Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, NJ - OCTOBER 27: Hystericalady #12, riden by Eddie Castro, battles Ginger Punch 4, riden by Rafael Bejarano down the final stretch of the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff October 27, 2007 during the Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
The Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic is a Grade 1 weight-for-age handicap for three-year-old and above fillies and mares. In 1988 the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic race distance was cut from 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/8 miles.

The Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic attracts some of the finest thoroughbred fillies in the world. The race distance makes the event accessible to racehorses that competed in either the Oaks or the Classics, as well as American Triple Crown races, and it is not unusual for the field to contain several former big-race champions. The Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic awards a prize fund of $2 million.

The Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic Winners

Year

Winner

Time

Jockey

Trainer
2008 Zenyatta 1:46.85 Mike E. Smith John Shirreffs
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

2008 The Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic

The 2008 The Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic went to John Shirreff’s classy 4 year old filly, Zenyatta. The filly, who many consider to be the finest American thoroughbred racehorse since Secretariat, entered the race as antepost favourite and won it by breaking from behind the pack at the final turn to take the race by over a length. Zenyatta may put her unbeaten record to the test in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic, where she will attempt to become the first filly to win the meeting’s richest and most prestigious race.