Breeders' Cup Distaff 2021 Entries: Letruska can be stopped

Letruska is awesome. Malathaat is a star. Shedaresthedevil is underappreciated. They are the three to look at closely in the Breeders' Cup Distaff after the Post Position draw at Del Mar on Monday afternoon...

Going into the Post Position draw for the Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar on Monday afternoon, one race above all others stood out as a two-horse race to many.

That was the Distaff and as Letruska and Malathaat headed towards their duel in the sun (or whatever the weather is like on Saturday) you still felt as though the other horses were battling to hit the board rather than be genuine win contenders but there might be one that can muscle in on their front-running battle.

When they come to post on Saturday afternoon, Letruska could easily be odds on as the pools are going to love her. A 8-5 opening price will surely attract money.

Six wins from seven races in 2021 has vaulted this daughter of Super Saver from being a very nice mare to the dominant mile plus female horse around. Trainer Fausto Gutierez has an absolute gem of a five-year-old here and you haven’t gotten rich betting against her in 2021 yet…

I like Malathaat. I really do.

It may be Monday afternoon as of the time of writing and I may change my mind but at this point Todd Pletcher’s Kentucky Oaks winner will be my top choice for the Distaff. Her only career defeat came in the CCA Oaks up at Saratoga but apart from that day, it has been plain sailing and she has been the best three-year-old filly and I’m not sure it has been particularly close. 4-1 to me seems like a very big and enticing number.

Shedaresthedevil will attract support having been the only horse to defeat Letruska so far this year when she took out the Grade II Azeri at Oaklawn. Her style is likely to force Letruska out early. This daughter of Daredevil has been criminally underrated throughout her career and when she beat both Gamine and Swiss Skydiver to emerge victorious in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, it took many people by surprise. Four wins from five in 2021 showed that it was no fluke. The early indicators were that she would open at a much bigger price than she has - 4-1 seems like the right ballpark.

The Distaff should be one of the most interesting races on the card and I’m very much looking forward to it.

Our racecard is at the top of the page with all the M/L odds and check back later in the week for J.N. Campbell’s preview along with my thoughts for the race.