Stopchargingmaria Strikes in Distaff Thriller
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Stopchargingmaria holds off Stellar Wind for victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
By Tom Pedulla, America’s Best Racing
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Stopchargingmaria withstood a steward’s inquiry and an objection in edging Stellar Wind by a neck in the $2-million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Friday to highlight the first of two days of Breeders’ Cup competition at Keeneland Race Course.
Stopchargingmaria put trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Javier Castellano in the winner’s circle for the second time in a four-race Breeders’ Cup card that attracted 44,947 fans to Keeneland, a record attendance for the first day. Earlier, Pletcher and Castellano provided an unbeatable team when heavily-favored Liam’s Map rallied to take the Dirt Mile by 2 ½ lengths.
Although Pletcher’s powerhouse stable has often struggled in the year-end championships, he had Stopchargingmaria, a 4-year-old daughter of Tale of the Cat, as ready as she could be. To add to Pletcher’s big day on a clear but bracing autumn afternoon, Curalina, his blossoming 3-year-old, took third.
STOPCHARGINGMARIA AND STELLAR WIND LOCKED IN BATTLE
Stopchargingmaria appeared to come out slightly on Stellar Wind but a review showed no reason to reverse the order of finish. “In a race like this, they’ve got to look at it,” Pletcher said.
Victor Espinoza, who rode Stellar Wind, lodged an objection. “I thought it cost me the race,” he said of the contact.