Wild Spirit's Ruffian victory may have earned her a spot in the Distaff.
Oussama Abou-Ghazale, owner of Wild Spirit, has informed trainer Bobby Frankel that he is leaning toward running the Chilean-bred 4-year-old filly in the Breeders' Cup Distaff - Presented by Nextel (gr. I), Frankel said Tuesday.Frankel had been against running the filly, feeling the $400,000 supplementary fee was a bad investment. "They're not worried about the money," Frankel said. "They want to run. But they want to wait another week to see how she's doing before making it official."Abou-Ghazale owns Wild Spirit under the name of Sumaya Us Stables, named after his mother, who was in attendance with her son when Wild Spirit won the Ruffian Handicap (gr. I). Abou-Ghazale, who imports and exports fruit, is a native of Jerusalem, who moved to Chile 23 years ago. Wild Spirit has captured three of her four starts since being sent here from Chile. In addition to the Ruffian, she also won the Delaware Handicap (gr. II) and Shuvee Handicap (gr. II). Her only defeat came in the Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I), in which she was beaten a nose by the Allen Jerkens-trained Passing Shot, whom she came back to defeat easily in the Ruffian.Wild Spirit would give Frankel a potent one-two punch in the Distaff, along with Juddmonte Farms' Sightseek, winner of four straight grade I stakes, including last Saturday's Beldame.
