Share
Cindy's Horse Racing Website Index
Latest Articles

 Prince of Wales Stakes
 Del Mar Futurity
 Del Mar Debutante
 Pacific Classic Day
 Pat O'Brien Stakes


Jockey John Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher celebrate after Malathaat wins the Distaff

World Championships
Breeders' Cup Distaff Results

Date: 11/5/2022

Saturday Results Summary (dirt)  -  Saturday Results Summary (turf)  -  F&M Sprint -  Turf Sprint -  Dirt Mile -  F&M Turf -  Sprint -  Mile -  Distaff -  Turf -  Classic
Friday Results Summary -  Juvenile Turf Sprint -  Juvenile Fillies Turf -  Juvenile Fillies -  Juvenile Turf -  Juvenile  
Wrap Up   -   Entries   -   Monday Works   -   Tuesday Works   -   Wednesday Works   -   Thursday Works

The $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) is the premier race for older fillies and mares. Contested at 1 1/8 miles over the main track, it usually decides Champion Older Female and Champion 3-Year-Old Filly. Nest was sent off as the 1-2 favorite in the field of 8 off her wins in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), Alabama (G1), and Beldame (G1). In to challenge her included 11-4 second choice Malathaat, winner of the Personal Ensign (G1) and Spinster (G1), and 9-2 third choice Society, winner of the Charles Town Oaks (G1) and Cotillion Stakes (G1).

The cavalry charge down the stretch with Malathaat on the outside.

Jockey Florent Geroux sent Society to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.09 and 47.29 while pressed by 9-1 Search Results and stalked by 67-1 longest shot Awake at Midnyte and 14-1 Secret Oath. On the far turn Secret Oath gained the lead through 3/4 in 1:11.95 and held it to midstretch through 1 mile in 1:36.86 before tiring. Malathaat, 6th early, 24-1 Blue Stripe, 4th early, and 6-1 fourth choice Clairiere, last early, all put in strong rallied and hit the line together, however the photo finish revealed that Malathaat and jockey John Velazquez outfinished Blue Stripe by a nose, in turn outfinishing Clairiere by a nose. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to favorite Nest fourth.

Malathaat wins the Distaff
Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 1   Malathaat          Velazquez         7.76   4.04  3.00
 2   Blue Stripe        Berrios                 12.40  7.06
 4   Clairiere          Rosario                        4.66

Winning Time:  1:49.07
  
$1 Exacta 1-2                         55.60
$2 Trifecta 1-2-4                  1,417.40
$1 Superfecta 1-2-4-6                909.50
Results chart

Left: Malathaat in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said, "She can be a little tricky. She needs a little while to get revved up, and you can't make the lead too soon with her. I told Johnny that's timing it a little close for my liking. I could see she had a head of steam built up and she was motoring down the middle of the track. I was just hoping she had enough time to get there."

Right: The trophy presentation for the Distaff. Gregory Clarke, representing owner Shadwell Farm said, "Wouldn't it be lovely if she stayed in training? (Pletcher) would love that. But what she's accomplished is just incredible. We're just so blessed. We've gotten this far with her. But she's at the top of her game. We'll see what Sheikha Hissa and the family want to do. But she's a machine. She really is. We're over the moon. Absolutely (great pedigree). She's going to be an incredible broodmare for the Sheikh and his family. There's no question."

Left: Malathaat heads out for the post parade. Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "I wasn't surprised (I won). I thought I got the bob and then I wasn't sure. When you got that much trust from a guy like Todd Pletcher and gives me the opportunity to ride these good horses, it makes it easy when you have to make adjustments during the race. Every race she runs, she shows up. She is a tough mare and will miss her if they retire her."

Right: Malathaat returning to the barn. Pletcher added, "She's always given us confidence. She's a lovely filly from day one. And I thought she was training super coming into the race. She obviously likes Keeneland now. She's 4-for-4 here. She was giving us every indication she would show up and run her A race like she almost always does."

Left: Second place finisher Blue Stripe in the post parade. Trainer Marcelo Polanco said, "She ran absolutely great. You get to this point, 25-1 amazing. She's was training super."

Right: Third place finisher Clairiere returns after the race. Trainer Steve Asmussen said, "She ran a fabulous race. It was just inches, inches. Of course we will have to speak with Barbara (Banke, owner) and such (about racing in 2023), but there's no physical reason we wouldn't continue. Absolutely (expected that performance). She's a special filly."

Left: Fourth place finisher and beaten favorite Nest races in 7th first time by. Trainer Todd Pletcher said, "I was concerned. She was very wide throughout and never able to save any ground. Irad (Ortiz) tried to make an early move to get to an early position to save some ground but everything went cockeyed at the start."

Right: The field breaks from the gate for the Distaff. Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard Nest (6) said, "I didn't break well and had to use her too much to get position. When I kicked in, we did well but they just ran me down."

Saturday Results Summary (dirt)  -  Saturday Results Summary (turf)  -  F&M Sprint -  Turf Sprint -  Dirt Mile -  F&M Turf -  Sprint -  Mile -  Distaff -  Turf -  Classic
Friday Results Summary -  Juvenile Turf Sprint -  Juvenile Fillies Turf -  Juvenile Fillies -  Juvenile Turf -  Juvenile  
Wrap Up   -   Entries   -   Monday Works   -   Tuesday Works   -   Wednesday Works   -   Thursday Works

Breeders' Cup quick links:

Back to Horse-Races.Net main page

Search Horse-Races.Net:


©1994-2024,  Cindy Pierson Dulay   Privacy Policy   About Us   Search   Site Map   Add a Link   Advertise   Suggest to a friend   RSS Feed   Follow on Twitter