group of (Breeders' Cup) horses who are doing really well. Whether they're good enough or not, we'll see that on Saturday.”

Art Collector was moved to the Mott barn over the summer and has reeled off a treble of triumphs in as many starts, ascending the class ladder with wins in the Alydar (Listed), Charles Town Classic (G2) and Woodward (G1). His owner-breeder is hopeful he will perform well and has chosen Mike Smith to replace Saez, aboard in all three wins and the regular rider of Belmont/Travers winner Essential Quality.

“He's doing everything I want to see a horse do,” Lunsford said. “I just don't know how he's going to stack up against these. I think he fits and he looks good and has been consistent. I like my chances and I like my jockey. I did a lot of research on jockeys and I gave him a couple names and one was Mike and Bill chose (Smith), who I have a good history with. He's got a pretty good feel for what to do and he's probably the fittest 50-plus-year-old in the world.”

Essential Quality/Knicks Go – Trainer Brad Cox sent both Knicks Go and Essential Quality and out for gallops under exercise rider Edvin Vargas on their second morning at Del Mar. Knicks Go, the 2020 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner, is the 5-2 morning line favorite, while Essential Quality, the 2020 Juvenile and 2021 Belmont and Travers winner, is right behind him at 3-1. Even Cox is having a hard time separating them.

“I can't separate them,” Cox said. “But, I'm excited about being in this position with both horses.

“I think it does set up well for (Essential Quality). I think Luis (Saez) obviously does knows him extremely well, and I'm putting him in a good position. That's the one great thing about Essential Quality. He's able to adjust to the pace and that's, that what makes him so dangerous each and every run. We're probably getting a pace similar or maybe even hotter than it was in the Kentucky Derby.

“It is very rare for a horse to do what Knicks Go can do. You don't always see horses that are capable of running as quick as he can and clearing. And, he really accelerates in the turns.”

Express Train – CRK Stable's Express Train enjoyed his routine 1 1/2-mile gallop just after the break Wednesday morning as he starts to wind up his final preparations for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

While regular exercise rider Amy Vasco was up this morning, the 4-year-old colt will have a new rider for Saturday's race in Victor Espinoza. The Triple Crown-winning jockey has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with trainer John Shirreffs, who opted for the change.

“Victor and I have a close relationship and we decided that having a rider with all his experience in important races would be to our advantage,” Shirreffs said. “He's won a lot of big ones and we have a great deal of confidence in him.”

While the mount will be his first in the afternoon with Express Train, Espinosa has been acclimating himself with the son of Union Rags for his past two workouts, including a final blowout of five furlongs on Sunday at Santa Anita. Both trainer and rider have each won the Breeders' Cup Classic once: Shirreffs with Zenyatta in 2009 and Espinoza with American Pharaoh in 2015.

Hot Rod Charlie – Roadrunner Racing, William Strauss, Boat Racing and Gainesway Stable's Hot Rod Charlie left Barn Y just before 8 a.m. and galloped 1½ miles Wednesday with trainer Doug O'Neill, assistant trainer Leandro Mora and part-owner Strauss watching. The son of Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Oxbow and half-brother to Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Mitole enters the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) as one of the main players in a talented, well-matched field of nine.

“His gallop this morning gave me goosebumps,” Strauss said. “We are feeling really well. It seems like the race should shape up well for him. There's a lot of speed in the race and he's very tactical. Flavien (Prat, jockey) has a lot of options with how to ride him. He can be forward or take him back and around horses. He has a very good mind and he's really mature. We've got to get a good break, a good trip and hope the racing gods are smiling on us.

“I think he will be a fair price in the 3-1 range (by post time) and I think that's probably an appropriate odds for him,” Strauss continued. “We know he's going to run a big race — he always does. Is he good enough and does he get the trip? That's really what it all comes down to. It'll be a really great jockeys' race and that's what it'll come down to. It's going to be really fun.”

O'Neill expressed similar confidence in the three-time winner and earner of more than $2.1 million. After nearly shocking the world, finishing second to Essential Quality in the Juvenile at odds of 94-1, the Kentucky-bred $110,000 Fasig-Tipton October purchase was third by a neck in the Robert B. Lewis and won the Louisiana Derby impressively to set him up for the Triple Crown races. After a good third in the Kentucky Derby (G1), beaten a length, he was a game and begrudging loser in the Belmont Stakes — again to Essential Quality — setting the pace for the “Test of the Champion” and giving way in the final furlong to lose by 1¼ lengths.

Stepping up his game again, he then finished first in the Haskell Invitational, but was disqualified after causing significant interference. Two months later, he finally got his outright Grade 1 when winning the Pennsylvania Derby by 2¼ lengths. His 111 Beyer Speed Figure is the best last-race number for any horse in the Classic.

“His Pennsylvania Derby was a big confidence booster,” O'Neill said. “His spacing has been really strong all throughout the year, so I'm really happy about that, as well. He's put in some really good works since the Pennsylvania Derby, so I am optimistic we are going to see a big effort from him.”

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Max Player – Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who became the winningest trainer in North America this summer at Saratoga, arrived Tuesday afternoon to oversee the final preparations of his horses, who have been under the watchful eye of assistant trainer Scott Blasi the last month since arriving in California.

Asmussen will be seeking a third Breeders' Cup Classic victory with Max Player, who is following a similar pattern to the trainer's 2007 winner Curlin and 2017 winner Gun Runner by winning his final prep in New York.

“We were excited about his Suburban win over Mystic Guide and Happy Saver,” Asmussen said. “And, then for him to follow that up with a fast track victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Both of those races were at a mile and quarter. He's had good spacing between his races. He's trained really well. I thought that he looked really good over the Del Mar surface and then he drew (post nine), which I think is ideal for him in a race that obviously has considerably more pace than his last two races. We still want to get him in the rhythm that he's had success with the last two races.”

Medina Spirit – With the recent Santa Anita meeting concluded, trainer Bob Baffert was on site at Del Mar Wednesday morning overseeing the final conditioning of his Breeders' Cup starters, including Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit in the Breeders' Cup Classic. The sophomore colt galloped 1 1/2 miles this morning shortly after daylight. An earner of $2.5 million this year, Medina Spirit drew post seven for the 1 1/4-mile race.

Baffert stated: “I really can't do anything about the draw. The break is always important, so that might help determine how the races shapes up.”

He added: “He likes this track and is training really well coming up to the race.”

The colt worked six furlongs in 1:11:60 in his final workout last Friday. Medina Spirit already has registered victories in two Grade 1 races this year.

Baffert is a four-time Breeders' Classic winner, including last year's renewal with Authentic.

Stilleto Boy – Steve Moger's Stilleto Boy had a walk day at trainer Ed Moger Jr.'s barn following a four furlong workout in 52 1/5 seconds under jockey Kent Desormeaux on Tuesday morning.

“He's good this morning and I am happy with the way everything is going,” Ed Moger said.

The Longines Classic will mark the fourth start for Stilleto Boy in Moger's barn. He was purchased for $420,000 by Steve Moger at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale after he had won the Iowa Derby by 4 ½ lengths as a 16-1 shot.

“My brother is always trying to buy a good horse and I would shoot it down,” Ed Moger said. “After the sale in Lexington, he calls me up and says he bought a horse and was sending him to me.”

Triopoli – Pacific Classic winner Tripoli galloped Wednesday morning with assistant trainer Juan Leyva aboard. Trainer John Sadler is expected to drive down from his Santa Anita Park base Thursday.

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Tuesday’s Breeders’ Cup Report: Cox Classic Duo Bookend Star-Studded Morning

DEL MAR, CA – With no sign of the sun under a dense cloud cover at daybreak, champion Essential Quality (Tapit) set the stage for this weekend's 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships jogging the wrong way along the outer rail on a cool and comfortable Tuesday morning at Del Mar.

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner is the second choice on the morning-line at 3-1 for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic trailing only his Brad Cox-trained stablemate Knicks Go (Paynter) at 5-2. More on the latter gray in a bit.

War Like Goddess (English Channel), sporting four white wraps, turned in a strong gallop as she leads the way into the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

The unbeaten and black-blinkered One Timer (Trappe Shot) was feeling good during his exercise as he looks to light the lamp in the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Flashy Japanese raider Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn})–decked out in matching red-and-white wraps, blinkers, ear muffs, reins, you name it–took a spin over the turf course just before 7:30 a.m. along with the Charlie Appleby contingent led by GI Breeders' Cup Mile morning-line favorite Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

There was still plenty more to come following the renovation break as well.

Controversial GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) left the pony with good energy while fellow sophomore Classic contender Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), sporting a red shadow roll, was also out for a spin.

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez had his hands full aboard his GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare sprint contender Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) as she passed a line of photographers by the winner's circle.

Fellow Filly and Mare sprint runner and MGISW Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) couldn't be looking any better in the flesh and gave off plenty of good vibes during her morning exercise.

The field for the Filly and Mare Sprint will be down to just five following the defection of the Fasig-Tipton November-bound GSW & MGISP Estilo Talentoso (Maclean's Music). “She came out of her gallop a tick off on her right front,” a Tweet from co-owner Medallion Racing read.

California Angel (California Chrome) (GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf), one of the feel-good stories of the Breeders' Cup after bringing just $5,500 as a OBS June 2-year-old, was easy to spot with a pair of white blinkers as was her affable cowboy-hat wearing trainer George Leonard, III.

Defending GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) stood out amongst a group of Euros while trainer Leah Gyarmati waited with the lead shank as Sail By (Astern {Aus}) did just that ahead of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

After watching his Ballydoyle troops march down the main track from the clubhouse stands, including the talented Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (F/M Turf), trainer Aidan O'Brien graciously stopped for a photo and exchanged pleasantries with an adoring fan. All class.

Looking for a third win in the main event, Hall of Famer Bill Mott ponied Art Collector (Bernardini) through the purpled-out Del Mar paddock for a quick schooling session at 8:48 a.m.

With training hours winding down, Knicks Go fired a warning shot for his Classic rivals, powering down the stretch for his first attempt at 1 1/4 miles approximately two hours after his aforementioned stablemate got his first look at the seaside oval.

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Breeders’ Cup Distaff Notes: Pletcher Hoping Long-Term Plan Pays Off For Malathaat

As Time Goes By/Private Mission – The once-beaten 3-year-old filly Private Mission and her older stakes-winning stablemate As Time Goes By, the 1-2 finishers in the recent Zenyatta Stakes, were both out for morning gallops on Del Mar's main track Tuesday morning preparing for starts in Saturday's $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff.             

Blue Stripe (ARG) – Pozo de Luna's Blue Stripe (ARG) galloped before the morning renovation session with Alex Jimenez aboard for trainer Marcelo Polanco.

Polanco, who had Blue Stripe come to his barn in May from Argentina, had penciled in a work for Tuesday morning but opted for the gallop.

“She has done a lot of training before and she is ready to do anything,” said Polanco of Blue Stripe, whose last work was one mile in 1:42 3/5.

Blue Stripe, who will be making her first start in six months in Saturday's Distaff, is a half-sister to 2019 Longines Distaff winner Blue Prize (ARG).

Listed at 30-1 on the morning line for the Distaff, Blue Stripe will be ridden by Frankie Dettori.

Clairiere – Stonestreet Farm's Cotillion winner Clairiere, one of three 3-year-olds in the Distaff field, returned to the track for the first time since working Sunday and jogged once around.

Dunbar Road/Royal Flag – Chad Brown's Longines Distaff duo of Dunbar Road and Royal Flag each galloped one circuit of the Del Mar dirt track Tuesday morning, leaving Barn DD with their trainer following on foot.

Owned by Peter Brant, Dunbar Road drew post 11 under Jose Ortiz in what will be her career swan song. The 2019 Alabama (G1) winner makes her 16th start and seeks her seventh victory overall. Second last out in the Spinster (G1) at Keeneland to Distaff favorite Letruska, she will look to improve upon a fifth-place finish in 2019 and third-place finish in 2020.

Royal Flag drew post two with Joel Rosario and enters off a career-best effort when winning Belmont's Beldame Invitational (G2) by 4¼ lengths. Also a 5-year-old, the daughter of Candy Ride is a homebred of W.S. Farish and seeks her seventh career victory in her 13th start.

“They both are training very well, but both need pace to run at. They need Letruska softened up a bit, but there's also some other very good horses in there …  Shedaresthedevil, who is top class,” Brown said. “The race will be interesting with Horologist (post seven) drawn outside of Letruska (post six).

“Dunbar Road has been great and had an outstanding career,” Brown continued. “Unfortunately, we had a couple derailments with some throat issues, but she's back on track. She was unlucky in this race last year, getting stopped turning for home at the quarter-pole. She would have been right there. She really likes Del Mar's surface, which is another key with her.”

Horologist – The most experienced horse in the Longines Distaff, Bill Mott-trained Horologist will try to time it out perfectly Saturday when she makes her second start in the nine-furlong affair. Owned by There's a Chance Stable, Medallion Racing, Abbondanza Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Paradise Farms and David Staudacher, the New Jersey-bred daughter of Gemologist makes her 27th start and fifth in Grade 1 company. She has yet to break through at the top level.

The 30-1 morning line price galloped one circuit of the Del Mar dirt track Tuesday morning. She drew post seven of 11 fillies and mares in the $2 million race. Last year, she was ninth of 10 at 14-1 odds.

“It's a good race and we're a big price in there — we know that,” Mott said. “We're reaching out in a couple spots with horses like (Breeders' Cup Mile runner) Casa Creed and her. If everything goes well and they have a big day, maybe we can get a piece of it.”

Letruska – St. George Stable's 8-5 favorite for the Distaff, the 5-year-old Letruska, schooled at the gate Tuesday and galloped a mile and a half at Del Mar.

Trainer Fausto Gutierrez's first Breeders' Cup starter has won five consecutive graded stakes, four of them Grade 1 – and was made the 8-5 favorite in the Distaff. Under Irad Ortiz Jr. she will start from post six in the 11-horse field.

Letruska shipped from Keeneland to Del Mar on Oct. 24 and had her final timed work Saturday, 5f in 1:01.20. She walked Sunday, jogged with a pony Monday and resumed galloping Tuesday.

“I think she did it very easily,” Gutierrez said. “The exercise rider was very happy and told me she feels very, very good. That's what any trainer wants to know about the horse. With the travel, the training, the situations, sometimes you have to be around some problems. Right now, we are in very good form.”

Gutierrez said he might change up her gallops a bit this week, but said she is ready for the Distaff.

“The only point now is that she arrives concentrated and happy,” he said. “We don't have anything else to do.”

Gutierrez, 54, is a superstar trainer in Mexico, winning 10 consecutive training titles at Hipodromo de Las Americas Racetrack in Mexico City from 2010-19. He said he typically trained 200 horses a year in Mexico. Gutierrez has been training in the U.S. since March 2020 and is based in Florida.

Letruska won the first six starts of her career in Mexico. Since being imported to the U.S. in December 2019, she has a record of 11-1-1 from 16 starts. This year, she has six wins and one second from seven starts and earnings of $1,925,540.

Malathaat – Much was expected of yearling filly to be named Malathaat when Shadwell Stable purchased her for $1,050,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September sale. She has delivered.

With six wins in seven starts and more than $1.5 million in earnings, the 3-year-old daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin enters the Distaff as a serious contender to Letruska, the 8-5 favorite in the field of 11.

Like her dam, Dreaming of Julia, who also was trained by Todd Pletcher, and her second dam, Dream Rush, Malathaat is a Grade 1 winner. She has the highest-level trifecta for 3-year-old fillies on her resume: the Ashland, the Kentucky Oaks and the Alabama.

By design, the Distaff will be Malathaat's first start since her 1 ½-length victory in the Alabama, in which she stumbled at the start. Pletcher said that he and her connections have stuck to a careful schedule that began with a perfect record in three starts as a 2-year-old.

“She won the Ashland and then the Kentucky Oaks, and we gave some thought to running her in the Belmont (Stakes),” Pletcher said. “But we felt like she just lost a little bit of weight during the Ashland and the Oaks campaign. At that point we decided when we weren't going to run in the Belmont to kind of come up with a plan for the rest of the season. We decided to go to the Coaching Club and Alabama and then not run between the Alabama and the Distaff.

“That's kind of been the plan since May and fortunately everything is going according to plan minus winning the Coaching Club. I think she's trained as well as ever and just seems like she's coming into the race in good shape.”

Malathaat was upset by Maracuja in the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 24 at Saratoga. She was pressed throughout in the four-horse field and was not able to hold off late-running Maracuja at the wire.

Pletcher resumed her timed works on Sept. 18 at Belmont Park and she had seven, including a bullet 5f in 1:01.23 on Friday, before shipping from New York to Del Mar over the weekend.

“We've had a really good schedule with her,” Pletcher said. “She's been breezing terrific, like she always does.”

Pletcher sent Malathaat out for a routine gallop Tuesday morning and said she has settled in well at Del Mar. He was satisfied with her post position.

“She's (post) three, which hopefully gives her the opportunity to get to the first turn and save a little ground.”

Pletcher has a 2-1-4 record with 20 starters in the Distaff. His winners were Ashado (2004) and Stopchargingmaria (2015). Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez has the mount.

Marche Lorraine (JPN) – U. Carrot Farm's Marche Lorraine galloped on the main track before the morning track renovation session.

Shedaresthedevil – Shedaresthedevil, the winner of Del Mar's Clement L. Hirsch Stakes in August, had an easy jog Tuesday morning under exercise rider Edvin Vargas, one day after arriving from Kentucky with her six stablemates.

Shedarethedevil and Letruska, the Distaff favorite, have each beaten the other once this year and Cox believes his filly would be worthy of championship honors should she top her rival once again. Shedaresthedevil easily bested Letruska in the Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn in March, but had to settle for third when the two met in the Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont in June.

“I don't have a vote, but I'd think (Shedaresthedevil) would be the champion if she wins the Distaff,” Cox said. “It would be her third Grade 1 this year and she would have beaten Letruska twice.”

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