The Humane Distaff

Grade 1 / Group 1*CPU – Purse : $750,000

Restricted to 4 Year Olds and older, Fillies and Mares only

7 Furlongs / 1400 Meters / Seven Eighths of a Mile

Fast Dirt

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An impressive field of 13 runners assembles at Kentucky on Friday for the G1 Humane Distaff over 7 furlongs on the dirt track. This race boasts 4 grade 1 winners and all but 2 of the runners have registered a graded victory. Only Arkzanna returns from last year’s edition of this race. 11 of the 13 runners are locally trained here in Kentucky, however an interesting sidenote is that some of those are having their first start here.

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1. REAL CHINA WHITE             KY        4F        asrstar22         A.Rolling         16/1

Real China White (Medaglia D’Oro) comes off a career best SP when placed 3^rd in the Sand Storm Stakes at her most recent run when out to 7.5f. Drops back to 7f for this. 2 for 2 in Kentucky, albeit that was her first 2 starts in ALW company. This scratchbred filly’s last 5 starts were at G1 level and has always been thereabouts with her last victory coming in June 2024’s Snickerdoodle Sprint. Has been sparingly raced since with just 6 starts over the past 12 months. Breaking from the inside gate, trainer has decided to stick with BC jockey A.Rolling. Should get a nice run just in behind the pace and tenpoint stable can never be underestimated.

2. THE CAMBO                        KY        6F        masterm03     K.Ledwith       5/1

The Cambo (Speightstown) is our morning line favorite at 5/1. Currently ranked #3 in this division. Has been a revelation for masterm since dropping back to sprint distances. Exceptional wins in The Nutcracker and Winter Wonderland Distaff both at G1 level late last year. Out of character last start when disappointed in the Sand Storm Stakes. Willing to forgive that run as race may have not been run to suit. Retains the services of K.Ledwith (JPN) who ranks 4^th this year in jockey earnings. Will get a hot speed here and should map well just off the speed and with that usual finishing burst, should figure in the finish.   

3. HEISE                                   KY        5F        peachman8    A.Jolly             13/1

Heise (Quality Road) returns to G1 company for spinround. Back to form last start when placed in stakes company at Pennsylvania. Form seemed to have tapered off before that over the shorter distances after multiple impressive G2 victories in mid-2024. First time starter in Kentucky for this filly. Should position midfield off a fast pace. Would be hard to see her turning the tables on some of these fillies and mares who have beaten her comprehensively of late although she improved sharply over the 7f journey last start and could be one for the exotics.

4. SATHOR                               TUR     5F        alibilane37      J.Karczewski    8/1

Sathor (Super Saver) dual acceptor for Oakridge, Sathor is a Turkish bred who achieved a career best SP of 111 last start when finishing 3^rd in the G3 Its The Weekend Sprint in Ohio. Solitary run at G1 level, she failed to show her customary finishing burst when finishing down the track in the Taffy Mile. Honest mare who has been ultra consistent of late in weaker grade, albeit graded company. Will settle in the back part of the field and she gets the hot speed to show her late closing speed here. Will need to go to yet another level to be winning here but with the shape of the race showing a heap of early speed, will get her chance to close late.

5. ARKZANNA                         KY        5F        alibilane22      T.Ace               8/1

Heading a two-pronged attack for Oakridge stables is the 5yo Arkzanna (Honor Code). Arkzanna is the solitary runner going around again from last season’s Humane Distaff where she finished 5^th/12 at 14/1. This time there will be more early speed so she will have to be on top of her game. On the other hand, this filly is more seasoned now boasting a G2 victory in Arizona late last year.  Last start in the Its the Weekend Sprint, looked the winner into the straight but got overrun late. Finished ahead of stablemate Sathor (#4). Will race on or near the lead and will need to soak up the early pressure. Having never finished further than 4L from the winner, she will run her usual honest race and at some point is likely to look the winner but may just be overrun late.

6. FRIENDS OF FRIENDS         KY        4F        flightlineasr    T.Small             17/1

The impeccably scratchbred Friends of Friends (Flightline) heads into this race for tenpoint stables after a very impressive career best SP of 112 when a somewhat surprising 2^nd in the Sand Storm Stakes. The day she was the longest shot on the board at 30/1. This Flightline scratchbred filly has had 14 starts, 8 of which have been at G1 level. I like the drop back to 7f here and trainer may have found her pet distance. Her only failures over the sprint distance were on a sloppy track and a turf track. Winningest jockey at 27.2% over the past year, T.Small jumps onboard. Appears way over the odds for mine and looks a great bet to be in the finish. Top pick.

7. COSMIC RIPPLE                  KY        5F        epic                 F.Oxon             8/1

Kaner stables Cosmic Ripple (War Front) has raced her last 5 times at G1 level for 2 wins. Overall trainer has placed her exceptionally well boasting 8 wins from 17 starts and she is currently ranked #5 in her division. Ran her usual honest race when 5^th in the Sand Storm Stakes at California over 7.5f. On that occasion, she finished in front of race favorite The Cambo (#2). Looks set to stalk a hot speed. Would have been my choice if race were over 6f. May look the winner at the top of the straight but will need to be strong late to hold off some late closers.

8. SEARCH N SEIZURE             KY        5F        desptwos        D.Givins          6/1

The well named Search N Seizure (Constitution) for Desperado earned her place in this field off the back of her maiden graded victory in the Davey Jones Handicap in Florida. Big race jockey D.Givins reacquaints with this filly which is a huge plus. Trainer has found the key to success with all but 1 of her last 7 starts finishing top 2. Solitary run at G1 level she finished down the track over the shorter 6f in which she had to withstand some sizzling early sectionals. Looks the likely leader but will see a ton of early pressure, most likely from her outside which could derail her chances. Definitely has the class to wire this field but it won’t be easy.

9. YOUSAIDYOURPEACE         KY        4F        rubiano06       N.Labreche     18/1

Yousaidyourpeace (Maxfield) for Atthewire stables has not won for over 9 months after stringing together a hat-trick of wins. Finished down the track in 2 x graded runs although is better suited at 7f. Last start achieved a career best SP of 107 when finishing 2^nd in the Dependent Shocker dirt sprint in Kansas. Honest filly who always gives her best but faces her stiffest test to date and appears outclassed at this level.

10. ROSEMARY AND THYME  AUS     4F        mamaseals      P.Haynes         8/1

Rosemary and Thyme (I Am Invincible) from the Dahmamas stable is an Australian bred 4f who has won 7 of her 12 starts. Prepped for this with a stakes win on the turf 8 weeks ago where she ran an SP of 109. Before that, narrowly beaten in The G1 Everclear Handicap on an off track. Maiden graded victory came in the G2 La Zebra at California over this distance/surface. Has a wire-to-wire stakes win but hard to see her holding out a couple of these early so jockey should look to obtain a good position early stalking the leaders. Ultra consistent filly who is always thereabouts and should go close again.

11. SPEIGHTFUL GAL              KY        6F        ddstables32    F.Gossett         6/1

Speightful Gal (Speightstown) for stockswami went back-to-back in the Breeders Cup F&M Distaff last November. Has only started once since and that was in the Sand Storm stakes where she flopped badly finishing 13^th/14 beaten 9L. Must be forgiving for that as it was her first run for 4 months. First time starter in Kentucky. Last 10 starts in graded company have boasted 5 wins. Highest money earner in this field and will crack the $2m with a 1^st or 2^nd placed finish. Has a knack of bouncing back after a subpar performance. Late closer who will be suited by hot speed. Major player here.

12. VITA LOLITA                      KY        4F        francua8         B.Larsen          18/1

Francua4’s Vita Lolita (Twirling Candy) prepped for this with a fast-closing 4^th in the G3 Spur of the Moment in Ontario. Before that, finished 3^rd in the Davey Jones Handicap behind Search N Seizure (#8) beaten 1.25L running a 109 SP, her best to date. Illinois based jockey B.Larsen reacquaints with Vita here after riding her early in her career. Solitary run at G1 level, she failed to make any impression over 5.5f. Appears better suited here over 7f. Continues to work through the grades stylishly but I feel this is too soon for her as she may still be months away from her peak.

13. LEAVING HOME                KY        4F        roosterbooster O.A.Haack                 10/1

Leaving Home (Speightstown) for CB1011 stables is the most inexperienced filly in the field with just the 9 starts. She did not face the starter as a 2yo. What she lacks in experience, she doesn’t lack in class. Trainer has been careful with this filly and must be ecstatic with her win % as she continues to progress through the grades. She gets her first chance at the elite level here. Went wire-to-wire in her most recent start winning the G2 Distaff Breeders Bowl Cap in Maryland. That was her first go in graded company. Before that, she has a career best SP of 116 when winning a stakes race in Arkansas. Has an abundance of early speed and will look to cross over from the outside gate. Early pressure will be the key to her chances. If she can get the lead and some slow sectionals, will take a power of beating but that’s a big if.

Veeman picks

1^st –                        #6           Friends of Friends             17/1

2^nd–                        #10        Rosemary and Thyme    8/1

3^rd–                         #11        Speightful Gal                   6/1

4^th                           #2         The Cambo                      5/1