The Breeders’ Cup Distaff is a nine-furlong main track race for fillies and mares, three years old and up. It is one of the seven original Breeders’ Cup championship races. It was known as the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic between 2008 and 2012, but reverted to its more preferred and rightful name for the 2013 renewal.
Like the rest of the Breeders’ Cup races, this one often decides who will be crowned both champion three-year-old female and or champion older filly or mare. Initially it was contested at the classic distance of 1 ¼ miles from 1984 to 1987 but was cut back to 1 1/8 miles in 1988 where it’s remained through this year.
Unlike many of the other Breeders’ Cup races, more than half of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff winners failed to earn year-end championship honors. In 1997 Sacahuista was the first, losing the Eclipse Award to stablemate North Sider. Other famous Distaff winners who didn’t earn the Eclipse Award in the same year include Hollywood Wildcat, who lost the trophy to Paseana in 1993; One Dreamer in 1994 lost to Sky Beauty; Adoration lost to three-time Eclipse winner and Horse of the year Azeri in 2003 while Ashado lost to Azeri after her Breeders’ Cup victory, but won the Eclipse the following year despite losing the Distaff to Pleasant Home. Royal Delta won the Breeders’ Cup in 2011 but didn’t earn an Eclipse as Havre de Grace did; Beholder won the 2013 Distaff, but lost the Eclipse to Royal Delta yet won the Eclipse in both 2015. She also won both in 2016.
Monomoy Girl won this race the first time in 2018 but lost the Eclipse to Unique Bella. Argentine import Blue Price took home the Breeders’ Cup trophy in 2019 but lost the Eclipse to Midnight Bisou. Japanese-bred Marche Lorraine was the 2021 Distaff heroine but Letruska was crowned the year-end champion.
Bayakoa (1989, 1990), Royal Delta (2011, 2012), Beholder (2013, 2016) and Monomoy Girl (2018, 2020) are the three two-time winners of the Distaff. Mike Smith has ridden five winners (1995, 1997, 2002, 2008 and 2012) and Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott has been represented by five winners as well (1997, 1998, 2010, 2012 and 2012).
Hall of Famer Inside Information still owns the record of 1:46.15 for the current distance when she won the 2005 edition at Belmont Park.
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