20:16 Churchill Downs

Saturday 3 November 2018

All14:4515:1516:0016:3817:1618:0418:4619:3620:1620:5621:4422:22

Race 9 - Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (Grade 1) (Fillies & Mares)

Off time: 20:18 | Winning time: -

(1)

Champagne Problems²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Calvin Borel| T: Ian Wilkes| OR: 109

33/1

Grade 3 winner, only narrowly denied by re-opposing Blue Prize on each of her last two starts, most recently in a Keeneland Grade 1. May reverse that form from a significantly better draw than that rival here but this is a much deeper race.

Form: 341122

(2)

Abel Tasman³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Mike Smith| T: Bob Baffert| OR: 115| BF| D

2/1

Multiple Grade 1 winner including over this C&D. Only narrowly denied in this race last year and while she was well beaten at long odds-on last time, it's probably worth forgiving that effort. Leading contender if back to her best.

Form: 22-4115

(3)

La Force³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Drayden Dyke Van| T: P Gallagher| OR: 115

28/1

Struggles to get her head in front but she's consistent and it was a respectable effort last time when she finished runner-up to Vale Dori. Will need to improve if she's going to mix it in this deeper race.

Form: 144222

(4)

Mopotism¹¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Mario Gutierrez| T: Doug O'Neill| OR: 114

80/1

Well beaten in this race last year and while she enjoyed a fairly productive winter that included a Grade 2 success at Santa Anita, her recent efforts suggest she's below her best at present.

Form: 123736

(5)

Wonder Gadot⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Irad Ortiz Jr| T: Mark Casse| OR: 108| D

22/1

Perhaps a shade unlucky not to win the Kentucky Oaks over C&D when second behind Monomoy Girl (covered more ground than the narrow margin winner). Well beaten by that rival last time but there's a suspicion she's better than that.

Form: 221103

(6)

Verve's Tale²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Brian Jr Hernandez| T: Barclay Tagg| OR: 111| D

80/1

Won a Grade 3 as a three-year-old but she's generally struggled when stepped up to this class and hard to fancy on all known form.

Form: 3-33533

(7)

Midnight Bisou⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: John Velazquez| T: Steven Asmussen| OR: 114| D

6/1

Gained a second Grade 1 success when Monomoy Girl hampered her in the straight at Parx last time out, winning the race in the stewards' room. Less exposed than several of these and she's drawn better than the aforementioned rival here.

Form: 131232

(8)

Vale Dori³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Joseph Talamo| T: Bob Baffert| OR: 114| D

20/1

Multiple Grade 1 winner and narrowly beat La Force last time out when stablemate Abel Tasman ran well below her best. Likely she will need to step up on that effort to win this.

Form: 2-54321

(9)

Wow Cat²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Jose Ortiz| T: Chad Brown| OR: 115| D

8/1

Multiple Group 1 winner in her native Chile and while well beaten at Saratoga in August by Abel Tasman, she stepped up on that effort when winning the Beldame Stakes last time. Needs a career best to have a say in this though.

Form: 111-231

(10)

Blue Prize²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Joe Bravo| T: I Correas| OR: 114| D

10/1

Has some good form around here including two C&D Grade 2 wins. Produced a career best to beat Champagne Problems in a Keeneland Grade 1 last time but this is tougher.

Form: 712111

(11)

Monomoy Girl⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Florent Geroux| T: B Cox| OR: 116| D

9/4

Smart filly, has four Grade 1 wins to her name already including C&D Kentucky Oaks. Wandered under pressure when losing a race in the stewards' room to Midnight Bisou last time and she's drawn worst here but still unexposed and has leading claims.

Form: 111111

Forecasts

Abel Tasman (2/1), Monomoy Girl (9/4), Midnight Bisou (6/1), Wow Cat (8/1), Blue Prize (10/1), Vale Dori (20/1), Wonder Gadot (22/1), La Force (28/1), Champagne Problems (33/1), Mopotism (80/1), Verve's Tale (80/1)

MIDNIGHT BISOU was quite rightly awarded the Cotillion Stakes last time out at Parx when hampered by this year's Kentucky Oaks winner Monomoy Girl and she's drawn better than her rival here (7). The pair of three year olds are both unexposed and expected to run each other close again. Abel Tasman is better than she showed last time and 2017's course and distance Kentucky Oaks winner shouldn't be ruled out.