# Breeders' Cup Distaff

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, 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.
Distance : 11⁄4 miles (1984–1987); 11⁄8 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:
* 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:
* 5 – William I. Mott (1997, 1998, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – Allen Paulson (1997, 1998, 2002)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | Purse | Grade |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2019 | Blue Prize (ARG) | 6 | Joe Bravo | Ignacio Correas IV | Merriebelle Stable | 1:50.50 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 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 |
| 2017 | Forever Unbridled | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Dallas Stewart | Charles E. Fipke | 1:50.25 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 2016 | Beholder | 6 | Gary Stevens | Richard Mandella | Spendthrift Farm | 1:49.22 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 2015 | Stopchargingmaria | 4 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Town And Country Farms | 1:48.98 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 2014 | Untapable | 3 | Rosie Napravnik | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1:48.68 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 2013 | Beholder | 3 | Gary Stevens | Richard Mandella | Spendthrift Farm | 1:47.77 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 2012 | Royal Delta | 4 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Besilu Stables | 1:48.80 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 2011 | Royal Delta | 3 | Jose Lezcano | William I. Mott | Palides Investments | 1:50.78 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 2010 | Unrivaled Belle | 4 | Kent Desormeaux | William I. Mott | Gary Seidler & Pete Vegso | 1:50.04 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 2009 | Life Is Sweet | 4 | Garrett K. Gomez | John Shirreffs | Pam & Martin Wygod | 1:48.58 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 2008 | Zenyatta | 4 | Mike E. Smith | John Shirreffs | Ann & Jerry Moss | 1:46.85 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 2007 | Ginger Punch | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Robert J. Frankel | Stronach Stables | 1:50.11 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 2006 | Round Pond | 4 | Edgar Prado | Michael R. Matz | Fox Hill Farm | 1:50.50 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 2005 | Pleasant Home | 4 | Cornelio Velásquez | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 1:48.34 | $2,000,000 | I |
| 2004 | Ashado | 3 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Stables | 1:48.26 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2003 | Adoration | 4 | Pat Valenzuela | David Hofmans | Amerman Racing | 1:49.17 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2002 | Azeri | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Laura de Seroux | Allen E. Paulson | 1:48.64 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2001 | Unbridled Elaine | 3 | Pat Day | Dallas Stewart | Roger J. Devenport | 1:49.21 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2000 | Spain | 3 | Victor Espinoza | D. Wayne Lukas | The Thoroughbred Corp. | 1:47.66 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 1999 | Beautiful Pleasure | 4 | Jorge F. Chavez | John T. Ward Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1:47.56 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 1998 | Escena | 5 | Gary Stevens | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson | 1:49.89 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 1997 | Ajina | 3 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson | 1:47.20 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 1996 | Jewel Princess | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Wallace Dollase | M & R Stephen & The Thoroughbred Corp. | 1:48.40 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 1995 | Inside Information | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 1:46.15 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 1994 | One Dreamer | 6 | Gary Stevens | Thomas F. Proctor | Glen Hill Farm | 1:50.79 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 1993 | Hollywood Wildcat | 3 | Ed Delahoussaye | Neil Drysdale | Irving & Marjorie Cowan | 1:48.35 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 1992 | Paseana (ARG) | 5 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Sidney H. Craig | 1:48.17 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 1991 | Dance Smartly | 3 | Pat Day | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:50.95 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 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 11⁄4 miles