The Juddmonte Spinster Stakes has traditionally been one of the most important races in the older female division and the most impactful prep for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Princess Rooney (1984), Sacahuista (1987), Bayakoa (1989, 1990), Inside Information (1995), Blue Prize (2019), Malathaat (2022), and Idiomatic (2023) all completed the Spinster-Distaff sweep in the same year. Life’s Magic, Paseana, Spain, Unbridled Elaine, and Pleasant Home also were Distaff winners that came out of the Spinster at Keeneland in their final Breeders’ Cup prep race.

This year’s race drew a compact field of five headlined by 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, on target for a repeat bid in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and rising star 3-year-old filly Nitrogen.

1. Chilled: She showed some flashes earlier this year but has not looked like the same filly in her last two races. Chilled was nonfactor when last of six in a Grade 3 dirt race at Monmouth Park in July and was beaten by 12 lengths when ninth of 11 in a September allowance race on the grass at Kentucky Downs. That’s not the ideal setup for a showdown with reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna.

JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Victoria Oliver

2. Scylla: She should be razor-sharp coming into the Spinster off a runner-up finish in the seven-furlong Resorts World Casino Ballerina Stakes. She has a win at this distance, a win on the main track at Keeneland, and the versatility in terms of running style to adapt depending on how the race develops. A great bet for a top-three finish.

JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Bill Mott

3. Nitrogen: She’s 2-for-2 on the dirt and her most recent win on a fast (dry) track in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes Presented by Keeneland Sales was a real eye-opener. Nitrogen easily handled 3-year-old division standouts La Cara and Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer in a 1 ½-length win and should be rested and ready for the Spinster. She’s the main threat to Thorpedo Anna but the 3-year-old fillies she defeated in the Alabama ain’t the reigning Horse of the Year. We’ll find out how good she is on Sunday.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Mark Casse

4. Gin Gin: A talented older female with a graded stakes win in four starts this year, Gin Gin has finished behind Thorpedo Anna in each of their three previous meetings. She could pick up a minor award but it’s hard to envision her in the Spinster winner’s circle.

JOCKEY: Luis Saez; TRAINER: Brendan Walsh

5. Thorpedo Anna: Last year’s Horse of the Year has won four of five starts as a 4-year-old in 2025, is unbeaten in six starts at this 1 1/8-mile distance, and enters the Spinster off a hard-fought victory by a nose in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes. It was good to see the “Grizzly” find herself in a fight in the stretch and dig in to turn away Dorth Vader in the Personal Ensign. She should improve off that testing race. Expect a peak performance on Sunday.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Ken McPeek

THE PICK: Thorpedo Anna

LIVE LONGSHOT: Scylla

TRIFECTA: 5-2-3