Letruska worthy Distaff favourite but dangers lurk everywhere in race to savour

Breeders' Cup Distaff (Grade 1) | 1m1f | 3yo+ | ITV4/RTV/Sky

There's a reason why the Distaff occupies a prime slot in the Breeders' Cup programme, nestled between the Mile and Turf, and it is not so European viewers can pop the kettle on.

It is a proper highlight contested by the top fillies and mares in the US – their equivalent of the Classic – effectively.

It has a habit of producing superb finishes too – often the most exciting of the night – and this year could be no exception. While Letruska is a fairly warm favourite with British and Irish firms and on the local morning line, a deep field of 11 is set to go to post.

Five-year-old Letruska, trained by the relatively unknown Fausto Gutierrez but ridden by the very well known Irad Ortiz, has already won four Grade 1s this year and did not have to be hard ridden to win the Spinster Stakes at Keeneland last month.

However, the mare she beat by a length and three-quarters there, Dunbar Road, was around a 14-1 chance for this with British and Irish firms on Friday, which gives an idea as to the strength of the challenge the favourite faces.

Gutierrez said: "This is a real dream, because nobody can think this could happen. When I had this horse in Mexico City I understood she's a special horse, a horse who could run fast. But to be here, it's like another planet."

Malathaat, not to be confused with the Richard Hannon-trained filly of the same name and the same age and also owned by Shadwell, landed the Grade 1 Alabama in August on her most recent outing.

The form was given a subsequent boost when the reopposing Clairiere won the Grade 1 Cotillion on her next start and she has been nibbled at in the market over the past few days.

Malathaat could go off second favourite, although last year's Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil will be popular, especially as she was an easy winner of a Grade 1 at Del Mar in August in the Clement L Hirsch Stakes.

The Bob Baffert-trained Private Mission is very much at home in California, all five of her career starts have come at Santa Anita or Del Mar and she has won four of them.

Another worthy of consideration is Royal Flag, who is probably Chad Brown's best hope ahead of stablemate Dunbar Road and was just three-quarters of a length behind Letruska in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga in August – Dunbar Road was just a head back in fourth.

Saturday: 9.38 Del Mar
Breeders' Cup Sprint (Grade 1) | 6f | 3yo+ | ITV4/RTV/Sky

In Jackie's Warrior, the Sprint has one of the warmer favourites on the card.

He started this year racing over a mile but has proved devastating back at six and seven furlongs and comes into the race off the back of a monster six and three-quarter-length triumph in a Grade 2 at Parx in September.

In August he was a seven and a quarter-length winner at Saratoga over six and a half furlongs, with the useful Drain The Clock a lagging second – albeit that was on a sloppy track – which can exaggerate winning margins.

Sprint favourite Jackie's Warrior (right) beats Dirt Mile market leader Life Is Good in the H Allen Jerkens Memorial StakesCredit: Jessie Holmes/EquiSport

He is the one to beat, but he has never won a Grade 1 over a sprint trip – his three wins at the top level have been over seven furlongs or a mile – and at the prices there will be punters looking to take him on.

Many will bank on Dr Schivel, another three-year-old and winner of five of his seven starts and all three this year, including the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes over course-and-distance.

Firenze Fire will be known to European fans largely due to his widely documented antics in trying to savage Yaupon in a stretch duel two starts back in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes, which he could well have won but for his mind being on another job.

He disappointed subsequently when a well-beaten second behind Following Sea, who is another in the mix here and it could turn out that Firenze Fire was simply beaten by the real deal.

Saturday: 8.19 Del Mar
Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (Grade 1) | 1m | 3yo+ | ITV4/RTV/Sky

Do not dismiss this race as it was the contest in which this year's Classic favourite Knicks Go sprang to wider prominence 12 months ago.

Favourite to follow in his footsteps – and a fairly clear market leader – is Life Is Good, a one-time leading candidate for the Kentucky Derby who could yet deliver on the hopes held for him.

He has won four of his five starts in a stop-start injury-impacted career and justified odds of 1-20 without turning a hair last time out at Belmont in September.

As the solitary three-year-old in the field, he receives 3lb from all seven rivals and the race does revolve around him.

Silver State and Ginobili are perhaps the two to focus on for those who take on the likely odds-on favourite. Silver State won the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap in June, while Ginobili has landed his last two starts at this track, including in a Grade 2 in August.

Saturday: 7.05 Del Mar
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Grade 1) | 7f | 3yo+ | RTV/Sky

The odd race out given it is not on ITV4, it is a Grade 1 containing one of the star females on the card in Gamine, a winner of nine of her ten races and a perfect four from four in 2021.

The Bob Baffert-trained four-year-old has been the dominant force of her division and was a general 8-11 with British and Irish bookmakers on Friday, but this could be the stiffest task she has faced for some time and in Bella Sofia, she has a younger rival who has also tasted defeat just once.

Like Gamine, Bella Sofia did not run as a juvenile but she has made up for lost time this year, winning four of her five outings including the Grade 1 Test Stakes.

For those with Racing TV or Sky, this will serve as a great appetiser for a terrific evening and for favourite backers it could well set the tone for a profitable night.

Read more Breeders' Cup previews . . .

Can Golden Pal better former stablemate Lady Aurelia and land the Turf Sprint?

'She will love the fast ground' - conditions right for Love to bring her A-game

Space Blues bids to end career in perfect style by striking in Mile

Can Tarnawa rise to superstar status with a second Turf success?

Key quotes and expert analysis for the Classic - pinpointing a key pace angle

Over 50% off Racing Post Members' Club!Members' Club is the only subscription racing fans and punters need in order to stay informed and make smarter betting decisions. Features include early access to the Racing Post digital newspaper, exclusive news and interviews, premium tips and form study tools to assist with betting. Select 'Get Ultimate Monthly' and enter code TRYME to get your first month for just £14.99* – that's better than half price!

Subscribe now

If you decide that Members' Club is not for you, then you can cancel at anytime by contacting us.

*Members' Club Ultimate Monthly first month will be charged at £14.99, renews at full price thereafter