Horse Betting World

Breeders´ Cup “Filly & Mare Turf”

Fifteen years after the first Breeders’ Cup was run at Hollywood Park, the Filly & Mare Turf was added to the menu in 1999 at Gulfstream Park. Soaring Softly won the inaugural event for trainer James Toner and jockey Jerry Bailey. Sent away as the betting favorite that day, she started a trend of hard-to-find value in a race that features some of the best female long-distance turf runners in the world. This race has been run at 1 ¼ miles six times and 1 3/8 miles on five occasions – this is the distance this year at Churchill Downs. European runners have won this race five times, including last year when Midday was a relatively easy winner at Santa Anita. She is expected back this November to defend her crown. World-class mare Ouija Board won this race twice, including the last held at Churchill Downs; the late trainer Bobby Frankel won this race twice with Intercontinental and Starine; and Jerry Bailey backed up his win in the first edition by winning the next year aboard Perfect Sting.

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf facts to consider in your handicapping:

Distance: 1 3/8 Miles on turf

Post Time: 6:10 PM (ET), Friday

Churchill Downs Track Profile for this distance – over the last two race meets there has only been one race run at this distance. The winner raced just off the pace through the early stages.

Breeders’ Cup Track Profile at Churchill Downs for this distance – in both previous editions held at Churchill Downs early speed fared poorly. Ouija Board raced within 3 ¼ lengths of the leaders throughout, while Perfect Sting moved into contention on the far turn after racing within easy reach of the leaders (just 5 ¼ lengths back at the second call).

Churchill Downs Post Position Profile for this distance – the winner of the only race run at this distance during the last two race meets started from post 6 in a 6-horse field.

Breeders’ Cup Post Position Profile at Churchill Downs for this distance – Ouija Board started from post 2 in a 10-horse field, while Perfect Sting broke from post 8 in a 14-horse field.

Betting Angles – Betting favorites have won 4-of-11 editions of this race, and only three winners have gone to post at double-digit odds. The two longest-priced winners were, ironically enough, both of Bobby Frankel’s winners – Intercontinental at 15/1 and Starine at 13/1. In the two editions held at Churchill Downs, Ouija Board was the 7/5 betting favorite in 2006 and Perfect Sting was the second choice at 5/1 in 2000. Landing on a winner in this race is all about finding the class – every previous winner of this race won at least one Grade I or Group I race prior to the Breeders’ Cup.