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 Ray Wallin
Blue Stripe – Photo Courtesy of Gus Duprat
This filly’s last race in May in the Gran Premio Criadores (G1) at Palermo Racecourse was her biggest test to date. She held on as the 2-1 favorite to stymie longshot Soviet Catch in an exciting stretch drive to capture her first Group 1.
Immediately after that race connections of the owner, Haras Pozo De Luna, confirmed that Blue Stripe would in fact be pointed to the Distaff.
Blue Stripe owns two graded stakes wins and two shows with both wins coming over the Palermo surface where she is perfect in four starts. She has shown a solid improvement in each start this year.
This impressive effort is on the heels of capturing both the Clasico Arturo R. and Arturo Bullrich Stakes (G2) and the Clasico Haras Argentinos over the same Palermo Racecourse.
Chilean-American trainer Marcelo Polanco, who is based out of Santa Anita, takes over responsibility for Blue Stripe for Nicolas Martin Ferro. Ferro has been in constant contact with Polanco and has been visiting to personally supervise her development.
Polanco has saddled four Breeders’ Cup starters in the past and is still searching for his first victory. His last starter was in 2005 with Island Fashion in the Distaff who finished 10th after running fifth in the 2004 edition.
2021 Breeders’ Cup Distaff Profile: Blue Stripe
Post position: TBD
Odds: TBD
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Trainer: Marcelo Polanco
Owner: Pozo de Luna, Inc.
Career record: 6-4-0-2
Career earnings: $41,882
Top Equibase speed figure: N/A
Pedigree: Equal Stripes-Blues for Sale, by Not For Sale
Color: Bay
Running style: Presser
Betting advice: This filly will certainly have long odds after facing weaker company in Argentina, despite her pedigree. Her best chance to hit the board for a minor share is to take advantage of a highly contested early pace.
Notes: Blue Stripe is a half-sister to the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Blue Prize … Dettori has 14 Breeders’ Cup wins in his stellar career, ranking fourth among leading riders … Dettori is looking for his first win in the Distaff – fourth aboard Crimplene in 2000 and with Stellar Jayne in 2005, and fifth on Mopotism in 2017.
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 |
Ray Wallin is a licensed civil engineer and part-time handicapper who has had a presence on the Web since 2000 for various sports and horse racing websites and through his personal blog. Introduced to the sport over the course of a misspent teenage summer at Monmouth Park by his Uncle Dutch, a professional gambler, he quickly fell in love with racing and has been handicapping for over 25 years.
Ray’s background in engineering, along with his meticulous nature and fascination with numbers, parlay into his ability to analyze data; keep records; notice emerging trends; and find new handicapping angles and figures. While specializing in thoroughbred racing, Ray also handicaps harness racing, Quarter Horse racing, baseball, football, hockey, and has been rumored to have calculated the speed and pace ratings on two squirrels running through his backyard.
Ray likes focusing on pace and angle plays while finding the middle ground between the art and science of handicapping. When he is not crunching numbers, Ray enjoys spending time with his family, cheering on his alma mater (Rutgers University), fishing, and playing golf.
Ray’s blog, which focuses on his quest to make it to the NHC Finals while trying to improve his handicapping abilities can be found at www.jerseycapper.blogspot.com Ray can also be found on Twitter (@rayw76) and can be reached via email at [email protected].
