Breeders’ Cup Distaff
The Breeders’ Cup Distaff, run immediately before the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, is a Grade 1 race for three-year-old and up fillies and mares. Up to 1987, it was run over a distance of 1 ΒΌ miles. The distance for the race was changed in 1988, and since then it has been run over 1 1/8 miles.
The 2008 Breeders’ Cup Distaff is sponsored by Emirates Airline and has a total purse of $2 million.
Breeders’ Cup Distaff Winners
Bred in Argentina and trained by Ron McAnally for owners Janis & Frank Whitham, Bayakoa won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in consecutive years, in 1989 and 1990. In both years, she also won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Female Horse. After her death in 1997, Bayakoa was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York.
In 1995, Inside Information set the fastest time for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, at 1:46:15.
Year |
Winner |
Time |
Jockey |
Trainer |
| 2007 | Ginger Punch | 1:50.11 | R. Bejarano | B. Frankel |
| 2006 | Round Pond | 1:50.50 | Edgar Prado | Michael Matz |
| 2005 | Pleasant Home | 1:48.34 | C. Velaquez | S McGaughey |
| 2004 | Ashado | 1:48.26 | J. Velasquez | T. Plecther |
| 2003 | Adoration | 1:49:17 | Pat Valenzuela | David Hofmans |
| 2002 | Azeri | 1:48:64 | Mike Smith | Laura de Seroux |
| 2001 | Unbridled Elaine | 1:49:21 | Pat Day | Dallas Stewart |
| 2000 | Spain | 1:47:66 | Victor Espinoza | D. Wayne Lukas |
| 1999 | Beautiful Pleasure | 1:47:56 | Jorge Chavez | John Ward Jr. |
| 1998 | Escena | 1:49:89 | Gary Stevens | Bill Mott |
| 1997 | Ajina | 1:47:20 | Mike Smith | Bill Mott |
| 1996 | Jewel Princess | 1:48:40 | Corey Nakatani | Wallace Dollase |
| 1995 | Inside Information | 1:46:15 | Mike Smith | Shug McGaughey |
| 1994 | One Dreamer | 1:50:79 | Gary Stevens | Thomas Proctor |
| 1993 | Hollywood Wildcat | 1:48:35 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Neil Drysdale |
| 1992 | Paseana | 1:48:17 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally |
| 1991 | Dance Smartly | 1:50:95 | Pat Day | Jim Day |
| 1990 | Bayakoa | 1:49:20 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Ron McAnally |
| 1989 | Bayakoa | 1:47:40 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Ron McAnally |
| 1988 | Personal Ensign | 1:52:00 | Randy Romero | Shug McGaughey |
| 1987 | Sacahuista | 2:02:80 | Randy Romero | D. Wayne Lukas |
| 1986 | Lady’s Secret | 2:01:20 | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas |
| 1985 | Life’s Magic | 2:02:00 | Angel Cordero Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas |
| 1984 | Princess Rooney | 2:02:40 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Neil Drysdale |
2007 Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Ginger Punch won the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Owned by Frank Stronach and trained by Bobby Frankel, Ginger Punch is a daughter of the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, Awesome Again.
Runner-up Hystericalady actually bumped Ginger Punch at the eighth pole during the race, causing the stewards to post an inquiry sign. Nevertheless, Ginger Punch fought clear and Hystericalady took second place, just a neck in front of Octave.
Lear’s Princess - the 9-2 antepost race favourite - managed only a tenth position in the race.
Don’t miss this year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff, where the best of the older fillies and mares will again be battling it out for the prize.
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