Positano Sunset Eyes G1 Double in Derby City Distaff

If there was a theme for the female sprint ranks during the 2024 season, it was being ripe with parity as bragging rights were tossed about with every top-level race. If the field set to go to post for the $1 million Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs May 3 is an indication, the breadth of ability within the division will again be overflowing, and any attempt at ascendancy hard fought. With four grade 1 winners in its 14-horse lineup, the Derby City Distaff lacks for nothing in terms of quality and quantity as one of seven graded stakes on the undercard of the 151st Kentucky Derby (G1). In addition to defending race winner Vahva making her seasonal bow, the seven-furlong race will mark the return of last year's Test Stakes (G1) winner Ways and Means—the tepid 3-1 choice on the morning line—as well as featuring La Brea Stakes (G1) heroine Kopion and Madison Stakes (G1) victress Positano Sunset. Getting a stronghold on the division proved elusive a year ago as no female sprinter was able to win more than one grade 1 race in 2024. Though she is the newest member of the top-level club courtesy of her victory in the April 8 Madison at Keeneland, Ian Wilkes-trained Positano Sunset could achieve that feat in her third start this season as the daughter of Goldencents—who will break from post 11—has the advantage of strong recent form and a dose of maturity in this her 5-year-old season. As a sophomore, the bay mare signaled her ability when she defeated Vahva in an allowance optional claiming race at Keeneland in April 2023. She would follow that up with a winning effort in the Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park that August but was found to have the start of a condylar fracture shortly after. Though she put forth some solid efforts when she returned last year, including a runner-up effort behind Vahva and ahead of grade 1 winner Society in the Chicago Stakes (G3), it wasn't until her season-opening win at Tampa Bay Downs March 9 that Wilkes began seeing signs of the promise she previously flaunted moving to the forefront. "She showed ability as a 3-year-old... but then she had just the start of a condylar, so we took care of it, and it took a little while for her to heal and come back," said Wilkes, who trains Positano Sunset for Six Column Stables, Randall Bloch, and John and David Hall. "All last year, she was running well, but I hadn't gotten her back to the level she was as a 3-year-old. I took her to Florida to just give her a break, freshen her up, and then she trained very well. "I ran her at Tampa and I thought that race was an exceptional race because she had to really dig in to win and then after that race, she trained even better," Wilkes continued. "I went into the Madison quietly confident that my filly would run well. She finally matured as a 5-year-old and if she can lift her game another level here, we can compete with these fillies down the road." While each established themselves as two of the more talented members of the division last year, both Vahva and Ways and Means will be making their first starts since off-the-board efforts in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar last November. The former, however, is unbeaten in four starts at Churchill Downs and threw down a sharp half-mile work for trainer Cherie DeVaux at Keeneland April 27 where she was clocked in :47 4/5. Trained by Richard Mandella, Kopion handily captured her 2025 debut, taking the Santa Monica Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 1 by 4 1/2 lengths, and will be making her first start outside of California. Among those who boast form over the Churchill Downs surface and have been knocking on the door of grade 1 success are Juddmonte homebred Scylla and Stonestreet Stables' Emery. Scylla, a full sister to graded stakes winner Tacitus, is also 4-for-4 beneath the twin spires including a win in the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) last June. The daughter of Tapit is another coming off the layoff as she finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Brad Cox-trained Emery has been worse than second just once in nine career starts and enters off a runner-up effort in the Madison Stakes. The daughter of More Than Ready took the Leslie's Lady Overnight Stakes going seven furlongs at Churchill last June prior to capturing the Victory Ride (G3) and Raven Run (G2) stakes. "She's very consistent. She's doing well," Cox said of Emery. "She came out of (the Madison) in really good order." Challenging as it has been maintaining divisional supremacy, Wilkes feels whoever emerges from Saturday's test will send a message that top honors go through them for the remainder of the season. "This is a strong field top to bottom. This field is deeper than a Breeders' Cup Sprint," Wilkes said. "I was hoping they would have waited a little bit. But (whomever wins) will be the king of hill here off this race."