Breeders Cup Distaff

The Breeders Cup Distaff draws together the best three-year-old and up fillies and mares going a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs). This top-ranked race for fillies and mares was known as the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic from 2008 to 2012. The race is currently called the Longines Distaff.

In 1984, Princess Rooney became the first mare to win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She was also the first Breeders’ Cup champion to be inducted into the Hall of Fame (United States Racing Hall of Fame – 1991).  Aside from Princess Rooney, the Distaff has been won by a number of memorable female stars over the years, including Lady’s Secret (1986), Personal Ensign (1988), Dance Smartly (2003), Paseana (1992), Inside Information (1995), Azeri (2002), Ashado (2004), and Zenyatta (2009).

Horses can qualify for the event either through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re in” or through a selection process. If there are more than 14 nominees (oversubscribed), the BC Challenge Series winners will get spots and the next seven are determined by points based on the following formula. Win, place, and show horses in Grade I stakes earn ten, six, and four points, respectively. The top three finishers in Grade II stakes earn six, four, and two points respectively, and in Grade III races the points earned are four, two, and one, respectively.

The horses remaining after the BC Challenge winners and 7 entries based on points will be ranked in order of preference by the Panel. The Panel will be free to establish its own criteria or ranking so that high-quality horses of demonstrated ability will have the opportunity to participate in Championship Races regardless of earlier participation in graded events.

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Win and You’re In Races

DATE	RACE	GRADE	TRACK	DISTANCE	WINNER	VIDEO
May 1st	Gran Premio Criadores	1	Hipodromo de Palermo	1 1/2 Miles	La Validada (ARG)
Jun 11th	Ogden Phipps	1	Belmont Park	1 1/16 Miles	Clairiere
Aug 6th	Clement L. Hirsch Stakes	1	Del Mar	1 1/16 Miles	Blue Stripe
Oct 9th	Juddmonte Spinster Stakes	1	Keeneland	1 1/8 Miles	Malathaat

Records

Most wins:

2 – Bayakoa (ARG) (1989, 1990)

2 – Royal Delta (2011, 2012)

2 – Beholder (2013, 2016)

2 – Monomoy Girl (2018, 2020)

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)       

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Past Winners

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