Bodog Beat

Indian Blessing was victorious on last year's Breeders' Cup Day. (AP Images)

The 2008 Breeders’ Cup World Championships boasts $25.5 million in total purses. This year’s 25th edition, taking place over two days at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., will card all five of its races for fillies and mares on Friday, Oct. 24. It marks the first time a major thoroughbred event in North America has focused an entire day on filly and mare championship racing.
The Ladies' Classic, Filly & Mare Turf, Filly & Mare Sprint, Juvenile Fillies and the new Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf will take place on Friday.
There will be nine Breeders’ Cup races contested on Saturday, Oct. 25, seven of which are open to both sexes.
Friday’s purses will now total $8 million, more than doubling those offered on the first Breeders’ Cup Friday card that took place at Monmouth Park in New Jersey last year. Friday’s feature event will be the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies' Classic, formerly titled the Breeders Cup Distaff. Eighteen of its winners have become champions, and 1986 winner Lady’s Secret and 2002 winner Azeri were also voted Horse of the Year. The 1988 Distaff is considered by many as the most dramatic race in Breeders’ Cup history. Undefeated Personal Ensign came with a late rush to just catch Kentucky Derby heroine Winning Colors at the wire in a thrilling finish.

Last year, four female champions were victorious on Breeders’ Cup Day, including Indian Blessing in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Maryfield in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, Lahudood (GB) in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Ginger Punch in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Breeders Cup President and CEO Greg Avioli stated, “By shifting some of our traditional Saturday races to Friday, we ensure that Friday stands on its own as an international competition of the highest level. This new format provides a great stage to showcase the talents of the best female Thoroughbreds in the world.”

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