Breeders' Cup Winning Ways

The Breeders' Cup contests bring together the best horses in the United States and top European counterparts. These races can be very lucrative for handicappers. Since 2000, more than 65% of the winners have paid double digits. Multi-race wagers and exotics have paid thousands of dollars.

In the last decade, the Breeders’ Cup has been held at Santa Anita three times, 2003, 2009 and 2010. The 2003 edition was contested over dirt while the 2009 and 2010 versions were held over synthetic surfaces.

Below we’ll examine which running styles, prep races and track surfaces yield the most Breeders’ Cup winners in the Filly & Mare Sprint, Turf Sprint, Dirt Mile, and Filly & Mare Turf. The Sprint, Turf, Distaff (Ladies Classic) and Classic are analyzed on the Iron Maidens Thoroughbreds website.

FILLY & MARE SPRINT

Prep Races: The Filly & Mare Sprint has been contested four times, twice over the Santa Anita Polytrack. The Thoroughbred Club of America (G-2) figured prominently as a prep race, with two mares completing the TCA and Filly & Mare Sprint double. One filly placed in the TCA before winning the Filly & Mare Sprint. One mare was victorious in the Ballerina and one placed in the Woodbine Mile before victories in the Breeders' Cup.

Running Style: No mare won the race from wire-to-wire. Three sat in fourth place or closer while one sat mid-pack before gaining their wins. One did her best work from the back of the pack.

Favorites: None of the favorites have won in the five editions of the Filly & Mare Sprint. Two finished second while the rest were off the board.

Europeans: Only one European took on the North American female sprinters. She finished off of the board.

TURF SPRINT

Prep Race: The Turf Sprint has been contested four times. The two times the race has been held over the downhill turf course at Santa Anita, not surprisingly, California-based horses won. Three races, the

Morvich Handicap, San Simeon Handicap (both contested at Santa Anita) and Woodford Stakes have been used as prep races. Two of the winners preped in the Morvich. Two of the Turf Sprint heroes finished off of the board in their respective preps.

Running Style: A pace setter and one run closer each won the Sprint when it was held over the Santa Anita downhill course. A pace presser and one run closer won at Churchill.

Favorites: Two favorites, California Flag and Regally Ready won, while one favorite placed third and another was off the board.

Europeans: Five Europeans have contested the Turf Sprint in the last four years. One finished second while the rest were off of the board.

DIRT MILE

Prep Race: The Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile has been contested five times. Two winners raced previously in the Goodwood Stakes, while one each ran in the Woodward, Kentucky Cup Classic and Indiana Derby. Only two Dirt Mile heroes won their prep. Two finished third and one was fourth.

Running Style: No Dirt Mile winner has wired the field. Two made their runs from the back of the pack while one mid-pack runner and a pace presser won. When the Dirt Mile was contested at Santa Anita, one winner pressed the pace while the other raced in the back of the pack and made his run in the stretch.

Favorites: None of the favorites won and only one hit the board.

Europeans: Only one European horse has entered the Dirt Mile since its inception. He placed fourth.

FILLY & MARE TURF

Prep Races: The Filly and Mare Turf has been contested 13 times. Only one mare, world traveler Ouija Board won the race twice and placed once. In three attempts. In two of three runnings held at Santa Anita, European Fillies prevailed. Additionally, at Santa Anita in 2003, three of the four Europeans finished in the money, the other finished tenth. The Flower Bowl Invitational was used as a prep by four mares. Two won that prep while the other two finished off of the board. Two mares each used the WinStar Galaxy and the Arc de Triomphe as preps prior to their victories in the Filly & Mare Turf. Six of the 13 mares won their prep for the Breeders' Cup. One was second, three were third and four were unplaced.

Running Style: One mare in 13 editions of the Filly and Mare Turf has wired the field. Longshot Intercontinental denied the overwhelming favorite Ouija Board a second consecutive victory in the Breeders' Cup. Ouija Board would come back the following year and triumph.

The pace pressers and mid-pack running styles were used by the remaining 12 runners.

Favorites: Like other Breeders' Cup turf contests, the Filly and Mare Turf has been an attractive betting race for handicappers. Four of the favorites won, two each placed second and third, while the remaining five finished off of the board. Five winners had double digit payouts. The 2010 Champ Shared Account paid $46.00 to win, the highest in the race's history.

Europeans: 30 Europeans have entered the Filly and Mare Turf. Similar to the results of the other Breeders' Cup turf races, foreign horses have fared well. Of the 30, 13 have hit the board, with four each winning or placing, while five finished third.