Breeders' Cup Distaff
Template:Short description Template:Infobox horseraces 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,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and often decides the title for champion three-year-old and / or champion older filly or mare.
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Distance : 1Template:Fraction miles (1984–1987); 1Template:Fraction 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:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Gran Premio Criadores, a Group 1 race run in May at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo in Argentina
- Ogden Phipps Stakes, a Grade 1 race run in June at Belmont Park in New York
- Clement L. Hirsch Handicap, a Grade 1 race run in August at Del Mar Racetrack in California
- Spinster Stakes, a Grade 1 race at Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky
Records
Most wins:
- 2 – Bayakoa (ARG) (1989, 1990)
- 2 – Royal Delta (2011, 2012)
- 2 – Beholder (2013, 2016)
- 2 – Monomoy Girl (2018, 2020)
Stakes record: Not applicable, as the race is run at different tracks
Most wins by a jockey:
- 5 – Mike Smith (1995, 1997, 2002, 2008, 2012)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 6 – William I. Mott (1997, 1998, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2025)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 – Allen Paulson (1997, 1998, 2002)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Scylla | 5 | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | Juddmonte | 1:48.07 | $2,000,000 | I | |
| 2024 | Thorpedo Anna | 3 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Kenneth McPeek | Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks, et al. | 1:49.10 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name="R2024">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2023 | Idiomatic | 4 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Juddmonte | 1:50.57 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name="R2023">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2022 | Malathaat | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Shadwell Stable | 1:49.07 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name="R2022">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2021 | Marche Lorraine (JPN) | 5 | Oisin Murphy | Yoshito Yahagi | U. Carrot Farm | 1:47.67 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name="R2021">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 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 | <ref name=R2020>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2019 | Blue Prize (ARG) | 6 | Joe Bravo | Ignacio Correas IV | Merriebelle Stable | 1:50.50 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2019>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 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 | <ref name=R2018>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2017 | Forever Unbridled | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Dallas Stewart | Charles E. Fipke | 1:50.25 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2017>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2016 | Beholder | 6 | Gary Stevens | Richard Mandella | Spendthrift Farm | 1:49.22 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2016>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2015 | Stopchargingmaria | 4 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Town And Country Farms | 1:48.98 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2015>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2014 | Untapable | 3 | Rosie Napravnik | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1:48.68 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2014>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2013 | Beholder | 3 | Gary Stevens | Richard Mandella | Spendthrift Farm | 1:47.77 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2013>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2012 | Royal Delta | 4 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Besilu Stables | 1:48.80 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2012>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2011 | Royal Delta | 3 | Jose Lezcano | William I. Mott | Palides Investments | 1:50.78 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2011>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2010 | Unrivaled Belle | 4 | Kent Desormeaux | William I. Mott | Gary Seidler & Pete Vegso | 1:50.04 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2010>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2009 | Life Is Sweet | 4 | Garrett K. Gomez | John Shirreffs | Pam & Martin Wygod | 1:48.58 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2009>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2008 | Zenyatta | 4 | Mike E. Smith | John Shirreffs | Ann & Jerry Moss | 1:46.85 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2008>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2007 | Ginger Punch | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Robert J. Frankel | Stronach Stables | 1:50.11 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2007>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2006 | Round Pond | 4 | Edgar Prado | Michael R. Matz | Fox Hill Farm | 1:50.50 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2006>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2005 | Pleasant Home | 4 | Cornelio Velásquez | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 1:48.34 | $2,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2005>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2004 | Ashado | 3 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Stables | 1:48.26 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2004>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2003 | Adoration | 4 | Pat Valenzuela | David Hofmans | Amerman Racing | 1:49.17 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2003>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2002 | Azeri | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Laura de Seroux | Allen E. Paulson | 1:48.64 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2002>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2001 | Unbridled Elaine | 3 | Pat Day | Dallas Stewart | Roger J. Devenport | 1:49.21 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2001>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2000 | Spain | 3 | Victor Espinoza | D. Wayne Lukas | The Thoroughbred Corp. | 1:47.66 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R2000>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 1999 | Beautiful Pleasure | 4 | Jorge F. Chavez | John T. Ward Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1:47.56 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R1999>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 1998 | Escena | 5 | Gary Stevens | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson | 1:49.89 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R1998>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 1997 | Ajina | 3 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson | 1:47.20 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R1997>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 1996 | Jewel Princess | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Wallace Dollase | M & R Stephen & The Thoroughbred Corp. | 1:48.40 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R1996>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 1995 | Inside Information | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 1:46.15 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R1995>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 1994 | One Dreamer | 6 | Gary Stevens | Thomas F. Proctor | Glen Hill Farm | 1:50.79 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R1994>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 1993 | Hollywood Wildcat | 3 | Ed Delahoussaye | Neil Drysdale | Irving & Marjorie Cowan | 1:48.35 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R1993>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 1992 | Paseana (ARG) | 5 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Sidney H. Craig | 1:48.17 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R1992>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 1991 | Dance Smartly | 3 | Pat Day | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:50.95 | $1,000,000 | I | <ref name=R1991>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 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 |
† – 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 races were run at 1Template:Fraction miles
See also
- Breeders' Cup Distaff "top three finishers" and starters
- American thoroughbred racing top attended events