By Alan Carasso
No fewer than a dozen times has Keeneland's GI Juddmonte Spinster S. produced the winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, but not since 2005 when Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold)–second to Pampered Princess (Indian Charlie) in Lexington–scampered home to take the Distaff by better than nine lengths. It requires another decade back in time to find the last Spinster winner to double up on Championship Day, namely the Phippses record-setting Inside Information (Private Account) on that soggy Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park. A field of five will take their chance this weekend, but by all accounts, I'm A Chatterbox (Munnings) should take all the beating in the “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Nov. 4 Distaff.
A homebred for Fletcher and Carolyn Gray, the Keeneland sales grad has been less fortunate in two subsequent runs at the racetrack, finishing a troubled eighth from the rail draw in last year's Distaff and second as the long odds-on choice in the GIII Doubledogdare S. here this past spring. She posted a somewhat controversial second career Grade I tally in the Delaware H. in July and, though she was only fourth to TDN Rising Star Cavorting (Bernardini) when last seen in the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga Aug. 27, posted a triple-digit Beyer for the first time in her career.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Curalina (Curlin) capped off a successful sophomore season with a third in last year's Distaff and the ownership group is represented Sunday by the progressive Genre (Bernardini). A well-beaten second to the favorite in Delaware's Obeah S. in June, she has annexed her last two, including the GIII Molly Pitcher S. at Monmouth Park July 31 before leading home a 1-2 for her sire over Penwith in the Lady Jacqueline S. at Thistledown Aug. 27.
Paid Up Subscriber (Candy Ride {Arg}) registered a 6-1 upset in the GII Fleur de Lis H. at Churchill June 15, but was second–when hampered badly by the winner at the break in the Del 'Cap–and exits a last-of-five effort in the Personal Ensign.
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