Yahilwa records ‘awesome’ five-furlong bullet at Keeneland for BC Distaff

Edited Press Release

Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) hopeful Yahilwa clocked a bullet five furlongs in :58.40 under exercise rider Aime Williams after the Thursday morning renovation break at Keeneland.

Working on her own, the Medaglia d’Oro five-year-old reeled off fractions of :11.60, :22.80, :34.60 and :46.60, with a gallop-out time of 1:12.20.

“That was awesome,” Williams said. “She was relaxed and galloped out strong.”

It was the first work for the Jim Cassidy trainee since she finished third, beaten a neck and a head, in the Spinster S. (G1) at Keeneland on October 4.

“After the Spinster, when we took her back to the track the first couple days we jogged her thinking the race may have taken something out of her,” Williams said. “But she is way stronger now than she was before the race. She really likes it here.”

Yahilwa has earned just one win this year, with that coming in the Sixty Sails H. (G3) at Hawthorne in mid-April, but has placed in three of her other five start, including the Spinster and Clement L. Hirsch S. (G1) at Del Mar in August.

The Kentucky-bred bay mare is scheduled to work once more before the Breeders’ Cup, possibly next Thursday, according to Williams.

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Yahilwa photo courtesy of Keeneland/Coady Photography