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 publishing profiles on 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 Margaret Ransom
Clariere – Photo Courtesy of Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO
Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings bred this talented 3-year-old daughter of Curlin, who is out of three-time Grade 1 winner Cavorting who herself ran in the Breeders’ Cup once and was fourth in the 2015 Filly & Mare Sprint. Curlin, a two-time Horse of the Year, won the 2007 Classic for Banke and her late husband, Jess Jackson. So, this filly’s certainly bred for Breeders’ Cup glory.
Clairiere is coming off a nice win in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx in September, which came after a strong second in the 10-furlong Alabama (G1) at Saratoga behind Malathaat so this 9-furlong distance should not be any problem.
Clairiere is already in California with trainer Steve Asmussen’s Breeders’ Cup runners and worked 5 furlongs in 1:00 2/5 at Santa Anita on Oct. 24.
Under Asmussen, she’s only finished worse than third once in her nine career starts, a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks (G1 in April.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Distaff Profile: Clairiere
Post position: TBD
Odds: TBD
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Owner: Stonestreet Stable (Barbara Banke)
Career record: 9-3-3-2
Career earnings: $1,190,992
Top Equibase speed figure: 109
Pedigree: Curlin-Cavorting, by Bernardini
Color: Bay
Running style: Closer
Betting advice: In a race with a hot early pace expected, as a late/stretch runner Clairiere will benefit probably the most. This will be her first start against older fillies and mares, which puts her at a slight disadvantage against the likes of Letruska and Shedaresthedevil. She is nothing if not consistent and deserves a long look for all exotics.
Notes: Stonestreet Stable has run 15 horses in the Breeders’ Cup, its most famous being Curlin; My Miss Aurelia won the 2011 Juvenile Fillies … Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has seven winners from 61 starters, including Curlin, 2017 Classic winner Gun Runner, 2019 Sprint winner Mitole, 2011 Turf Sprint winner Regally Ready, 2012 Dirt Mile winner Tapizar, and 2014 Distaff winner Untapable … Ricardo Santana, Jr. has two winners from 23 mounts — Fire at Will in last year’s Juvenile Turf and Mitole in the 2019 Sprint.
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 |
California native and lifelong horsewoman Margaret Ransom is a graduate of the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program. She got her start in racing working in the publicity departments at Calder Race Course and Hialeah Park, as well as in the racing office at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. She then spent six years in Lexington, KY, at BRISnet.com, where she helped create and develop the company’s popular newsletters: Handicapper’s Edge and Bloodstock Journal.After returning to California, she served six years as the Southern California news correspondent for BloodHorse, assisted in the publicity department at Santa Anita Park and was a contributor to many other racing publications, including HorsePlayer Magazine and Trainer Magazine. She then spent seven years at HRTV and HRTV.com in various roles as researcher, programming assistant, producer and social media and marketing manager.
She has also walked hots and groomed runners, worked the elite sales in Kentucky for top-class consignors and volunteers for several racehorse retirement organizations, including CARMA.In 2016, Margaret was the recipient of the prestigious Stanley Bergstein Writing Award, sponsored by Team Valor, and was an Eclipse Award honorable mention for her story, “The Shocking Untold Story of Maria Borell,” which appeared on USRacing.com. The article and subsequent stories helped save 43 abandoned and neglected Thoroughbreds in Kentucky and also helped create a new animal welfare law in Kentucky known as the “Borell Law.”Margaret’s very first Breeders’ Cup was at Hollywood Park in 1984 and she has attended more than half of the Breeders’ Cups since. She counts Holy Bull and Arrogate as her favorite horses of all time.She lives in Robinson, Texas, with her longtime beau, Tony. She is the executive director of the 501(c)(3) non-profit horse rescue, The Bridge Sanctuary.