Breeders’ Cup Distaff Betting Preview PT 1

The Breeders’ Cup Distaff (formerly known as the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic) saw its field given a very significant shake-up when it was announced that high-profile California-based filly Beholder was withdrawn from contention for the race. After winning the contest last year in front of an emphatic crowd with top jock Gary Stevens in the irons, Beholder put together a great volume of work since then and stamped her role as one of the major players on the west coast female division. 

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Interestingly enough, she was entered and then withdrawn from the Keeneland November sale and it will be extremely interesting to see how she fares in training next year. Clearly she has piles of talent and was able to dispose of older mares last time around - making short work of some of the better distaff runners anywhere in the world right now. 

That wound up leaving Steve Asmussen’s Untapable in the mix as the genuine favourite for the Distaff. Though she had been trading as the second favourite following Close Hatches poor performance at Belmont a few weeks ago, she is now looming as the 11/4 betting choice in Europe. 

Untapable was thought by many to be a contender to run in the Classic itself as she has been able to get the better of the best contenders from her female division and it remains to be seen that she might run against male opposition next year. Some European books even began offering odds on her to run in the Classic but that looked an ante post trap if you have ever seen one. 

With Untapable very likely to be considered a stronger favourite than previously expected thanks to Close Hatches lacklustre effort last time out, there is every chance that she actually goes off on the board somewhere close to a 2/1 margin. While Steve Asmussen may not be one of the most emphatically liked individuals in the American thoroughbred racing sphere, she is respected by everybody and will be looking to build on the excellent volume of work she has put together so far this season.