2021 Breeders’ Cup Distaff Contenders, Odds and Post Position
In the days leading up to the 38th Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar in California, usracing.com is profiling the horses in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (Saturday, Nov. 6). The profiles will be updated following the post-position draw on Monday, Nov. 1.
By Ed McNamara
Todd Pletcher has trained many outstanding fillies and mares, including 2004 Distaff (G1) winner Ashado and 2007 Belmont Stakes (G1) heroine Rags to Riches. Malathaat has a chance to be remembered as one of his best girls.
Malathaat at the Alabama Stakes – Photo Courtesy of Chelsea Durand
She’s a head away from being 7-for-7, and the loss gets a giant asterisk. The 3-10 favorite was hounded all the way in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), first by Maracuja, then by Clairiere, before 14-1 shot Maracuja wore down Malathaat in the final strides.
As expected, Malathaat rebounded by taking the 1 1/4-mile Alabama (G1) on Aug. 21 despite stumbling at the start. She’s being trained up to the Distaff, and the 11-week layoff shouldn’t be a concern. Pletcher is brilliant at getting horses to peak off long layoffs, winning this year at 22% off breaks of 46 to 90 days.
“I think the time between races has done her good,” he said. “She’s put on some weight, and she seems very fit and happy.”
Malathaat rarely wins by much, with the Alabama’s margin of 1 1/2 lengths the biggest in her last four victories. She’s a classy fighter and a strong finisher, although not the easiest horse to ride. John Velazquez said as soon as they made the lead in the Alabama, he thought he’d “gotten there too soon. But that’s the way she does things.”
“I think she likes playing with horses,” Pletcher said that day. “She identifies a target, and when she gets to that target, then she kind of thinks ‘Next game.’”
he tuned up for the Distaff on Oct. 23 with a 5-furlong breeze in 1:01.63 at Belmont Park.
“I thought she worked great,” Pletcher said. “She was very impressive. She keeps going and going and gallops out super.”
Breeders’ Cup Distaff Profile:
Post position: TBD
Odds: TBD
Jockey: John Velazquez
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Shadwell Stable
Career record: 7-6-1-0
Career earnings: $1,555,150
Top Equibase speed figure: 107
Pedigree: Curlin-Dreaming of Julia, by A.P. Indy
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker
Betting advice: Malathaat has an excellent chance to win, and for once she won’t be overbet. Division leader Letruska will be favored, and she’ll likely face pace pressure from Shedaresthedevil, Private Mission and Horologist. Malathaat should sit a good stalking trip and be ready to roll in the stretch.
Notes: Pletcher, racing’s all-time earnings leader, was inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer. He has 11 Breeders’ Cup wins, including the 2019 Classic with Vino Rosso. Besides Ashado, he also took the Distaff with Stopchargingmaria (2015) … Malathaat is one of many Grade 1 collaborations with fellow Hall of Famer Velazquez, who has 18 Breeders’ Cup wins. Together they won the 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) with Always Dreaming.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Distaff Odds
| PP | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Private Mission | 8-1 | Bob Baffert | Flavien Prat |
| 2 | Royal Flag | 8-1 | Chad Brown | Joel Rosario |
| 3 | Malathaat | 4-1 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher |
| 4 | Blue Stripe (ARG) | 30-1 | Lafranco Dettori | Marcelo Polanco |
| 5 | Clairiere | 12-1 | Ricardo Santa Ana,Jr | Steven Asmussen |
| 6 | Letruska | 8-5 | Fausto Gutierrez | Irad Ortiz, Jr. |
| 7 | Horologist | 30-1 | William Mott | Junior Alvarado |
| 8 | Shedaresthedevil | 4-1 | Brad Cox | Florent Geroux |
| 9 | As Time Goes By | 15-1 | Bob Baffert | Luis Saez |
| 10 | Marche Lorraine (JPN) | 30-1 | Yoshito Yahagi | Oisin Murphy |
| 11 | Dunbar Road | 15-1 | Chad Brown | Jose L. Ortiz |
Ed McNamara is an award-winning journalist who has been writing about thoroughbred racing for 35 years. He has handicapped races for ESPN.com, Newsday and The Record of New Jersey. He is the author of “Cajun Racing: From the Bush Tracks to the Triple Crown” and co-author of “The Most Glorious Crown,” a chronicle of the first 12 Triple Crown champions.
