BC Distaff (Grade 1)- $2,000.000 Purse
KEE- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
November 5, 2022

The BC Distaff is the biggest race of the year for female horses, and this year seemed a little different for them with the high amount of success that fillies and mares had over the males, especially early on with their larger weight allowance. Karloffs Monster was no stranger to that route, running in both the TAM Derby and the AR Derby before eventually running in the BEL. Eventually, like others, she began racing against females exclusively, and today, she takes home the BC Distaff. At the wire, Karloffs Monster beat another filly in Fashionable who has been known more for a win against the males (Pegasus World Cup), so that was certainly a theme for this year. Karloffs Monster went off at odds of 10/1 as Pick ‘Em bettors leaned mostly towards Third Gear, but that would not stop this filly from getting the job done, scoring the second BC win on the day for TwinTowersRacing. That trainer also won the BC Sprint, and picked up a second place result in the BC Turf as well, so certainly a good day on that end. This is the second time that TwinTowersRacing has won the BC Distaff, but you have to go all the way back to 2012 and Golden Chance to find the previous win. Along for the ride was J R Velazquez, and it’s third win. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:49.99 over a good track surface. Note that this race did have a couple of scratches with Miss Steel Mazula and Z Command, allowing Bagel Bites and Freak Event to draw in. Here’s how the race unfolded!

(½ Mile- :47.68)- Fashionable gets right out to the lead for Mb Stables, running tight to the rail around the opening turn and moving into the backstretch. Her advantage is a length over Pink Attack, as The Sidley Stud filly serves as the leader’s shadow early on. We would have a group of three right behind them, but early in the backstretch, the post time favorite, Smokey Stover’s Third Gear pulls away from the other two a little bit and is a length ahead of them early in the backstretch. Those two would be Laffy Crack, from Night Rider Stables who runs on the rail, and Shes A Super Freak, from YME Stable. In the middle of the field, we have a group of four, and running in the second lane here is our eventual winner from TwinTowersRacing, Karloffs Monster. That one benefits from Third Gear being a length in front of those she was running with as it would allow Karloffs Monster the opportunity to potentially push forward without any obstructions. Running to her inside is Arindel’s Paris Broadway, and the two on the outside here are a pair of Mb Stables horses, Derby Connection and Drink Me Pretty. The next row has Curlina (Arindel), Bagel Bites (Gdp Inc), and Freak Event (The Freakshow) with Exactly (Smokey Stover) nearby. Naples (Arindel) can see them all in front of her.

(3/4 Mile- 1:11.77)- Down the backstretch and into the turn, Fashionable is looking strong and extends her lead to about two lengths. It does not look like she is about to wear out, so if anyone was going to make a move on her, it was time to get moving. Pink Attack was still second with a solid run to this point, and both Third Gear and Laffy Crack were only a couple lengths off the lead and in striking range. Karloffs Monster runs in the fifth position, and during the turn, she didn’t really make a push forward and was content to hold her line. She is still right behind Third Gear, and about three and a half lengths from the front. Shes A Super Freak and Drink Me Pretty are still to her outside. Paris Broadway and Derby Connection are still a length behind them with the others having a lot more work to do.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Fashionable continues to have a great race, and gracefully rounds the turn and enters the stretch. Her lead is about two lengths still, so no one has made a move on her yet. Some are positioning themselves for such a run, but for now you would not call Karloffs Monster one of them. Pink Attack and Laffy Crack are still second and third, but with neither making a push, you had to wonder now if it was ever going to come. The same held true for Third Gear. The most interesting horse at this point seemed to be Drink Me Pretty who was looking good while running five wide. For Karloffs Monster, what she did have was a clear, wide open lane to capitalize on but it seemed like we had been saying that for much of the race. If she had been saving for the stretch, it was time to show that push. Shes A Super Freak and Derby Connection also had lanes in front of them that they could pounce on. Everyone else you could forget about at this point.

(Finish- 1:49.99)- Fashionable is still looking strong in the stretch, and Mb Stables was feeling good for a little while, but then it became clear that Karloffs Monster was going to have something to say about this result. She had plenty saved up for the stretch, and now she was showing it, getting by the fading Pink Attack, as well as Laffy Crack to pull into second and a length back with just a half furlong to go. There was nothing that Fashionable could do at this point, as Karloffs Monster was simply too much. Impressively, Karloffs Monster powers to the front and wins this race by a length. Fashionable holds on for second, a length in front of stablemate Drink Me Pretty, who never mounted the challenge that it looked like she might. It’s another length to Laffy Crack, and then Derby Connection. Third Gear and Paris Broadway were the only two others ones in the mix to at least get the fourth place cut of the purse. Rounding it out, it’s Shes A Super Freak, Exactly, Pink Attack, Naples, Curlina, Bagel Bites, and Freak Event.

About The Winner- Karloffs Monster, trained by TwinTowersRacing and ridden to victory by J R Velazquez, is a three year old filly by Bo Judge, and is out of Starship Creepshow. She was bred in Kentucky as a second quarter two year old by TwinTowersRacing, the only trainer for which she has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fourth in 15 starts, her third stake win and second graded win. Her career earnings are now $1,981.200.

Track: Good
Time: :47³  1:11³  1:36⁴  1:49⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 1 Paid 66.30
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 1 – 9 Paid 1,470.50

Scratched: Miss Steel Mazula, Z Command, Densmore, Prada Sunset

— NS

Categories: BC 2021-2023, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP