The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) will be run for the 28th time and Saturday's contest is often a predictor of who will be crowned champion in the older female turf division in North America.
Only 12 times since first being contested has the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner’s connections not collected the Eclipse Award. Last year’s winner, Gazora, finished ahead of She Feels Pretty, who collected the Eclipse Award for the division.
0 The Breeders' Cup race is normally contested at 1 ¼ miles or 1 3/8 miles, depending on host track’s turf course configuration, but this year, the race this year will be contested at 1 3/16 miles because of the layout of Keeneland’s Haggin turf course. It has also been contested at 1 1/8 miles once at Del Mar back in 2017.
Ouija Board is the only two-time winner of the race (2004, 2006) and she was also second in 2005 behind Intercontinental. Her connections were rewarded with the Eclipse Award in both years she won this race.
Chad Brown, who is a four-time Eclipse Award-winner himself, has saddled four winners beginning with Zagora in 2012. Dayatthespa followed for Brown in 2014, Stephanie’s Kitten in 2015 and Sistercharlie in 2018.
Hall of Famer John Velazquez and Europe’s most famous rider Frankie Dettori are the race’s top jockeys having booted home three winners a piece.
The Japan star Loves Only You stormed to a half-length victory in 2021 for a first victory Breeders’ Cup win for Japan.
Dank in 2013 set the stakes record for the 1 ¼-mile distance when she stopped the teletimer in 1:58.73 and Perfect Sting went the1 3/8 miles in 2:13.07 in 2000.
2004, 2006 – One of the most unique standouts was Ouija Board, the British mare who captured the race twice — in 2004 at Lone Star Park as a three-year-old with a commanding performance, and again in 2006 at Churchill Downs to reclaim her crown after a runner-up finish in 2005. The Edward Dunlop trainee’s repeat victory made her the first horse to win non-consecutive editions, highlighting her exceptional durability and class on American turf, where she outclassed fields filled with top European and U.S. talent.
2016 -- Close finishes have defined many of the race's most exciting chapters, none more so than the 2016 running at Santa Anita, where Queen's Trust unleashed a furious late rally under Frankie Dettori to edge out the heavily favored Lady Eli in a photo finish, denying the American star a storybook comeback after her life-threatening battle with laminitis.
2019 -- Iridessa, trained by former jockey Joseph O'Brien, delivered a gutsy performance to outduel Vasilika by a neck, with defending champion Sistercharlie close behind in third, creating a blanket finish that rewarded bettors at 13-1 odds and marked O'Brien's first Breeders' Cup win as a trainer.
2020 – Audarya's 2020 triumph at Keeneland at nearly 18-1 was a thriller as the French mare surged past the favored Rushing Fall in the final strides for her shocking victory amid a pandemic-shortened season.
2021 – Japan's breakthrough came in 2021 at Del Mar with Loves Only You, who became the first Japanese horse to win this race, stalking patiently before unleashing a powerful kick to edge My Sister Nat, showcasing the country’s growing global influence.
2022 – At Keeneland Tuesday's dramatic five-wide sweep under Ryan Moore to snatch victory from pacesetter In Italian right at the wire thrilled racing fans and completed trainer Aidan O'Brien' long quest for this elusive title after 17 previous attempts.
2023 – Inspiral flew home under Frankie Dettori to mow down Warm Heart and win by a half-length. The Frankel filly won five other Group 1 races over her career and was honored with an Eclipse Award as champion turf female.
2024 – Canadian-bred Moira finally secured her first Grade 1 score with a bold front-running effort at Del Mar after a third-place finish in 2023, proving that persistence and tactical innovation continue to fuel the race's enduring excitement.
2025 – Gezora, a French-bred 3-year-old daughter of Almanzor trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden by Mickael Barzalona for owner Peter M. Brant, surged past She Feels Pretty in deep stretch to win the 27th running by a half-length in 2:12.54 over firm turf at Del Mar. The $20.20 winner, who had captured the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (G1) earlier in the year, closed from midpack after longshot Be Your Best set fractions of :24.36, :47.43 and 1:11.17. It marked Graffard’s first Breeders’ Cup victory and Barzalona’s second.
Betting in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf has historically favored a mix of favorites and value plays, with strong international influence shaping the pools. Over the last 26 runnings, betting favorites have won approximately 23% of the time (6 of 26), with another six finishing second, indicating solid public money on top contenders but room for upsets.
The second betting choice has won three times, suggesting mid-range odds often attract sharp action. European-based runners have dominated recently, winning five of the last six editions, which tends to inflate pools due to global interest and can lead to higher payouts.
U.S.-based horses have won 12 times overall, Europeans 13 (including 2025), with one Japanese winner, creating balanced wagering trends when international shippers draw significant exotic bets like exactas and trifectas.
Payouts in this race vary widely due to field depth and international competition, with median win payouts often reaching double digits more than half the time.
Favorites deliver modest returns (Ouija Board returned $4.80 in 2004), while longshots like Shared Account (46-1, $94 payout in 2010) create massive windfalls.
Recent winners show a trend toward mid-range odds. The last U.S.-based winner, Sistercharlie ($8.60 in 2018), topped a $29.60 exacta.
Last year Gezora paid $20.20 to win after a mid-pack trip and late rally. The $1 exacta returned $79.60, and the $0.50 trifecta was worth $131.50.
This race often favors off-pace runners and closers, especially at longer distances like the 1 ⅜ miles at Del Mar a year ago where the tight turns and firm turf reward tactical speed over pure front-end dominance.
Historical trends show winners frequently coming from mid-pack or further back.
Inspiral (2023) rallied from off the pace, Tuesday (2022) came five-wide in the stretch, and Queen’s Trust (2016) flew down the middle late.
Pace figures from recent years include early fractions like :25.38, :49.84, and 1:15.08 in 2024, where mid-pack stalker Moira prevailed. Average winning Beyer speed figures hover around 103.
Prep races like France’s Prix de l’Opera (G1) and Britain’s Sun Chariot Stakes (G1) often set up favorable pace scenarios for closers, as they emphasize stamina over speed. There has been a strong bias against pure speed horses in large fields (up to 14 runners), with draws 5-11 producing recent winners.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
