Location United States Distance 7 furlongs (1408 m) Track left-handed | Inaugurated 2007 Surface Dirt | |
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing | ||
The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint is a 7-furlong (1408 m) Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred fillies and mares three years old and up. As its name implies, it is a part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the de facto year-end championship for North American thoroughbred racing, generally held in the United States (also held one time in Canada). The race is run on a dirt course (either natural dirt or a synthetic surface such as Polytrack).
Contents
The race was run for the first time in 2007 during the first day of the expanded Breeders' Cup at that year's host track, Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. In 2009, the race became a Grade I event.
The 2007 race was held at a distance of 6 furlongs (1207 m) instead of the normal distance of 7 furlongs because of the configuration of the dirt track at Monmouth Park.
Automatic Berths
Beginning in 2007, the Breeders' Cup developed "The Breeders' Cup Challenge," a series of races in each division that allotted automatic qualifying bids to winners of defined races. Each of the thirteen divisions has between three and twelve of these "Win and You're In" qualifying races.
In the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint division, runners are limited to 14, with up to three automatic berths. Note though that one horse may win multiple challenge races, while other challenge winners will not be entered in the Breeders' Cup for a variety of reasons such as injury or travel considerations.
The 2016 "Win and You're In" races are:
- the Princess Rooney Handicap, a Grade 2 race run in July at Gulfstream Park in Florida
- the Ballerina Stakes, a Grade 1 race at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York
- the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, a Grade 2 race at Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky
Records
Most wins:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
Winners of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint since 2007
† - Run at 6 furlongs