2016 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff

about this race

Race Info
History

A Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff for the ages on paper played out in real time in the most dramatic and epic way.

With a three-wide move on the final turn, Beholder looked undefeated Songbird in the eye and the rest of the field essentially disappeared. All the others were there, but the eyes of an entire sport were locked on the two champions. In a stretch run that will be remembered for ages, it was the older, more experienced champion that edged her 3-year-old opponent by the slimmest of margins at Santa Anita Park in what is expected to be Beholder's final race.

A Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff for the ages on paper played out in real time in the most dramatic and epic way.

With a three-wide move on the final turn, Beholder looked undefeated Songbird in the eye and the rest of the field essentially disappeared. All the others were there, but the eyes of an entire sport were locked on the two champions. In a stretch run that will be remembered for ages, it was the older, more experienced champion that edged her 3-year-old opponent by the slimmest of margins at Santa Anita Park in what is expected to be Beholder's final race.

Songbird never relented in her first defeat. She was simply second best on Nov. 4. The official margin was a nose, but the win photo showed barely more than a whisker between the two. The final time was 1:49.22 for 1 1/8 miles. Forever Unbridled finished third. Those facts will likely fade into history. Memories of the stretch battle will not.

Read MoreRead Less

Fastest Time (since 1976): 1:46:15
Greatest Winning Margin (since 1976): 13 1/2 lengths

Date	Past Winner	Trainer	Jockey	Owner
11/03/2023	Idiomatic Trainer / Brad H. Cox Jockey / Florent Geroux Owner / Juddmonte	Brad H. Cox	Florent Geroux	Juddmonte
11/04/2022	Malathaat Trainer / Todd A. Pletcher Jockey / John R. Velazquez Owner / Shadwell Stable	Todd A. Pletcher	John R. Velazquez	Shadwell Stable
11/05/2021	Marche Lorraine (JPN) Trainer / Yoshito Yahagi Jockey / Oisin Murphy Owner / U. Carrot Farm	Yoshito Yahagi	Oisin Murphy	U. Carrot Farm
11/06/2020	Monomoy Girl Trainer / Brad H. Cox Jockey / Florent Geroux Owner / Dubb, M., Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group, et al	Brad H. Cox	Florent Geroux	Dubb, M., Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group, et al
11/01/2019	Blue Prize (ARG) Trainer / Ignacio Correas, IV Jockey / Joe Bravo Owner / Merriebelle Stable LLC	Ignacio Correas, IV	Joe Bravo	Merriebelle Stable LLC
11/02/2018	Monomoy Girl Trainer / Brad H. Cox Jockey / Florent Geroux Owner / Dubb, M., Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group, et al	Brad H. Cox	Florent Geroux	Dubb, M., Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group, et al
11/02/2017	Forever Unbridled Trainer / Dallas Stewart Jockey / John R. Velazquez Owner / Charles E. Fipke	Dallas Stewart	John R. Velazquez	Charles E. Fipke
11/03/2016	Beholder Trainer / Richard E. Mandella Jockey / Gary L. Stevens Owner / Spendthrift Farm LLC	Richard E. Mandella	Gary L. Stevens	Spendthrift Farm LLC
10/29/2015	Stopchargingmaria Trainer / Todd A. Pletcher Jockey / Javier Castellano Owner / Town and Country Farms, Corp.	Todd A. Pletcher	Javier Castellano	Town and Country Farms, Corp.
10/30/2014	Untapable Trainer / Steven M. Asmussen Jockey / Rosie Napravnik Owner / Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC	Steven M. Asmussen	Rosie Napravnik	Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC
10/31/2013	Beholder Trainer / Richard E. Mandella Jockey / Gary L. Stevens Owner / Spendthrift Farm LLC	Richard E. Mandella	Gary L. Stevens	Spendthrift Farm LLC
11/01/2012	Royal Delta Trainer / William I. Mott Jockey / Mike E. Smith Owner / Besilu Stables	William I. Mott	Mike E. Smith	Besilu Stables
11/03/2011	Royal Delta Trainer / William I. Mott Jockey / Jose Lezcano Owner / Palides Investments N.V., Inc.	William I. Mott	Jose Lezcano	Palides Investments N.V., Inc.
11/04/2010	Unrivaled Belle Trainer / William I. Mott Jockey / Kent J. Desormeaux Owner / Seidler, Gary and Vegso, Peter	William I. Mott	Kent J. Desormeaux	Seidler, Gary and Vegso, Peter
11/05/2009	Life Is Sweet Trainer / John A. Shirreffs Jockey / Garrett K. Gomez Owner / Wygod, Pam and Martin	John A. Shirreffs	Garrett K. Gomez	Wygod, Pam and Martin
10/23/2008	Zenyatta Trainer / John A. Shirreffs Jockey / Mike E. Smith Owner / Moss, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S.	John A. Shirreffs	Mike E. Smith	Moss, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S.
10/26/2007	Ginger Punch Trainer / Robert J. Frankel Jockey / Rafael Bejarano Owner / Stronach Stables	Robert J. Frankel	Rafael Bejarano	Stronach Stables
11/03/2006	Round Pond Trainer / Michael R. Matz Jockey / Edgar S. Prado Owner / Fox Hill Farms, Inc.	Michael R. Matz	Edgar S. Prado	Fox Hill Farms, Inc.
10/28/2005	Pleasant Home Trainer / Claude R. McGaughey III Jockey / Cornelio H. Velasquez Owner / Phipps Stable	Claude R. McGaughey III	Cornelio H. Velasquez	Phipps Stable
10/29/2004	Ashado Trainer / Todd A. Pletcher Jockey / John R. Velazquez Owner / Starlight Racing	Todd A. Pletcher	John R. Velazquez	Starlight Racing
10/24/2003	Adoration Trainer / David E. Hofmans Jockey / Patrick A. Valenzuela Owner / Amerman Racing LLC	David E. Hofmans	Patrick A. Valenzuela	Amerman Racing LLC
10/25/2002	Azeri Trainer / Laura De Seroux Jockey / Mike E. Smith Owner / Allen E. Paulson Living Trust	Laura De Seroux	Mike E. Smith	Allen E. Paulson Living Trust
10/26/2001	Unbridled Elaine Trainer / Dallas Stewart Jockey / Pat Day Owner / Roger J. Devenport	Dallas Stewart	Pat Day	Roger J. Devenport
11/03/2000	Spain Trainer / D. Wayne Lukas Jockey / Victor Espinoza Owner / The Thoroughbred Corporation	D. Wayne Lukas	Victor Espinoza	The Thoroughbred Corporation
11/05/1999	Beautiful Pleasure Trainer / John T. Ward, Jr. Jockey / Jorge F. Chavez Owner / John C. Oxley	John T. Ward, Jr.	Jorge F. Chavez	John C. Oxley
11/06/1998	Escena Trainer / William I. Mott Jockey / Gary L. Stevens Owner / Allen E. Paulson	William I. Mott	Gary L. Stevens	Allen E. Paulson
11/07/1997	Ajina Trainer / William I. Mott Jockey / Mike E. Smith Owner / Allen E. Paulson	William I. Mott	Mike E. Smith	Allen E. Paulson
10/25/1996	Jewel Princess Trainer / Wallace A. Dollase Jockey / Corey S. Nakatani Owner / Stephen, Richard J. and Martha J. and The Thoroughbred Corp.	Wallace A. Dollase	Corey S. Nakatani	Stephen, Richard J. and Martha J. and The Thoroughbred Corp.
10/27/1995	Inside Information Trainer / Claude R. McGaughey III Jockey / Mike E. Smith Owner / Ogden Mills Phipps	Claude R. McGaughey III	Mike E. Smith	Ogden Mills Phipps
11/04/1994	One Dreamer Trainer / Thomas F. Proctor Jockey / Gary L. Stevens Owner / Glen Hill Farm	Thomas F. Proctor	Gary L. Stevens	Glen Hill Farm
11/05/1993	Hollywood Wildcat Trainer / Neil D. Drysdale Jockey / Eddie J. Delahoussaye Owner / Cowan, Marge and Irving M.	Neil D. Drysdale	Eddie J. Delahoussaye	Cowan, Marge and Irving M.
10/30/1992	Paseana (ARG) Trainer / Ronald L. McAnally Jockey / Chris J. McCarron Owner / Sidney H. Craig	Ronald L. McAnally	Chris J. McCarron	Sidney H. Craig
11/01/1991	Dance Smartly Trainer / James E. Day Jockey / Pat Day Owner / Sam-Son Farm	James E. Day	Pat Day	Sam-Son Farm
10/26/1990	Bayakoa (ARG) Trainer / Ronald L. McAnally Jockey / Laffit A. Pincay, Jr. Owner / Whitham, Mr. and Mrs. F. E.	Ronald L. McAnally	Laffit A. Pincay, Jr.	Whitham, Mr. and Mrs. F. E.
11/03/1989	Bayakoa (ARG) Trainer / Ronald L. McAnally Jockey / Laffit A. Pincay, Jr. Owner / Whitham, Mr. and Mrs. F. E.	Ronald L. McAnally	Laffit A. Pincay, Jr.	Whitham, Mr. and Mrs. F. E.
11/04/1988	Personal Ensign Trainer / Claude R. McGaughey III Jockey / Randy P. Romero Owner / Ogden Phipps	Claude R. McGaughey III	Randy P. Romero	Ogden Phipps
11/20/1987	Sacahuista Trainer / D. Wayne Lukas Jockey / Randy P. Romero Owner / Beal and French, Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	Randy P. Romero	Beal and French, Jr.
10/31/1986	Lady's Secret Trainer / D. Wayne Lukas Jockey / Pat Day Owner / Klein, Mr. and Mrs. E. V.	D. Wayne Lukas	Pat Day	Klein, Mr. and Mrs. E. V.
11/01/1985	Life's Magic Trainer / D. Wayne Lukas Jockey / Angel Cordero, Jr. Owner / E. V. Klein	D. Wayne Lukas	Angel Cordero, Jr.	E. V. Klein
11/09/1984	Princess Rooney Trainer / Neil D. Drysdale Jockey / Eddie J. Delahoussaye Owner / Paula J. Tucker	Neil D. Drysdale	Eddie J. Delahoussaye	Paula J. Tucker