CD Distaff

A large field of 12 has been assembled for Sunday's $200,000 Churchill Downs

Distaff H. (G2) and LADY TAK (Mutakddim) is the deserving morning-line favorite

at 5-2. She brings excellent form and owns a 2-1-1-0 mark at the mile distance,

but we'll try to beat her at short odds.

MY TRUSTY CAT (Tale of the Cat) has really come on over the last few months

for trainer David Vance, capturing the Honorable Miss H. (G3) at Saratoga three

starts back before an excellent effort in the seven-furlong Ballerina H. (G1)

where she surged into a tight spot between rivals in deep stretch to just miss

by a head at the wire. She ran well in the Thoroughbred Club of America S. (G3)

last out, coming up three parts of a length short from off the pace, but the six

furlong distance and speed-favoring Keeneland oval conspired against her. My

Trusty Cat gets a little more ground and an expected hot pace up front here.

We'll look for her to close for the win under Pat Day.

Lady Tak finished an excellent second in last year's one-mile Acorn S. (G1)

at Belmont and brings a 110 BRIS Speed rating into this event off a facile win

in the Gallant Bloom H. (G2). She was impressive taking the Ballerina before

that and loves Churchill, winning four of five attempts. The chestnut doesn't

always rate kindly and will probably be prompting matters from the get-go. We

wouldn't be surprised to see her last the whole way, but a couple of rivals

threaten to soften up Lady Tak.

SUSAN'S ANGEL (Cape Town) likes Churchill (3-1-2-0) and cuts back to one turn

off a nice win in the Turfway Park Breeders' Cup S. (G3). The D. Wayne Lukas

trainee has the services of Rafael Bejarano and should be up close early

tracking the pace from her inside post. Susan's Angel will probably come with a

rally into the stretch and looms a contender for it all.

ISLAND SAND (Tabasco Cat) didn't fire on the grass last time but may show

more returning to the dirt for conditioner Larry Jones. The sophomore miss

captured this year's Acorn and ran well to be second in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

However, we're not convinced that she'll be at her best here, and Island Sand

must overcome the far outside post. Consider for the exotics.

MAYO ON THE SIDE (French Deputy) is another serious contender stuck on the

outside (post 10). She turned in an excellent performance over the track when

capturing the Humana Distaff H. (G1) over Azeri (Jade Hunter) in the spring and

didn't give a bad account of herself when third to that same rival in the

Spinster S. (G1) last out. Mayo on the Side isn't the most consistent performer

around, finishing off the board at 1-5 in June, and we'll try to beat the classy

mare.

MISS FORTUNATE (Deputy Minister) offers some appeal for the exotics at long

odds. The Bill Mott-trained lass is two for three at Churchill and has recorded

solid BRIS Late Pace numbers from her recent starts, including a 106 for her

victory three starts back in the H.B.P.A. H. at Ellis Park. Miss Fortunate could

grab a top three placing from just off the pace. Grade 2 queen LA REASON (Labeeb

[GB]) finished only five lengths back of Adoration (Honor Grades) in June's

Fleur de Lis H. (G2) and is another one to merit for part at long odds. Her

recent form isn't too encouraging, but the four-year-old favors Churchill

(7-3-0-1) and should have plenty of pace to set up her late rally. Consider for

the gimmicks.

MY BOSTON GAL (Boston Harbor) is three-for-five at Churchill and a danger at

her best. However, she's been inconsistent and brings lower Speed ratings into

this event. We'll let the four-year-old beat us. HALORY LEIGH (Halory Hunter)

comes off a fine effort at Keeneland but will find this company much tougher.

She ran well on the grass at Churchill earlier this year, but we can't recommend

her on the main track here.

REVOLUTIONARY ACT (Boston Harbor) figures to show speed and could develop

into a fine stakes performer. However, she's inexperienced presently and we'll

watch to see how she handles this massive class hike. THERE RUNS HATTIE (Rahy)

has run well at Churchill before but is probably facing too much of a class

jump. WILDWOOD ROYAL (Royal Academy) will be winging it from the start but will

likely face too much pressure to be effective late.