The Breeders' Cup Distaff is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, three years old and up.
It is the top ranked race for fillies and mares in North America,[2] and often decides the title for champion three-year-old and / or champion older filly or mare.
Starting with the 2008 Breeders' Cup, the Distaff was the final race on the first day (Friday) of the two-day event.
In 2007, the Breeders' Cup developed the Breeders' Cup Challenge, a series of races in each division that allots automatic qualifying bids to winners of defined races.
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.