The American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a female horse in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971.
The award originated in 1936 when both the Daily Racing Form (DRF) and Turf and Sports Digest (TSD) magazine began naming an annual champion. Starting in 1950, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations (TRA) began naming its own champion. The following list provides the name of the horses chosen by these organizations. There were several disagreements, with more than one champion being recognized on five occasions. In 1949, two Calumet Farm fillies, Wistful and Two Lea, shared the Champion's title after finishing equal top of the Daily Racing Form poll.
The Daily Racing Form, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, and the National Turf Writers Association all joined forces in 1971 to create the Eclipse Award. In 1978, the voting resulted in a tie between two fillies.
Champions from 1887 through 1935 were selected retrospectively by a panel of experts as published by The Blood-Horse magazine.
Honorees
Eclipse Awards Year Horse Trainer Owner2025NitrogenMark E. CasseD J Stable2024Thorpedo AnnaKenneth McPeekNader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing 2023Pretty Mischievous Brendan P. WalshGodolphin Racing 2022Nest Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Michael House 2021Malathaat Todd A. PletcherShadwell Stable2020Swiss Skydiver Kenneth McPeekPeter J. Callahan2019CovfefeBrad H. CoxLNJ Foxwoods2018Monomoy GirlBrad H. CoxSol Kumin, Michael Dubb, Elkstone Group & Bethlehem Stables2017Abel TasmanBob BaffertChina Horse Club International & Clearsky Farms2016SongbirdJerry HollendorferFox Hill Farms Inc.2015Stellar WindJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing2014UntapableSteve AsmussenRon Winchell2013BeholderRichard E. MandellaSpendthrift Farm2012QuestingKiaran McLaughlinGodolphin Racing2011 Royal Delta Bill Mott Saud bin Khaled2010 Blind Luck Jerry Hollendorfer M. Dedomenico, J. Carver, J. Hollendorfer, Abruzz2009 Rachel Alexandra Steve Asmussen Stonestreet Stables2008 Proud Spell J. Larry Jones Brereton C. Jones2007 Rags to Riches Todd A. Pletcher Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith2006 Wait A While Todd A. Pletcher Arindel Farm2005 Smuggler Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps2004 Ashado Todd A. Pletcher Jonabell Farm2003 Bird Town Nick Zito Marylou Whitney Stables2002 Farda Amiga Paulo Lobo Escolastica Stable et al.2001 Xtra Heat John E. Salzman Sr. J. E. Salzman Sr., Ken Taylor, Harry Deitchman2000 Surfside D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm1999 Silverbulletday Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram1998 Banshee Breeze Carl Nafzger Jayeff B. Stables & James B. Tafel 1997 Ajina William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson1996 Yanks Music Leo O'Brien Audrey H. Cooper & Michael Fennessy1995 Serena's Song D. Wayne Lukas Robert & Beverly Lewis1994 Heavenly Prize Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps1993 Hollywood Wildcat Neil D. Drysdale Irving & Marjorie Cowan1992 Saratoga Dew Gary Sciacca Charles F. Engel1991 Dance Smartly James E. Day Sam-Son Farm1990 Go For Wand William Badgett Jr. Christiana Stable1989 Open Mind D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein1988 Winning Colors D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein1987 Sacahuista D. Wayne Lukas Barry A. Beal & Lloyd R. French Jr.1986 Tiffany Lass Laz Barrera Aaron U. Jones1985 Mom's Command Edward T. Allard Peter D. Fuller1984 Life's Magic D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein & Mel Hatley1983 Heartlight No. One Pedro Marti Burt Bacharach1982 Christmas Past Angel Penna Jr. Cynthia Phipps1981 Wayward Lass Jose A. Martin Lizza & Hochreiter1980 Genuine Risk LeRoy Jolley Diana M. Firestone1979 Davona Dale John M. Veitch Calumet Farm1978 Tempest Queen Lou Rondinello John W. Galbreath1977 Our Mims John M. Veitch Calumet Farm1976 Revidere David A. Whiteley William Haggin Perry1975 Ruffian Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. Stuart & Barbara Janney1974 Chris Evert Joseph A. Trovato Carl Rosen1973 Desert Vixen Thomas F. Root Sr. Harry T. Mangurian Jr.1972 Susan's Girl John W. Russell Fred W. Hooper1971 Turkish Trousers Charles E. Whittingham Howard B. Keck
Daily Racing Form, Turf & Sport Digest and Thoroughbred Racing Association Awards Year Horse Trainer Owner1970 Office Queen (DRF) Budd Lepman Stephen A. Calder1970 Fanfreluche (TRA) Yonnie Starr J. Louis Lévesque1969 Gallant Bloom William J. Hirsch Robert J. Kelberg Jr.1968 Dark Mirage Everett W. King Lloyd I. Miller1967 Furl Sail (DRF) John L. Winans Edwin K. Thomas1967 Gamely (TRA) James W. Maloney William Haggin Perry 1966 Lady Pitt Stephen A. DiMauro Thomas A. Eazor1965 What a Treat Sylvester Veitch George D. Widener Jr.1964 Tosmah Joseph W. Mergler Briardale Farm1963 Lamb Chop James W. Maloney William Haggin Perry 1962 Cicada Casey Hayes Meadow Stable1961 Bowl of Flowers J. Elliott Burch Brookmeade Stable1960 Berlo Richard E. Handlen William du Pont Jr.1959 Royal Native (DRF) Kenny Noe Sr. Perne L. Grissom1959 Silver Spoon (TRA) Robert L. Wheeler Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney1958 Idun Sherrill W. Ward Mrs. Charles U. Bay1957 Bayou Moody Jolley Claiborne Farm1956 Doubledogdare Moody Jolley Claiborne Farm1955 Misty Morn Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable1954 Parlo Richard E. Handlen William du Pont Jr.1953 Grecian Queen James P. Conway Florence Whitaker1952 Real Delight Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm1951 Kiss Me Kate Oscar White Walter M. Jeffords1950 Next Move William C. Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II
Daily Racing Form and Turf & Sport Digest Awards Year Horse Trainer Owner1949 Two Lea (DRF tie) Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm1949 Wistful (DRF tie) Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm1948 Miss Request James P. Conway Florence Whitaker1947 But Why Not Max Hirsch Robert J. Kleberg Jr.1946 Bridal Flower James W. Smith John R. Bradley1945 Busher George M. Odom Louis B. Mayer1944 Twilight Tear Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm1943 Stefanita Bert Mulholland George D. Widener Jr.1942 Vagrancy James E. Fitzsimmons Belair Stud1941 Painted Veil Graceton Philpot Louis B. Mayer1940 Fairy Chant Richard E. Handlen William du Pont Jr.1939 Unerring (DRF) Ben A. Jones Woolford Farm1939 War Plumage Howard Oots James Cox Brady Jr.1938 Handcuff Hugh L. Fontaine Isabel Dodge Sloane1937 Dawn Play Max Hirsch Robert J. Kleberg Jr.1936 High Fleet Bert Mulholland George D. Widener Jr.
The Blood-Horse retrospective champions Year Horse Trainer Owner1935 Black Helen William A. Hurley Edward R. Bradley1934 Mata Hari Clyde Van Dusen Charles T. Fisher1934 Bazaar Herbert J. Thompson Edward R. Bradley1933 Barn Swallow Herbert J. Thompson Edward R. Bradley1932 Top Flight Thomas J. Healey C. V. Whitney1931 Tambour Preston M. Burch Preston M. Burch1930 Alcibiades Walter W. Taylor Hal Price Headley1930 Snowflake Jack R. Pryce Walter J. Salmon Sr.1929 Rose of Sharon Daniel E. Stewart Johnson N. Camden Jr.1928 Bateau Scott P. Harlan Walter M. Jeffords1928 Easter Stockings Kay Spence Audley Farm Stable1927 Nimba George M. Odom Marshall Field III1926 Edith Cavell Scott P. Harlan Walter M. Jeffords1926 Black Maria William H. Karrick William R. Coe1925 Florence Nightingale Robert A. Smith Walter M. Jeffords1925 Maid at Arms Gwyn R. Tompkins Samuel D. Riddle1924 Nellie Morse Albert B. Gordon Bud Fisher1924 Princess Doreen Kay Spence Audley Farm Stable1923 Untidy Scott P. Harlan Helen Hay Whitney1922 Emotion George M. Odom Robert L. Gerry Sr.1921 Prudery James G. Rowe Sr. Harry Payne Whitney1920 Cleopatra William H. Karrick William R. Coe1919 Milkmaid H. Guy Bedwell J. K. L. Ross1919 Vexatious James G. Rowe Sr. Harry Payne Whitney1918 Enfilade John Hastings Morton L. Schwartz1918 Eyelid Richard O. Miller Anthony L. Aste1917 Sunbonnet Walter B. Jennings A. Kingsley Macomber1916 Kathleen Pete Coyne George J. Long1915 Regret James G. Rowe Sr. Harry Payne Whitney1914 Addie M. George W. Langdon John W. Messervy1913 Flying Fairy J. Simon Healy Edward B. Cassatt1912 None Selected n/a n/a1911 None Selected n/a n/a1910 Ocean Bound French Brooks Woodford Clay1909 Maskette James G. Rowe Sr. James R. Keene1908 Stamina A. Jack Joyner Harry Payne Whitney1907 Court Dress James G. Rowe Sr. James R. Keene1907 Kennyetto William Hayward Jr. John Sanford1906 Tangle John E. Madden Francis R. Hitchcock1906 Running Water Thomas Welsh Newcastle Stable1905 Artful John W. Rogers Harry Payne Whitney1905 Tanya John W. Rogers Harry Payne Whitney1904 Beldame Fred Burlew Newton Bennington1903 Eugenia Burch William C. Smith Libby Curtis1902 Blue Girl John W. Rogers William C. Whitney1901 Trigger Charles F. Hill Clarence H. Mackay1900 Killashandra Sam Hildreth William C. Whitney1899 Admiration Sam Hildreth William C. Whitney1898 Briar Sweet Walter B. Jennings Walter B. Jennings1897 Cleophus Hardy Campbell Jr. Michael F. Dwyer1896 Souffle James M. Murphy James M. Murphy 1895 The Butterflies John J. Hyland David Gideon1894 Beldemere Edward FeakesPreakness Stables1893 None Selected n/a n/a1892 Yo Tambien John Huffman Kendall Stable1892 Yorkville Belle Matthew M. Allen Frank A. Ehret1891 La Tosca John Huggins Pierre Lorillard IV1890 Sinaloa II Robert E. Campbell E. J. "Lucky" Baldwin1889 Fides James G. Rowe Sr. August Belmont1888 Los Angeles Robert E. Campbell E. J. "Lucky" Baldwin1888 Bella B. Frank McCabe Dwyer Brothers Stable1887 Firenze Matthew Byrnes James B. A. Haggin
References
The Bloodhorse.com Champion's history charts
Notes