Zipse: Can Society crash the Breeders’ Cup Distaff party?

The Breeders’ Cup Distaff will be stacked. Led by Todd Pletcher’s dynamic duo of Nest and Malathaat, plus the mare Clairiere, who has already beaten Malathaat twice this year, the race promises to be a highlight of the upcoming world championships.

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A speed-favoring track at Parx that afternoon may have aided her cause, but still, her win in the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) was eye-opening.

The 5 3/4-length romp over a solid field of 3-year-old fillies was her official coming of age, but she might have another surprise in store for the upper crust of American females.

Flaunting her early speed soon after the break, the Steve Asmussen-trained daughter of the sensational young sire Gun Runner never looked back in the two-turn, 1 1/16-mile test. She cruised home under Florent Geroux, the easiest kind of winner to score her first Grade 1 victory.

Society dominated a good field in the Cotillion, but the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 5 at Keeneland will be a whole new ball of wax.

Nest, Malathaat and Clairiere are that good, but none of them have much early speed. They certainly do not have the early speed of Society. Of the trio, Society's fellow 3-year-old could go after her first in the Distaff, but quality speed is always dangerous.

It will be very interesting to see the early pace in the Distaff, because last year’s race was run entirely too fast the first half of the race, leaving no chance for any filly or mare who was involved early. This year’s edition could set up far differently, and of course, that would help Society.

A Kentucky homebred for Peter E Blum Thoroughbreds, Society made her debut for trainer Wayne Mackey one year ago and rallied to win the 6 1/2-furlong maiden race at odds of 27-1. It’s worth noting as we approach the Breeders’ Cup that her debut win came at Keeneland.

That was her only start at 2, and she was transferred to the barn of Hall of Famer Asmussen barn this year. Making her seasonal debut on Kentucky Oaks day, Society showed her newfound speed to wire an allowance field on a sloppy track.

Six weeks later, the pretty chestnut filly made it 3-for-3 lifetime when she wired the listed Monomoy Girl Stakes at Churchill Downs. That initial stakes victory set up her foray into racing at the highest level on the big stage of Saratoga.

Everything went wrong early for the speedy filly in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) though. As Nest strolled to victory, Society took her lumps in fourth after a stumbling beginning and a rough run into the first turn.

The bad start to the race took the speed horse out of her game at Saratoga, and we still had no idea whether she fit with the best of her division. Society has more than earned another shot with what she has done after her bad-luck performance in the Coaching Club American Oaks.

With a 6 3/4-length runaway in the Charles Town Oaks (G3), in which she set a new stakes record, and then her big win in the Cotillion, Society has proven that the stumble at Saratoga was not a true indication of her ability.

She has speed, talent and is getting better by the start. Now 5-for-6 lifetime, she looks primed for her best on Nov. 5.

Nest, Malathaat and Clairiere are the horses to beat in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, perhaps in that order. But the trio should be concerned not only with each other.

The Cotillion winner is dangerous speed. If the big three leave her alone for too long, Society might just crash their party.