Breeders Cup
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf 2023 Angles
By Jarrod Horak
The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf was introduced at Gulfstream Park in 1999 and Soaring Softly was the initial winner. This race has been held at Santa Anita eight times, and the 2023 renewal will be held at the Great Race Place on Saturday, Nov. 4. They will be traveling a mile and a quarter on the turf course.
Recent BC Filly & Mare Turf Results
Tuesday (IRE) tallied from off the pace in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien. She was exiting a 6th place finish in the Prix de l’Opera (G1) at Longchamp in France. Loves Only You (JPN) captured this event in 2021 at Del Mar and was exiting a win in the Sapporo Kinen (G2) in Japan.
At Keeneland in 2020, Audarya (FR) shipped to the states after a show finish in the Prix de l’Opera (G1) at Longchamp in France. Iridessa (IRE) won the 2019 renewal at Santa Anita and was exiting a show finish in the Sun Chariot (G1) at Newmarket. Sistercharlie (IRE) won it in 2018 and was exiting a victory in the Beverly D (G1) at Artlington. 2017 winner Wuheida (GB) shipped in from France after a 4th place finish in the Prix de l’Opera (G1) at Chantilly.
It was Queen’s Trust (GB) at Santa Anita in 2016 and she came to the states after a show finish in the British Champions Filly & Mare (G1) at Ascot. Stephanie’s Kitten was the 2015 winner at Keeneland and prepped for the Breeders’ Cup with a win in the Flower Bowl (G1).
The Santa Anita Years
Current class is a strong angle when this race is held at Santa Anita. All eight Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winners at the Great Race Place prepared for their Breeders’ Cup appearances in a Grade 1 race, and each of those runners finished in the top three in their final preps.
The chart below shows all 8 winners of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita, and it includes winning riders, trainers, post positions, running styles, win payoffs, and final preps.
Trainers to Watch
Chad Brown saddled the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf four times (Zagora, Dayatthespa, Stephanie’s Kitten, Sistercharlie).
Sir Michael Stoute captured this Breeders’ Cup race three times at Santa Anita (Islington, Dank, Queen’s Trust).
Ed Dunlop trainee Ouija Board (GB) won this event in 2004 and 2006.
Jockeys to Watch
John Velazquez shows the way with a trio of Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winners (Starine, Perfect Shirl, Sistercharlie).
Javier Castellano, Frankie Dettori, and Ryan Moore each booted home a pair of winners in this race.
BC Filly & Mare Turf Trends
Overseas shippers captured this race six times in the last seven years. Horses bred in France, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan won the last seven renewals of this race. Stephanie’s Kitten in 2015 was the last horse bred in this country to win this event, and she was a Kentucky-bred daughter of Kitten’s Joy.
Going back to 2012, six horses had their final Breeders’ Cup preps overseas, and five runners had their final preps in North America. Chad Brown trained four of the US-based winners. Based on that data, the 2023 winner will either be a Chad Brown trainee or an overseas shipper.
Check out these other Breeders’ Cup 2023 articles:
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint 2023 Angles
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies 2023 Angles
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf 2023 Angles
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf 2023 Angles