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Breeders' Cup Distaff: Best bets, post positions, odds, what to expect

By Robert Kieckhefer, UPI Racing Writer
Harbour Master, racing in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf on Friday, works out prior to the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on Thursday. Photo by Mark Abraham/UPI
1 of 2 | Harbour Master, racing in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf on Friday, works out prior to the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on Thursday. Photo by Mark Abraham/UPI | License Photo

ARCADIA, Calif. (UPI) – Friday night's $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff looks like a three-horse race and if they run to that form, but it will be hard to find much wagering value.

Songbird, the undefeated 3-year-old, is the 6-5 favorite on the morning line and will start from the inside gate in a field of eight under Mike Smith.

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Stellar Wind and Beholder, the veterans and both past years' champions, are co-second favorites at 5-2 and will start No. 5 and No. 8 respectively. Victor Espinoza rides Stellar Wind; Gary Stevens, Beholder.

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In their last two meetings, Stellar Wind has let Beholder hold a short lead before going by, winning by 1/2 length and a neck, respectively. Songbird's running style is similar. Complicating things, accomplished 4-year-olds Curalina and I'm a Chatterbox show almost identical running lines from recent races.

This could be a setup for a late-runner, which could be Forever Unbridled, who has two Grade I wins this season, including the Beldame at Belmont Park last month. I'll be hoping Curalina and I'm a Chatterbox aren't quite good enough to run with the top three but that Forever Unbridled can get into the frame late and add value to a $1, four-horse trifecta box of:

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1 – Songbird 5 – Stellar Wind 6 – Forever Unbridled 8 – Beholder

If the top three finish 1-2-3, this will be one of those "losing winning" bets, returning less than the $24 investment. But it should be a minor ding and the enjoyment from watching these talented runners is worth the shot. If Forever Unbridled (12-1 on the morning line) should happen to run a big one.

2016 Breeders' Cup Distaff Post Time, Positions, Odds

Post time: 7:35 p.m. Eastern

Post Positions

Position – horse, (odds), jockey, trainer

1 – Songbird, (6-5), Mike Smith, Jerry Hollendorfer

2 – Land Over Sea, (30-1),Mario Gutierrez, Doug O'Neill

3 – Curalina, (12-1), John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher

4 – Corona Del Inca, (30-1), Pablo Falero, Guillermo Frenkel Santillan

5 – Stellar Wind, (5-2), Victor Espinoza, John Sadler

6 – Forever Unbridled, (12-1), Joel Rosario, Dallas Stewart

7 – I'm a Chatterbox, (12-1), Florent Geroux, Larry Jones

8 – Beholder, (5-1), Gary Stevens, Richard Mandela

How to watch Day 1 at the 2016 Breeders' Cup
{link: Viewing schedule: "http://www.breederscup.com/races/watch" target="_blank"}

How to watch on television:

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Live 5-8 p.m. Eastern on NBCSN

Live streaming:

NBC Sports Live Extra will have extended coverage through the last race. Access requires a cable or satellite TV subscription.

Early races will be streamed on Facebook Live via The Breeders' Cup.

Post times (Eastern):

$1M Fillies Turf – 5:30 p.m.

$1M Las Vegas Dirt Mile – 6:05 p.m.

$1M Juvenile Fillies Turf – 6:50 p.m.

$2M Longines Distaff – 7:35 p.m.

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