Racecards
23:00 Del Mar (USA)
Race 10 - Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (Grade 1)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 1m 1f
- Going: Fast
- Surface: Dirt
- US$2,000,000 added
- Winner: US$1,260,000
- 2nd: US$400,000
- 3rd: US$199,999
- 4th: US$140,000
- Form 243321
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer Steven Asmussen
- Jockey Ricardo Jr Santana
In depth
Verdict
Letruska has won four times at the highest level this year suffering her only defeat at the hands of Shedaresthedevil back in March. She’s subsequently beaten the latter but will have company at the head of affairs with another frontrunner in Private Mission drawn on the inside. A battle for the lead could set the race up nicely for Kentucky Oaks winner MALATHAAT, who has won three Grade 1 races this year and is expected to make another bold bid in this. Clairiere has found the selection too good on more than once occasion but Royal Flag is still improving and has the measure of stablemate and last year’s third Dunbar Road and Horologist. Blue Stripe is a winner in Argentina debuting for a new yard on her return from a lay-off with Frankie Dettori getting the leg-up.
Formwatch
Private Mission (USA) 11-10fav (8-8) Pressed, kicked clear, won at Santa Anita 1m stks fst in Oct beating As Time Goes By (8-12) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Royal Flag (USA) 7-10fav (8-11) 2p7/16,4w3/8,7w1/4, won at Belmont Park 1m 1f fll stks gd in Oct beating Horologist (8-11) by 4 1/4l, 7 ran.
Malathaat (USA) 11-20fav (8-9) Stumbled st, edged clr, won at Saratoga 1m 2f fll stks gd in Aug beating Clairiere (8-9) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Blue Stripe (ARG) 11-10 (9-0) won at Palermo 1m 2f pol in May beating Soviet Catch (9-0) by hd, 11 ran.
Clairiere (USA) 13-5fav (8-10) Circled, surged clear, won at Philadelphia Park 1m stks fst in Sep beating Obligatory (8-6) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Letruska (USA) 2-5fav (8-12) Got breather,clrd,safe, won at Keeneland 1m 1f fll stks fst in Oct beating Dunbar Road (8-12) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Horologist (USA) 13-5 (8-11) Ins-2path,headed3/16, 2nd of 7, 4 1/4l behind Royal Flag (8-11) at Belmont Park 1m 1f fll stks gd in Oct.
Shedaresthedevil (USA) 3-5 (8-13) In hand 2p,held gamely, won at Churchill Downs 1m stks fst in Sep beating Crystal Ball (8-9) by nk, 6 ran.
As Time Goes By (USA) 17-10 (8-12) Ins-3wd,3-2wd,2nd best, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Private Mission (8-8) at Santa Anita 1m stks fst in Oct.
Marche Lorraine (JPN) 4-7fav (9-0) won at Mombetsu 1m 2f in Aug beating Rinen Fashion (8-9) by shd, 8 ran.
Dunbar Road (USA) 9-2 (8-12) Ins,3-4w2nd,chasd well, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Letruska (8-12) at Keeneland 1m 1f fll stks fst in Oct.