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 : 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: 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 Ref2025Scylla5Junior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottJuddmonte1:48.07$2,000,000I2024Thorpedo Anna3Brian Hernandez Jr.Kenneth McPeekBrookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks, et al.1:49.10$2,000,000I2023Idiomatic4Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxJuddmonte1:50.57$2,000,000I2022Malathaat4John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherShadwell Stable1:49.07$2,000,000I2021Marche Lorraine (JPN)5Oisin MurphyYoshito YahagiU. Carrot Farm1:47.67$2,000,000I2020Monomoy Girl 5Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxMichael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, Carcone Holdings, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables1:47.84$2,000,000I2019Blue Prize (ARG)6Joe BravoIgnacio Correas IVMerriebelle Stable1:50.50$2,000,000I2018Monomoy Girl 3Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxMichael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, Carcone Holdings, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables1:49.79$2,000,000I2017Forever Unbridled 5John R. VelazquezDallas StewartCharles E. Fipke1:50.25$2,000,000I2016 Beholder6 Gary Stevens Richard Mandella Spendthrift Farm1:49.22$2,000,000I2015 Stopchargingmaria4 Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher Town And Country Farms1:48.98$2,000,000I2014 Untapable3 Rosie Napravnik Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds1:48.68$2,000,000I2013 Beholder3 Gary Stevens Richard Mandella Spendthrift Farm1:47.77$2,000,000I2012 Royal Delta4 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Besilu Stables1:48.80$2,000,000I2011 Royal Delta3 Jose Lezcano William I. Mott Palides Investments1:50.78$2,000,000I2010 Unrivaled Belle4 Kent Desormeaux William I. Mott Gary Seidler & Pete Vegso1:50.04$2,000,000I2009 Life Is Sweet4 Garrett K. Gomez John Shirreffs Pam & Martin Wygod1:48.58$2,000,000I2008 Zenyatta4 Mike E. Smith John Shirreffs Ann & Jerry Moss1:46.85$2,000,000I2007 Ginger Punch4 Rafael Bejarano Robert J. Frankel Stronach Stables1:50.11$2,000,000I2006 Round Pond4 Edgar Prado Michael R. Matz Fox Hill Farm1:50.50$2,000,000I2005 Pleasant Home4 Cornelio Velásquez Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps1:48.34$2,000,000I2004 Ashado3 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Starlight Stables 1:48.26$1,000,000I2003 Adoration4 Pat Valenzuela David Hofmans Amerman Racing1:49.17$1,000,000I2002 Azeri4 Mike E. Smith Laura de Seroux Allen E. Paulson1:48.64$1,000,000I2001 Unbridled Elaine3 Pat Day Dallas Stewart Roger J. Devenport1:49.21$1,000,000I2000 Spain3 Victor Espinoza D. Wayne Lukas The Thoroughbred Corp.1:47.66$1,000,000I1999 Beautiful Pleasure4 Jorge F. Chavez John T. Ward Jr. John C. Oxley1:47.56$1,000,000I1998 Escena 5 Gary Stevens William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson1:49.89$1,000,000I1997 Ajina 3 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson1:47.20$1,000,000I1996 Jewel Princess 4 Corey Nakatani Wallace Dollase M & R Stephen & The Thoroughbred Corp.1:48.40$1,000,000I1995 Inside Information 4 Mike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps1:46.15$1,000,000I1994 One Dreamer 6 Gary Stevens Thomas F. Proctor Glen Hill Farm1:50.79$1,000,000I1993 Hollywood Wildcat 3 Ed Delahoussaye Neil Drysdale Irving & Marjorie Cowan1:48.35$1,000,000I1992 Paseana (ARG)5 Chris McCarron Ron McAnally Sidney H. Craig1:48.17$1,000,000I1991 Dance Smartly 3 Pat Day James E. Day Sam-Son Farm1:50.95$1,000,000I1990 Bayakoa (ARG)6 Laffit Pincay Jr. Ron McAnally Frank & Janis Whitham 1:49.20$1,000,000I1989 Bayakoa (ARG)5 Laffit Pincay Jr. Ron McAnally Frank & Janis Whitham 1:47.40$1,000,000I1988 Personal Ensign 4 Randy Romero Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps1:52.00$1,000,000I1987 Sacahuista 3 Randy Romero D. Wayne Lukas B. A. Beal & L. R. French2:02.80†$1,000,000I1986 Lady's Secret 4 Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Gene Klein2:01.20†$1,000,000I1985 Life's Magic 4 Ángel Cordero Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Mel Hatley & Gene Klein2:02.00†$1,000,000I1984 Princess Rooney 4 Ed Delahoussaye Neil Drysdale Paula J. Tucker2:02.40†$1,000,000I † – 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

References

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!