Tipsheet: 2025 Breeders’ Cup Distaff

A baker’s dozen fillies and mares will race 1 1/8 miles over the Del Mar dirt in Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). 

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Picks

• #5 Scottish Lassie
• #8 Seismic Beauty
• #2 Sarawak Rim
• #12 Dorth Vader
• #13 Regaled

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Wagers

• $25 to win on #5 Scottish Lassie
• $12 Exacta: box 5,8
• $1 Trifecta: 5,8 with 2,5,8,12,13 with 2,5,8,12,13

#6 ALICE VERITE (20-1): Japan import was fourth in this race last season but faces a deeper field this campaign. Kizuna mare has been unplaced in four runs on the green this season, but might appreciate the move back to the main oval in this one. She would be a surprise to me for Nakatake.

#7 GIN GIN (12-1): Spinster S. (G1) upsetter has come to hand in a big way since joining the Walsh barn and has to be given a look in this affair. The Hightail four-year-old has the positional speed to be involved from the break in the race and could be stubborn late with a sensible voyage under the guidance of Luis Saez. 

#8 SEISMIC BEAUTY (9-5): Baffert trainee is three-for-three since moving to route races and was last seen dominating a good cast in the Clement L. Hirsch S. (G1) on the oval. The peaking daughter of Uncle Mo has yet to be headed in three runs since April and has improved her Brisnet Speed figure in a trio of races in succession, too. She is the one to catch and beat under Juan Hernandez. 

#12 DORTH VADER (5-1): Win contender endured an eventful trip in the La Troienne S. (G1) in May when a close fourth and has been very good since that appearance with a win in the Ogden Phipps S. (G1) leading the way. Girvin mare was last seen just missing in the Personal Ensign S. (G1) at Saratoga and will be a major presence with something resembling that effort. Regular pilot John Velazquez will take the reins.

#13 REGALED (30-1): Mohaymen four-year-old earned a career-best 101 Brisnet Speed rating when driving home a decisive winner of the Delaware H. (G3) in the mud last time out. The peaking four-year-old owns a powerful closing kick, and she could be an exotics threat inside the final furlong if the pace backs up in the lane on Saturday. The Whit Beckman pupil will have Joe Ramos on board. 

#9 MAJESTIC OOPS (30-1): Majestic Harbor mare disappointed at Delaware last time out and will need a lifetime-best run to hit the board against this field. The Dan Ward trainee will stalk the action in the early going but looks to be in deep with Rispoli taking the reins. 

#10 GUN SONG (30-1): Sneaky contender is not especially consistent, but she ran down a good one en route to a tally in the Beldame S. (G2) most recently and could make noise on Saturday with another step in the right direction. Mark Hennig pupil got good at this time of the year in 2024 and will never be far back with Tyler Gaffalione in the irons. 

#11 DRY POWDER (20-1): Cotillion S. (G1) runner-up has been first or second in all but one lifetime run to date and will be a pace presence at the very least on Saturday for trainer Chad Summers. The dark bay daughter of Gun Runner is a lightly raced three-year-old who has improved in her last pair of tries, and she will be in the mix late with another step forward while making her local debut. Antonio Fresu inherits the ride. 

#12 DORTH VADER (5-1): Win contender endured an eventful trip in the La Troienne S. (G1) in May when a close fourth and has been very good since that appearance with a win in the Ogden Phipps S. (G1) leading the way. Girvin mare was last seen just missing in the Personal Ensign S. (G1) at Saratoga and will be a major presence with something resembling that effort. Regular pilot John Velazquez will take the reins.

#13 REGALED (30-1): Mohaymen four-year-old earned a career-best 101 Brisnet Speed rating when driving home a decisive winner of the Delaware H. (G3) in the mud last time out. The peaking four-year-old owns a powerful closing kick, and she could be an exotics threat inside the final furlong if the pace backs up in the lane on Saturday. The Whit Beckman pupil will have Joe Ramos on board.