Breeders’ Cup Distaff: Malathaat feels at home at Keeneland

Updated November 9, 2022
Updated November 9, 2022By Rowan Ward

For horse racing bettors, there is no more exciting time of year than the Breeders’ Cup! The best horses in the world in every division will line up at Keeneland for seven-figure purses and a place in horse racing history. And, one of the greatest and most historic races is the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Saturday, November 5, 2022.

With a $2 million purse, the stakes are high for this nine-furlong dirt race. Three daughters of Curlin are leading contenders this year: Saratoga starlet Nest, who finished second in the Kentucky Oaks; Malathaat, last year’s Kentucky Oaks winner; and Clairiere, who had some legendary showdowns with Malathaat through the year.

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Malathaat Feels At Home At Keeneland
Malathaatto win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff
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Who will add their name to a winners’ list that includes greats like Zenyatta and Beholder? Keep reading to find out, and to see the best places to bet the Breeders’ Cup Distaff online!

Betting the Breeders’ Cup Distaff Online

Unfortunately, we cannot all make it to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Fortunately, you can still be a part of the action by betting the Breeders’ Cup online! The best online sportsbooks all give you market-leading odds and trusted money management features from the convenience of your smartphone, tablet, or computer!

One of the best reasons to bet online is that online sportsbooks offer betting bonuses that the racetrack never will. These include deposit and sign-up incentives, horse racing rebates, and referral benefits. Our betting experts will help you decide which bonus can make you the most money and help you build your bankroll for the Breeders’ Cup and beyond!

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Handicapping the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Distaff

This is the official field for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, including post positions, trainers, and jockeys:

  1. Malathaat (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez) – 3/1
  2. Blue Stripe (Marcelo Polanco/Hector Berrios) – 20/1
  3. Secret Oath (D. Wayne Lukas/Luis Saez) – 15/1
  4. Clairiere (Steve Asmussen/Joel Rosario) – 4/1
  5. Awake at Midnyte (Doug O’Neill/Mario Gutierrez) – 30/1
  6. Nest (Todd Pletcher/Irad Ortiz, Jr.) – 9/5
  7. Search Results (Chad Brown/Flavien Prat) – 9/2
  8. Society (Steve Asmussen/Florent Geroux) – 6/1

Remember that the morning line is just the racetrack’s estimate for the odds at post time. Get an advantage by betting the Breeders’ Cup Distaff online: online sportsbooks will let you lock in the best odds at the moment you place your bet. So, track the odds, spot your overlay, and place your bets. You can watch the race confident that you have the best price on your horse!

BovadaBetOnlineMyBookie
Nest+150+150+150
Malathaat+300+275+330
Clairiere+650+675+700
Search Results+650+650+600
Society+700+700+650
Secret Oath+1600+2200+1400

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Handicapping

Now that you know where you can place your bets on the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, it is time to get to know the horses in the field.

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Favorites

Three-year-old star Nest will likely go favored in the Distaff off of three impressive wins. She has tactical speed and her stamina gets her a mile and an eighth…though she may be even better longer than this. She is a consistent filly, and her Ashland win earlier this year proves she can handle the track at Keeneland. She has also beaten older already, in the Beldame (G2).

However, she has yet to face the very top of the distaff division, and Malathaat is going to prove a tough assignment. The Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner last year, Malathaat has been a presence at the top of the older mare dirt division all year. She is a three-time winner at Keeneland, so she can definitely finish over the course. And, 1 ⅛ miles suits her perfectly.

Malathaatto win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff
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The other one likely to be in that top echelon in the market is Clairiere. She will probably be a bit longer-priced than she would otherwise have been given that she laid an egg in the Personal Ensign (G1) last out. She fits on her best, but her true closing style does not play the best at Keeneland and she has fired more misses than hits at a mile and an eighth as well.

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Exotics Horses

Society is the most interesting of the rest of the runners. She drew a clean outside post in a field of only eight, and looks like the controlling speed. Though she was well beaten by Nest in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), she broke poorly that day. With a smoother start, she probably makes the top and early speed plays nicely at Keeneland in dirt routes.

Two others to consider for the exotics are Blue Stripe and Search Results. Likely the longest shot on the board, Blue Stripe ran off the board in the Distaff last year but has improved in three west coast starts this year and does not need a major step up from her Clement L. Hirsch (G1) win to get a piece. Search Results has been a bit below the top of the division but has never missed the board in 11 starts and should be able to track in range from start to finish.

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Best Bets

Once you have made your accounts on the best online racebooks and taken a look at the contenders, here are the bets to make on the biggest race of the year.

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About the Author

Rowan Ward
Rowan Ward

For a decade, Rowan Ward has been making horse race predictions and wagers in Chicago, and has been writing about horse racing for nearly just as long. Understanding the various factors that influence a race's outcome, they often find that the age-old saying "the pace makes the race" can uncover worthwhile betting opportunities. When it comes to handicapping, their favorite races are those held locally in Chicago, major stake races across the country, and two-year-old maiden races with intriguing bloodlines.

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