The Breeders' Cup Distaff is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, three years old and up. Known as the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic between 2008 and 2012, it is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. It is the top ranked race for fillies and mares in North America,[2] and often decides the title for champion three-year-old and / or champion older filly or mare.

Quick Facts Location, Inaugurated ...
Breeders' Cup Distaff
Grade I race
LocationNorth America
Inaugurated1984
Race typeThoroughbredFlat racing
Race information
Distance1+18 miles (9 Furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationFillies & Mare, three-years-old & up
WeightAssigned
PurseUS$2,000,000[1]
Close

Starting with the 2008 Breeders' Cup, the Distaff was the final race on the first day (Friday) of the two-day event. In 2018, it was returned to the Saturday card.[3]

Distance : 114 miles (1984–1987); 118 miles (1988 to present).

Automatic berths

In 2007, the Breeders' Cup developed the Breeders' Cup Challenge, a series of races in each division that allots automatic qualifying bids to winners of defined races. Each of the fourteen divisions has multiple qualifying races. Note though that one horse may win multiple challenge races, while other challenge winners will not be entered in the Breeders' Cup for a variety of reasons such as injury or travel considerations.

In the Distaff division, runners are limited to 14 and there are up to four automatic berths. The 2022 "Win and You're In" races were:[4]

  1. Gran Premio Criadores, a Group 1 race run in May at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo in Argentina
  2. Ogden Phipps Stakes, a Grade 1 race run in June at Belmont Park in New York
  3. Clement L. Hirsch Handicap, a Grade 1 race run in August at Del Mar Racetrack in California
  4. Spinster Stakes, a Grade 1 race at Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky

Records

Most wins:

Stakes record: Not applicable, as the race is run at different tracks

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

More information Year, Winner ...
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time Purse Grade Ref
2024 Thorpedo Anna 4 Brian Hernandez Jr. Kenneth McPeek Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks, et al. 1:49.10 $2,000,000 I [5]
2023 Idiomatic 4 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Juddmonte 1:50.57 $2,000,000 I [6]
2022 Malathaat 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Shadwell Stable 1:49.07 $2,000,000 I [7]
2021 Marche Lorraine (JPN) 5 Oisin Murphy Yoshito Yahagi U. Carrot Farm 1:47.67 $2,000,000 I [8]
2020 Monomoy Girl 5 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, Carcone Holdings, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables 1:47.84 $2,000,000 I [9]
2019 Blue Prize (ARG) 6 Joe Bravo Ignacio Correas IV Merriebelle Stable 1:50.50 $2,000,000 I [10]
2018 Monomoy Girl 3 Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, Carcone Holdings, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables 1:49.79 $2,000,000 I [11]
2017 Forever Unbridled 5 John R. Velazquez Dallas Stewart Charles E. Fipke 1:50.25 $2,000,000 I [12]
2016 Beholder 6 Gary Stevens Richard Mandella Spendthrift Farm 1:49.22 $2,000,000 I [13]
2015 Stopchargingmaria 4 Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher Town And Country Farms 1:48.98 $2,000,000 I [14]
2014 Untapable 3 Rosie Napravnik Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds 1:48.68 $2,000,000 I [15]
2013 Beholder 3 Gary Stevens Richard Mandella Spendthrift Farm 1:47.77 $2,000,000 I [16]
2012 Royal Delta 4 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Besilu Stables 1:48.80 $2,000,000 I [17]
2011 Royal Delta 3 Jose Lezcano William I. Mott Palides Investments 1:50.78 $2,000,000 I [18]
2010 Unrivaled Belle 4 Kent Desormeaux William I. Mott Gary Seidler & Pete Vegso 1:50.04 $2,000,000 I [19]
2009 Life Is Sweet 4 Garrett K. Gomez John Shirreffs Pam & Martin Wygod 1:48.58 $2,000,000 I [20]
2008 Zenyatta 4 Mike E. Smith John Shirreffs Ann & Jerry Moss 1:46.85 $2,000,000 I [21]
2007 Ginger Punch 4 Rafael Bejarano Robert J. Frankel Stronach Stables 1:50.11 $2,000,000 I [22]
2006 Round Pond 4 Edgar Prado Michael R. Matz Fox Hill Farm 1:50.50 $2,000,000 I [23]
2005 Pleasant Home 4 Cornelio Velásquez Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps 1:48.34 $2,000,000 I [24]
2004 Ashado 3 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Starlight Stables 1:48.26 $1,000,000 I [25]
2003 Adoration 4 Pat Valenzuela David Hofmans Amerman Racing 1:49.17 $1,000,000 I [26]
2002 Azeri 4 Mike E. Smith Laura de Seroux Allen E. Paulson 1:48.64 $1,000,000 I [27]
2001 Unbridled Elaine 3 Pat Day Dallas Stewart Roger J. Devenport 1:49.21 $1,000,000 I [28]
2000 Spain 3 Victor Espinoza D. Wayne Lukas The Thoroughbred Corp. 1:47.66 $1,000,000 I [29]
1999 Beautiful Pleasure 4 Jorge F. Chavez John T. Ward Jr. John C. Oxley 1:47.56 $1,000,000 I [30]
1998 Escena 5 Gary Stevens William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson 1:49.89 $1,000,000 I [31]
1997 Ajina 3 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson 1:47.20 $1,000,000 I [32]
1996 Jewel Princess 4 Corey Nakatani Wallace Dollase M & R Stephen & The Thoroughbred Corp. 1:48.40 $1,000,000 I [33]
1995 Inside Information 4 Mike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps 1:46.15 $1,000,000 I [34]
1994 One Dreamer 6 Gary Stevens Thomas F. Proctor Glen Hill Farm 1:50.79 $1,000,000 I [35]
1993 Hollywood Wildcat 3 Ed Delahoussaye Neil Drysdale Irving & Marjorie Cowan 1:48.35 $1,000,000 I [36]
1992 Paseana (ARG) 5 Chris McCarron Ron McAnally Sidney H. Craig 1:48.17 $1,000,000 I [37]
1991 Dance Smartly 3 Pat Day James E. Day Sam-Son Farm 1:50.95 $1,000,000 I [38]
1990 Bayakoa (ARG) 6 Laffit Pincay Jr. Ron McAnally Frank & Janis Whitham 1:49.20 $1,000,000 I
1989 Bayakoa (ARG) 5 Laffit Pincay Jr. Ron McAnally Frank & Janis Whitham 1:47.40 $1,000,000 I
1988 Personal Ensign 4 Randy Romero Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps 1:52.00 $1,000,000 I
1987 Sacahuista 3 Randy Romero D. Wayne Lukas B. A. Beal & L. R. French 2:02.80† $1,000,000 I
1986 Lady's Secret 4 Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Gene Klein 2:01.20† $1,000,000 I
1985 Life's Magic 4 Ángel Cordero Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Mel Hatley & Gene Klein 2:02.00† $1,000,000 I
1984 Princess Rooney 4 Ed Delahoussaye Neil Drysdale Paula J. Tucker 2:02.40† $1,000,000 I
Close

† – 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 races were run at 114 miles

See also

References

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