Breeders' Cup Distaff Explained

Class:	Grade I
Horse Race:	Breeders' Cup Distaff
Location:	North America
Inaugurated:	1984
Race Type:	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Distance:	miles (9 Furlongs)
Surface:	Dirt
Track:	left-handed
Qualification:	Fillies & Mare, three-years-old & up
Weight:	Assigned
Purse:	US$2,000,000^[1]

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.

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 : 1 miles (1984–1987); 1 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:

• 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:

• 5 – William I. Mott (1997, 1998, 2010, 2011, 2012)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 – Allen Paulson (1997, 1998, 2002)

Winners of the Breeders' Cup Distaff

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
2023	Idiomatic	4	Florent Geroux	Brad H. Cox	Juddmonte	1:50.57	$2,000,000	I
2022	Malathaat	4	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	Shadwell Stable	1:49.07	$2,000,000	I
2021	Marche Lorraine (JPN)	5	Oisin Murphy	Yoshito Yahagi	U. Carrot Farm	1:47.67	$2,000,000	I	^[5]
2020		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	^[6]
2019	Blue Prize (ARG)	6	Joe Bravo	Ignacio Correas IV	Merriebelle Stable	1:50.50	$2,000,000	I	^[7]
2018		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	^[8]
2017		5	John R. Velazquez	Dallas Stewart	Charles E. Fipke	1:50.25	$2,000,000	I	^[9]
2016	Beholder	6		Richard Mandella	Spendthrift Farm	1:49.22	$2,000,000	I	^[10]
2015	Stopchargingmaria	4	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Town And Country Farms	1:48.98	$2,000,000	I	^[11]
2014	Untapable	3	Rosie Napravnik	Steven M. Asmussen	Winchell Thoroughbreds	1:48.68	$2,000,000	I	^[12]
2013	Beholder	3		Richard Mandella	Spendthrift Farm	1:47.77	$2,000,000	I	^[13]
2012	Royal Delta	4	Mike E. Smith	William I. Mott	Besilu Stables	1:48.80	$2,000,000	I	^[14]
2011	Royal Delta	3	Jose Lezcano	William I. Mott	Palides Investments	1:50.78	$2,000,000	I	^[15]
2010	Unrivaled Belle	4	Kent Desormeaux	William I. Mott	Gary Seidler & Pete Vegso	1:50.04	$2,000,000	I	^[16]
2009	Life Is Sweet	4	Garrett K. Gomez	John Shirreffs	Pam & Martin Wygod	1:48.58	$2,000,000	I	^[17]
2008	Zenyatta	4	Mike E. Smith	John Shirreffs	Ann & Jerry Moss	1:46.85	$2,000,000	I	^[18]
2007	Ginger Punch	4	Rafael Bejarano	Robert J. Frankel	Stronach Stables	1:50.11	$2,000,000	I	^[19]
2006	Round Pond	4	Edgar Prado	Michael R. Matz	Fox Hill Farm	1:50.50	$2,000,000	I	^[20]
2005	Pleasant Home	4	Cornelio Velásquez	Claude R. McGaughey III	Ogden Mills Phipps	1:48.34	$2,000,000	I	^[21]
2004	Ashado	3	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	Starlight Stables	1:48.26	$1,000,000	I	^[22]
2003	Adoration	4	Pat Valenzuela	David Hofmans	Amerman Racing	1:49.17	$1,000,000	I	^[23]
2002	Azeri	4	Mike E. Smith	Laura de Seroux	Allen E. Paulson	1:48.64	$1,000,000	I	^[24]
2001	Unbridled Elaine	3	Pat Day	Dallas Stewart	Roger J. Devenport	1:49.21	$1,000,000	I	^[25]
2000	Spain	3	Victor Espinoza	D. Wayne Lukas	The Thoroughbred Corp.	1:47.66	$1,000,000	I	^[26]
1999	Beautiful Pleasure	4	Jorge F. Chavez	John T. Ward Jr.	John C. Oxley	1:47.56	$1,000,000	I	^[27]
1998		5		William I. Mott	Allen E. Paulson	1:49.89	$1,000,000	I	^[28]
1997		3		William I. Mott	Allen E. Paulson	1:47.20	$1,000,000	I	^[29]
1996		4		Wallace Dollase	M & R Stephen & The Thoroughbred Corp.	1:48.40	$1,000,000	I	^[30]
1995		4		Claude R. McGaughey III	Ogden Mills Phipps	1:46.15	$1,000,000	I	^[31]
1994		6		Thomas F. Proctor	Glen Hill Farm	1:50.79	$1,000,000	I	^[32]
1993		3	Ed Delahoussaye	Neil Drysdale	Irving & Marjorie Cowan	1:48.35	$1,000,000	I	^[33]
1992	Paseana (ARG)	5		Ron McAnally	Sidney H. Craig	1:48.17	$1,000,000	I	^[34]
1991		3		James E. Day	Sam-Son Farm	1:50.95	$1,000,000	I	^[35]
1990	Bayakoa (ARG)	6		Ron McAnally	Frank & Janis Whitham	1:49.20	$1,000,000	I
1989	Bayakoa (ARG)	5		Ron McAnally	Frank & Janis Whitham	1:47.40	$1,000,000	I
1988		4		Claude R. McGaughey III	Ogden Phipps	1:52.00	$1,000,000	I
1987		3		D. Wayne Lukas	B. A. Beal & L. R. French	2:02.80†	$1,000,000	I
1986		4		D. Wayne Lukas	Gene Klein	2:01.20†	$1,000,000	I
1985		4		D. Wayne Lukas	Mel Hatley & Gene Klein	2:02.00†	$1,000,000	I
1984		4	Ed Delahoussaye	Neil Drysdale	Paula J. Tucker	2:02.40†	$1,000,000	I

† – 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 races were run at 1 miles

See also

• Breeders' Cup Distaff "top three finishers" and starters
• American thoroughbred racing top attended events

External links

• Official Breeders' Cup website
• Ten Things You Should Know about the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic at Hello Race Fans!
• Three Great Moments: Breeders' Cup Distaff at Hello Race Fans!

Notes and References

1. Web site: Breeders' Cup Disaff Stakes Profile. www.equibase.com. 3 November 2017. en.
2. Web site: Top 100 G1 races of the World. ifhaonline.org. 3 November 2017.
3. Web site: Breeders' Cup Friday to Spotlight Juvenile Races . BloodHorse.com . 4 July 2018 . en.
4. Web site: BC announces 2022 "Win and You're In' schedule . BloodHorse.com . 7 October 2022.
5. Web site: 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 10) . Equibase . 8 November 2021.
6. Web site: 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 10) . Equibase . 7 November 2020 . 31 July 2021.
7. Web site: 2019 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 10) . Equibase . 2 November 2019 . 31 July 2021.
8. Web site: 2018 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 9) . Equibase . 3 November 2018 . 31 July 2021.
9. Web site: 2017 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 9) . Equibase . 3 November 2017 . 31 July 2021.
10. Web site: 2016 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 9) . Equibase . 4 November 2016 . 31 July 2021.
11. Web site: 2015 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 9) . Equibase . 30 October 2015 . 31 July 2021.
12. Web site: 2014 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 9) . Equibase . 31 October 2014 . 31 July 2021.
13. Web site: 2013 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 10) . Equibase . 1 November 2013 . 31 July 2021.
14. Web site: 2012 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic Grade 1 - (race 9) . Equibase . 2 November 2012 . 31 July 2021.
15. Web site: 2011 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic Grade 1 - (race 10) . Equibase . 4 November 2011 . 31 July 2021.
16. Web site: 2010 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic Grade 1 - (race 10) . Equibase . 5 November 2010 . 31 July 2021.
17. Web site: 2009 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic Grade 1 - (race 8) . Equibase . 6 November 2009 . 31 July 2021.
18. Web site: 2008 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic Grade 1 - (race 7) . Equibase . 24 October 2008 . 31 July 2021.
19. Web site: 2007 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 9) . Equibase . 27 October 2007 . 31 July 2021.
20. Web site: 2006 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 8) . Equibase . 4 November 2006 . 31 July 2021.
21. Web site: 2005 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 8) . Equibase . 29 October 2005 . 31 July 2021.
22. Web site: 2004 Breeders' Cup Distaff Prsented by NexTel Grade 1 - (race 2) . Equibase . 30 October 2004 . 31 July 2021.
23. Web site: 2003 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 2) . Equibase . 25 October 2003 . 31 July 2021.
24. Web site: 2002 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 3) . Equibase . 26 October 2002 . 31 July 2021.
25. Web site: 2001 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 3) . Equibase . 27 October 2001 . 31 July 2021.
26. Web site: 2000 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 3) . Equibase . 4 November 2000 . 31 July 2021.
27. Web site: 1999 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 3) . Equibase . 6 November 1999 . 31 July 2021.
28. Web site: 1998 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 8) . Equibase . 7 November 1998 . 31 July 2021.
29. Web site: 1997 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 4) . Equibase . 8 November 1997 . 31 July 2021.
30. Web site: 1996 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 6) . Equibase . 26 October 1996 . 31 July 2021.
31. Web site: 1995 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 4) . Equibase . 28 October 1995 . 31 July 2021.
32. Web site: 1994 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 6) . Equibase . 5 November 1994 . 31 July 2021.
33. Web site: 1993 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 4) . Equibase . 6 November 1993 . 31 July 2021.
34. Web site: 1992 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 6) . Equibase . 31 October 1992 . 31 July 2021.
35. Web site: 1991 Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 4) . Equibase . 2 November 1991 . 31 July 2021.