Breeders’ Cup Distaff Post Position History

The Breeders’ Cup Distaff is a $2,000,000 race that has grown to become one of the most prestigious races for fillies and mares. The post positions for the Distaff have produced a wide range of winners, due mostly to the fluctuation in the race’s field size.

Three and four-year-old fillies have predominantly won the race, but there are five exceptions. Bayakoa won this race in back-to-back efforts during her 5-year and 6-year-old seasons. The only other 6-year-old mare to win the Breeders’ Cup Distaff is One Dreamer. Two other 5-year-olds won this race in the 1990’s Paseana and Escena. Escena being the more recent of the two.

Bayakoa isn’t the only repeat champion. Royal Delta won the 2011 and 2012 renditions of the Distaff, when it was known as the Ladies Classic. Beholder won both races from the 6th post position. Her bid for a third victory was spoiled by the legendary Beholder in 2013.

Breeders’ Cup Distaff post positions are tough to measure from a metrics standpoint, for the simple reason that this race has historically featured a field of six or seven contenders. The 2015 Distaff field maxed out at 14 contenders. 2014 witnessed Untapable besting a field of 10 and in 2013 Beholder vanquished a field totaling just six rivals.

The 4 stall has produced the most Breeders’ Cup Distaff winners totaling 6 victories. This includes the most recent Champion, Stopchargingmaria. Post 4 is also the gate from which Princess Rooney won the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in 1984.

The second most successful post position in the Distaff is, unexpectedly, the inside gate. Most recently, Zenyatta won from gate 1 in 2008. Four other runners achieved the same feat in 2006, 2004 and from 1995 to 1997.

The Breeders’ Cup Distaff was also known as the “Ladies Classic” between 2008 and 2012 before switching back to the original name. The race is currently sponsored by Longines.

The 2016 renewal of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff will have eight post positions and star incredible talent such as Stellar Wind, Beholder and Songbird. The Distaff is scheduled for Friday, November 4th. You can bet on the Distaff post positions here.

Breeders’ Cup Distaff Past Winners and Post Positions

Note: In earlier renewals of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, post positions were not in numerical order at the gate.

Year	Winner	Time	Track	PP
2015	Stopchargingmaria	1:48.98	Keeneland	4
2014	Untapable	1:48.68	Santa Anita	10
2013	Beholder	1:47.77	Santa Anita	5
2012	Royal Delta	1:48.80	Santa Anita	6
2011	Royal Delta	1:50.78	Churchill Downs	6
2010	Unrivaled Belle	1:50.04	Churchill Downs	8
2009	Life Is Sweet	1:48.58	Santa Anita	2
2008	Zenyatta	1:46.85	Santa Anita	1
2007	Ginger Punch	1:50.11	Monmouth Park	4
2006	Round Pond	1:50.50	Churchill Downs	1
2005	Pleasant Home	1:48.34	Belmont Park	11
2004	Ashado	1:48.26	Lone Star Park	1
2003	Adoration	1:49.17	Santa Anita	2
2002	Azeri	1:48.64	Arlington Park	4
2001	Unbridled Elaine	1:49.21	Belmont Park	6
2000	Spain	1:47.66	Churchill Downs	4
1999	Beautiful Pleasure	1:47.56	Gulfstream Park	6
1998	Escena	1:49.89	Churchill Downs	7
1997	Ajina	1:47.20	Hollywood Park	1
1996	Jewel Princess	1:48.40	Woodbine	1
1995	Inside Information	1:46.15	Belmont Park	1
1994	One Dreamer	1:50.79	Churchill Downs	4
1993	Hollywood Wildcat	1:48.35	Santa Anita	6
1992	Paseana (ARG)	1:48.17	Hollywood Park	14
1991	Dance Smartly	1:50.95	Churchill Downs	10*
1990	Bayakoa (ARG)	1:49.20	Belmont Park	5
1989	Bayakoa (ARG)	1:47.40	Gulfstream Park	2
1988	Personal Ensign	1:52.00	Churchill Downs	6
1987	Sacahuista	2:02.80†	Hollywood Park	5
1986	Lady’s Secret	2:01.20†	Santa Anita	6
1985	Life’s Magic	2:02.00†	Aqueduct	6
1984	Princess Rooney	2:02.40†	Hollywood Park	4

*Dance Smartly ran from the 10th post but wore number 14