Breeders' Cup Distaff 2013 Contenders & Odds

Las Vegas, NV - Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California will play host to the Breeders' Cup this weekend - the main event on the Friday, November 1 card is the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff, formerly the Ladies' Classic. The best fillies and mares three years old and upward in the world will take to the track and go 1 1/8 miles on Santa Anita's dirt track chasing the winner's share of the $2 million purse.

A small but stellar field of six has been confirmed for the main event on the Breeders' Cup Friday card. Post time is 4:35 PM PT. Here is a look into the past performances of all six combatants for this intriguing and well rounded Grade 1 stakes.

2013 Breeders' Cup Distaff Race Favorite Entries

Royal Delta - back-to-back Female Horse of the Year in the United States for trainer Bill Mott and two-time defending champion in this race has looked exceptional of late except for a doomed trip to Dubai where she finished tenth in the World Cup. Before the trip she had three straight wins including the Grade 3 Sabin Stakes at Gulfstream, a repeat win in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic and a win in the 2012 Beldame at Belmont Park September 29. She had a two race win streak this summer interrupted by a second last time out to Princess Of Sylmar in the Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont Park September 28 - the wins include an impressive 10 3/4 length score in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap July 20 and the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga August 25. She has owned this race the last two years and enters this year having won three times and finished second twice in five starts (minus her Dubai experience). Royal Delta is the 8-5 favorite for the Distaff and leaves from post 4 with Mike Smith in the saddle.

Princess Of Sylmar - stellar Todd Pletcher pupil has won eight of her nine starts (six of seven this year) - a second in the Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes to Close Hatches at Aqueduct April 6 being the only blemish in the last 12 months. The wins include the Grade 1 Beldame last time out over Royal Delta, the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes August 17, the Grade 1 American Oaks July 20 at Saratoga, the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at 38-1 odds over Dreaming of Julia, the minor Busher Stakes at Aqueduct February 2 and the Busanda Stakes by 7 1/2 lengths January 4. She also has a MSW and an Allowance Optional Claiming score. She is absolutely on fire and has four straight Grade 1 wins under her belt ahead of this weekend. She is on a path toward the Eclipse Award - a good showing Friday will certainly clinch those honors. Princess of Sylmar is listed as the 9-5 second choice and departs from the outside post with Javier Castellano aboard.

Breeders' Cup Distaff 2013 | Remaining Contenders

Beholder - 2012 Eclipse Award winner as 2-year-old filly has 11 career starts with seven wins and three second place finishes - the only time she hasn't finished first or second came in her debut. She won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last November for her second straight win and followed that with a second as overwhelming favorite in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez behind Renee's Titan here January 21. She avenged her defeat to Renee's Titan with an impressive win in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes March 2 and went on to win the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks April 6 at Santa Anita. Last time out was her third Grade 1 win in four tries - the Zenyatta on this track September 28 to follow a 3 3/4 length win in the minor Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar September 1 and a second to Princess of Sylmar in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks way back in May. She is the reigning Eclipse Award winner for a reason - she is mighty impressive. Beholder will have the legendary Gary Stevens aboard from post 5 at 5-2 odds on a track that she's won five of six starts.

Breeders' Cup Distaff betting at Santa Anita Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Close Hatches - Bill Mott trainee made her stakes debut and recorded a terrific win over the stellar Princess of Sylmar in the Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths at Aqueduct April 6 after two prior starts resulted in two wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming in wire-to-wire fashion by 1 1/4 lengths at Gulfstream March 10 and a MSW score January 26 also at Gulfstream. She enters this weekend on a two race win streak - the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx last time out September 21 and a 7 1/4 length score in the Grade 1 Mother Goose at Belmont Park way back in June. She also had a decent second, 8 1/4 lengths behind Midnight Lucky in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park May 27 and a very disappointing seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks May 3 this year. Close Hatches is 6-1 on the morning line and will have Joel Rosario in the saddle from post 3.

Authenticity - Todd Pletcher trained mare made her stakes debut and finished a good second in the Grade 3 Rampart Stakes behind Ciao Bella at Gulfstream March 30 after two wins, a second and a third place finish in five career starts - the only out-of-the-money finish came in her debut. Last time out was a good second to Beholder in the Grade 1 Zenyatta after a second to Royal Delta in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign August 25, a terrific win over Flashy American in the Grade 3 Shuvee Handicap July 20, a very nice second in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Handicap behind Tiz Miz Sue at Belmont Park May 27 and a true breakthrough performance - a win in the Grade 2 La Troienne Stakes over On Fire Baby at Churchill Downs May 3. She has four wins, three seconds and a third place finish in eight starts this year and has either been first or second in her last seven overall. John Velazquez will be aboard Authenticity from post 2 at 8-1 odds.

Street Girl - made her graded stakes debut with a fifth in the Grade 3 Azalea Stakes at Calder July 6 and followed that with a fourth in the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga August 23. Last time out was a third behind Close Hatches in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx September 21. Her best career result came in April - a nice win in the minor Calder Oaks which was followed by a sixth in an Allowance and a third in the minor Leave Me Alone Stakes June 8. Street Girl has 13 career starts (12 already this year) with just two wins, two seconds and two third place finishes. Street Girl is the longest shot in the field and departs from the rail at 30-1 odds.

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2013 Breeders' Cup Distaff Entries & Odds

Race 10 on Santa Anita Park's Friday card with a Post Time of 4:35 PM.

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