The $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) will be contested for the 28th time and closes out the two-day, 14-race Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar.
The race is often a predictor of who will be crowned champion in the older female turf division in North America. Only eleven times since the first being contested has the Breeders’ Cup winner’s connections not collected the Eclipse Award. Last year’s winner, Inspiral, took home championship honors.
The race usually is contested at 1 ¼ miles or 1 3/8 miles, depending on the host track’s turf course configuration, but this year, the race will be contested at 1 3/8 miles because of Del Mar’s Jimmy Durante turf course layout. It has also been contested at 1 1/8 miles once over this same course back in 2017.
Check the Time for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and complete the race card for the “Championship Saturday”:
| Race | Race Name | Post Time ET |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Sunrise (Allowance) | 1:05pm |
| 2 | The Ocean View (Allowance) | 1:40pm |
| 3 | Goldikova Stakes (G3) | 2:15pm |
| 4 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) | 3:00pm |
| 5 | Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) | 3:41pm |
| 6 | Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) | 4:21pm |
| 7 | Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) | 5:01pm |
| 8 | Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) | 5:41pm |
| 9 | Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) | 6:25pm |
| 10 | Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) | 7:05pm |
| 11 | Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile | 7:45pm |
| 12 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) | 8:25pm |
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 of this race, 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 apiece.
The Japan star Loves Only You stormed to a half-length win in her first victory in the race for Japan in 2021. She won her last race, the Hong Kong Cup (G1), before being retired to broodmare duty.
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 the 1 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 3-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 races' 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 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 at the wire thrilled racing fans and completed trainer Aidan O’Brien’s 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. She will not be back for the Breeders’ Cup this year as her retirement was recently announced.
Pari-mutuel 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 25 runnings, betting favorites have won 24% of the time (six of 25), 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 four of the last five editions, which tends to inflate pools due to global interest and can lead to higher over-rounds (the bookmaker’s edge). U.S.-based horses have won 12 times overall, Europeans 12, with one Japanese winner, creating balanced but volatile 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 over half the time. Favorites deliver modest returns (Ouija Board at 9-10 odds paid $4.80 in 2004), while longshots like Shared Account (46-1, $94 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.
Overall, double-digit win payouts occur frequently, reflecting the race’s competitiveness.
Trends show value in exotic wagers: following previous winners next out has yielded negative ROI overall, but positive for particular trainers. For 2025, expect similar payout volatility with Euros like Barnavara (Prix de l’Opera winner) potentially offering overlay value against U.S. speed like Stellify.
The race often favors off-pace runners and closers, especially at longer distances like the 1 3/8 miles at Del Mar, where the tight turns and firm turf reward tactical speed over pure front-end dominance.
Historical trends show winners often 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, when mid-pack stalker Moira prevailed. Average winning Beyer speed figures hover around 103.
Prep races like France’s Prix de l’Opera (G1) (four winners since 2009) and Britain’s Sun Chariot Stakes (G1) often set up favorable pace scenarios for closers, as they emphasize stamina over speed. Trends show a bias against pure speed horses in large fields (up to 14 runners), with draws 5-11 producing recent winners.
For 2025, the pace could be honest with potential front-runners like Mission of Joy or Stellify setting it up for closers such as She Feels Pretty (recent E.P. Taylor winner) or Euro invaders like Whirl. Expect a scenario where early pressure helps late runners, aligning with the race’s 30% win rate for fillies/mares who’ve shown closing ability in prior starts.
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.
