We all know how important
the Breeders’ Cup races have become in the determination of the end of the year
Eclipse Awards. Since the first year in 1984, the winner
of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies has won the Eclipse Award for two-year-old fillies
in all but three of the 28 years.
Are the Breeders’ Cup
winners just getting rubber stamped as Eclipse champions or are the fields in
these races really that strong? I did some research into the competition in the
Juvenile Fillies races and I think you will be impressed with the fillies who
ran in, but did NOT win the race. This is not meant to be a complete list, so
let me know if I omitted any of your favorites.
•Ashado (2003)
earned over $3.9 million and was the champion female as a three and four
year-old. She won seven grade ones including the 2004 BC Distaff.
•Blind Luck (2009) won $3.2 million, six grade one stakes, and the 2010 three
year-old championship.
•Cara Rafaela (1999) won the Kentucky Oaks and the Mother Goose. As a broodmare she
produced the great sire Bernardini.
•Chilukki (1999)
is one of three to have lost the race but she was still named two year-old
champion. She took home purses of $1,200,000.
Watch the amazing field in the 1999
edition, which was run at Gulfstream Park.
•Dance Smartly (1990) won the Canadian Triple Crown and Horse of the Year. With $3.2
million in earnings she got into the Hall of Fame.
•Educated Risk (1993) was a winner of $1,600,000 and seven graded stakes.
•Family Style (1985) was the first non-winner to still get the Eclipse anyway.
•Flawlessly (1990) is in the Hall of Fame after winning two turf championships and
$2.5 million.
•Golden Attraction (1995) was another filly named juvenile champion
after losing the Breeders’ Cup. She won five graded stakes.
•Grace Hall (2011) won the Spinaway and the Gulfstream and Delaware Oaks.
•Heavenly Prize (1993) won eight grade ones, $1.8 million, and the three year-old
championship in 1995.
•Octave (2006) won the Mother Goose and the CCA Oaks
in her three year-old season.
•Persistently (2008) won the 2010 Personal Ensign defeating Rachel Alexandra.
•Proud Spell (2007) would become the three year-old champion in 2008 with over $2
million in earnings.
•Questing (2011) is a contender for the three year-old filly championship in 2012 after
wins in the CCA Oaks and Alabama.
•R Heat Lightning (2010) won the Spinaway and then two grade two stakes at Gulfstream at
three.
•Sacahuista (1986) won the 1987 BC Distaff and Eclipse Award.
•Serena's Song (1994) was a three year-old champion and a Hall of Famer with
winnings over $3.2 million and 13 grade one wins.
•Sharp Lisa (2004) was a winner of three graded stakes in California.
•Spain (1999) raced as a five year-old earning $3.5 million. She
also won the 2000 BC Distaff.
•Surfside (1999) became the three year-old champ in 2000 and she went on to win
$1,800,000.
•You (2001) earned over $2 million as she won five grade ones including the Santa
Anita Oaks, the Acorn, and the Test. •Xtra Heat (2000) became the champion three year-old filly and made $2.3 million while
racing as a five year-old.
This is a list of many of
the finest fillies to run in the past 28 years. A lot of them were millionaires, several
won the BC Distaff in their next racing year, while others became champions,
and some have even joined the Hall of Fame. Clearly, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Fillies has the finest fields of female runners and it is not a surprise that
the race has produced 25 of the past 28 Eclipse Award winners.