The Filly & Mare Sprint is run around one turn at seven furlongs (about 1,500 yards) for the fastest females, 3-years-old and up.

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

The 2024 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint will be held at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Saturday, November 2. Bet & watch the race with OffTrackBetting.com (OTB) - US Legal Online Wagering.

RESULTS: SOUL OF AN ANGEL SCORES 19-1 SHOCKER IN PNC BANK BREEDERS' CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 2, 2024) - C2 Racing Stable, Agave Racing Stable and Ken Reimer's Soul of an Angel ($41.60) rallied from dead last to spring a 19-1 shocker by a half-length over Society to win the 18th running of the $1 million PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) to kick off the Saturday portion of the World Championships at Del Mar.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Soul of an Angel completed the 7 furlongs over the fast main track in 1:21.59. The victory is the first in the World Championships for Joseph and the second for Van Dyke who won the 2018 Turf Sprint on Stormy Liberal.

Society and Pleasant dueled through early fractions of :21.94 and :44.22 as Soul of an Angel lagged far back. On the far turn with a wall of horses vying for the lead, Van Dyke took Soul of an Angel to the outside and hit the top of the stretch six wide.

With clear running, Soul of an Angel wore down the leaders to prevail by a half-length over Society, who finished a nose in front of Pleasant.

Soul of an Angel is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Atreides out of the The Factor mare Factor One. Sprinting for only the third time in 41 career starts, Soul of an Angel earned $520,000 for the victory and increased her earnings to $1,192,675.

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Frost at Dawn

Frost at Dawn certainly has seen a lot of the world for a relatively young horse, running from the all-weather tracks in the south of England to the Dubai desert and back to northern England and Scotland.

She seemed to come into her own, however, upon return to her native Kentucky.

The Frosted filly was bred in the Bluegrass by her owner, Rabbah Bloodstock. Her dam, Hawana, by War Front, is owned by the same operation and won twice from seven starts while racing in England, New Jersey and Florida.

Frost at Dawn started her career with a second, then a win, on the British all-weather in late 2023, then was sent immediately to Dubai, where she posted two seconds and a third from four starts while working her way through the Dubai World Cup Carnival ranks.

The success continued into Super Saturday as Frost at Dawn won the Nad al Sheba Turf Sprint (G3) but the balloon quickly deflated when the international battalions arrived for World Cup Night. Frost at Dawn raced prominently in the ultra-tough Al Quoz Sprint (G1) before fading to finish 10th as Hong Kong's California Spangle (IRE) defeated Ireland's Star of Mystery (GB).

A five-month layoff didn't immediately improve things as Frost at Dawn finished 10th on return in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York and third against a vastly easier field in the Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies Stakes at Ayr.

A long trip and a quick turnaround didn't exactly pay dividends as Frost at Dawn finished fifth in the Franklin Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Oct. 13. But the finish position is deceiving as Frost at Dawn broke a step behind most rivals and had to contend with a tight turn, all while rallying to lose by just 1 1/2 lengths in a world-class field.

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Kirstenbosch

A winner from 6 ½ furlongs to 1 1/8 miles and on dirt and turf, the versatile Kirstenbosch has proven to be competitive whenever she shows up on race day. Breaking her maiden in a 9-furlong turf test at Santa Anita in the spring of 2022, the dark bay later rounded out that season with a third in the 7-furlong La Brea Stakes (G1).

At 3, she won Santa Anita's La Canada Stakes (G3) over 1 1/16 miles and subsequently added a victory in the 6 ½-furlong Chillingworth Stakes (G3) in Arcadia that fall. The John Sadler-trainee also finished in the top three in five additional starts in 2023, including seconds in the 9-furlong Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) and Del Mar's Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) over 6 ½ furlongs, in addition to a third in the Monrovia Stakes (G3).

Bumped up to top company for her 3-year-old finale, Kirstenbosch finished fifth behind ultimate divisional champion Goodnight Olive, Yuugiri and Three Witches in the 7-furlong PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare (G1) Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 4.

A credible third behind winner Three Witches when reappearing at 4 in Santa Anita's Santa Monica Stakes (G2) over 7 furlongs in February, the Kentucky bred returned from an eight-month layoff to finish third -- beaten 6 lengths -- by One Magic Philly in the Oct. 5 Chillingworth.

Campaigned by her breeder, Keith Abrahams, the daughter of 2007 sprint champion Midnight Lute is out of Grade 3-placed Llandudno. The 14-year-old daughter of Belong to Me also is responsible for stakes winner and Grade 2-placed Constantia (by Munnings), also campaigned by Abrahams and trained by Sadler.

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One Magic Philly

One Magic Philly made a belated start to her career at Santa Anita, finishing second -- beaten 5 ½ lengths -- behind her more seasoned runner Hope Road, a Bob Baffert-trained 4-year-old that won her next two starts, including the Torrey Pines Stakes (G3).

Favored for her next try in a 6 ½-furlong test at Del Mar on Aug. 3, the John Gallegos homebred proved a neck better than runner-up Seismic Beauty before adding an emphatic 7-length score while facing optional claiming company at the seaside oval on Sept. 2.

Sent off second choice behind Beholder Mile (G1) heroine Sweet Azteca in the Oct. 5 Chillingworth Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita, the 3-year-old filly put away the daughter of Sharp Azteca near the quarter pole and drew off to win by a comfortable 2 ¾-length margin over Irish Wahine with Kirstenbosch finishing third and the favorite 8 ¾ lengths back in fourth.

One Magic Philly is a daughter of Good Magic, winner of the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile(G1) at Del Mar en route to a divisional championship in 2017. A May 8 foal, the Kentucky-bred filly is out of the Empire Maker mare My Philly Girl, a $40,000 bargain purchase by Gallagos at the Keeneland November Sale in 2016.

Pandora's Gift (IRE)

Trained by Newmarket-based Stuart Williams on behalf of James Parry and Partners, Pandora's Gift (IRE) showed her affinity for several of Europe's all-weather surfaces early in her career. Runner-up in a 6-furlong test over Chelmsford's Polytrack Dec. 11, the daughter of Churchilll (IRE) went one better next time out over that course and trip later that month.

Back on top sprinting over Southwell's Tapeta surface in January, the bay filly added two more notches to her belt when winning at Lingfield in March followed by her first black-type success in the Chelmer Fillies' Stakes at Chelmsford in May.

Given a brief respite following those winning efforts, Pandora's Gift stepped up to the big leagues for her turf debut in the 6-furlong Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot on June 21, but could fare no better than 11th. Crossing the wire ninth in the July 12 William Hill Summer Stakes (G3) at York, she came home an improved third in the Tally-Ho Stud Irish EBF Ballyogan Stakes (G3) at Naas on Aug. 25.

Having shown an affinity for the main track overseas, her connections looked abroad for new opportunities, opting to send the 3-year-old to Erie, Pennsylvania, to contest the Presque Isle Downs Masters (G2) on Sept. 21. Ridden by Ben Curtis for the first time, the Irish-bred filly finished only a neck short of winner Roses for Debra in the 6 ½-furlong test over the oval's Tapeta surface.

Pandora's Gift next ventured to Keeneland for the Oct. 13 Franklin Stakes (G2) going 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass. She finished third, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by Future Is Now who established a stakes record for the distance.

Bred in Co. Kilkenny, Ireland by Rossenarra Stud, Pandora's Gift sold for $27,478 at the 2022 Goffs Ireland Sportsman's Yearling Sale. The daughter of English Classic winner and champion Churchill, by Galileo (IRE), she is out of the Exceed and Excel (AUS) mare Amthaal (GB).

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Pleasant

** coming soon **

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Scylla

Blue-blooded Scylla has been patiently handled by top connections. With two graded stakes victories, she is living up to that promise - and gives owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms a second Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) candidate to join reigning winner Idiomatic, a close relative to this filly.

Scylla is trained by Bill Mott, who has won 15 Breeders' Cup races, including five editions of the Distaff. Juddmonte has won 10 Breeders' Cup races, including the 2023 Distaff with Idiomatic and trainer Brad Cox.

Scylla, by Tapit, is out of the First Defence mare Close Hatches, who won five Grade 1 races under Mott's tutelage and was voted the 2014 Eclipse Award champion older female. She has now become a solid broodmare for Juddmonte, also producing Scylla's full brother Tacitus, a multiple graded stakes-winning multimillionaire. Meanwhile, Lockdown, a full sister to Close Hatches, produced Idiomatic.

While Idiomatic was earning her championship in 2023, Scylla, named for a monster in Greek mythology, was just beginning her career, winning her first two starts. The lightly raced filly has found her rhythm this year. Scylla finished second in an allowance-optional claiming race in March at Gulfstream Park; third in the Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (G3), her stakes debut, in April at Keeneland; and first in an allowance-optional claiming race in May at Churchill Downs.

Mott gave Scylla a two-turn test in the Shawnee Stakes (G3) on June 1 at Churchill, and changed the filly's equipment, adding blinkers. Scylla responded with a focused effort, pressing the pace, taking the lead handily, and drawing clear to win the 1 1/16-mile race by 3 ¼ lengths.

Scylla overcame overcoming plenty of trouble in the Fasig-Tipton Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) on June 29 at Churchill. The filly stumbled slightly at the start of the 1 1/8-mile race, finding herself at the back. She swept five wide on the far turn to take the lead, then sustained her effort in a roughly run stretch drive for a neck win.

The Fleur de Lis is part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series program, and Scylla earned $30,000 toward her pre-entry and entry fees.

Scylla made her Grade 1 debut on Aug. 3 at Del Mar in the Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar and finished second beaten 2 3/4 lengths by repeat winner Adare Manor.

Three weeks after the Clement L. Hirsch, Scylla was back in action at Saratoga for the 7-furlong Ballerina Handicap (G2), her first start at less than a mile since her April 2023 debut at Keeneland. Sent off as the second choice, Scylla finished second in the field of seven trailing the victorious Society by 3 1/4 lengths.

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Society

Society won her initial three career starts for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, including her two-turn debut in the Monomoy Girl Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs in June 2022. Stepping up in class and distance for the 9-furlong Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga, the chestnut crossed the wire in fourth behind ultimate divisional champion Nest and that season's Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Secret Oath.

Rebounding to take the 7-furlong Charles Town Oaks (G3) followed by the 8 ½-furlong Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx, Society rounded out her 3-year-old season with a seventh behind subsequent champion Malathaat in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland.

Third behind winner Goodnight Olive in the 7-furlong Madison Stakes (G1) in her 4-year-old debut, Society weakened to ninth in the 1 1/16-mile La Troienne Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs in May. Returning to 7 furlongs for her five subsequent starts, she took a record-setting renewal of the Chicago Stakes (G3) at Ellis Park and later added a 5 ½-length victory in the Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes at Charles Town in August. She rounded out the year with a fourth behind subsequent Champion Female Sprint Horse Goodnight Olive in the PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita.

Society launched her 5-year-old campaign with a third behind Vahva in the Chicago and was loaded for bear when defeating Scylla and Vahva handily in Saratoga's Ballerina Handicap (G1) on Aug. 24.

Campaigned by her breeder Peter Blum, Society is a daughter of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, who also was trained by Asmussen. With four crops of racing age through 2024, the 2017 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) hero already has a champion under his belt, courtesy of 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Echo Zulu, who subsequently won four graded races -- including a Grade 1 - sprinting in 2022 and 2023.

The Kentucky bred is out the Tapit mare Etiquette, a half-sister to Grade 3 winner and Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Pleasant Prince.

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Soul of an Angel

Making only two starts at 2, Soul of an Angel returned the following season to make 16 starts -- all of them at Gulfstream Park -- for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Visiting the winner's circle after a maiden claiming win early in 2022, she next crossed the wire first in a 1-mile optional claiming test at the Hallandale oval in December only to be disqualified and placed seventh.

Adding another 13 starts as a 4-year-old, she earned her first black-type victory in Horseshoe Indianapolis' 1 1/16-mile Marie Hulman George Memorial in July.

Continuing to improve with age, Soul of an Angel was fifth in Tampa's Wayward Lass Stakes in her 5-year-old debut in January before coming from just off the pace to win a $32,000 optional claiming event over 1 mile, 40 yards later that month.

Returning to her Gulfstream home base for her next start, the dark bay finished second at odds of 42-1 in the Royal Delta Stakes (G3) in February, and the following month, she finished sixth in Oaklawn's Azeri Stakes (G2) and was subsequently acquired by Mark and Clint Cornett's C2 Racing Stable and Agave Racing Stable.

In her first start for her new connections, the 5-year-old sat just off the pace in the 1-mile Ruffian Stakes (G2) at the Belmont at the Big A meet on May 4 and ran off to post an easy 4 ¾-length victory over Alabama (G1) heroine Randomized. Facing that Nyquist filly again in her next start while stretching to 1 1/8 miles for the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on June 8, Soul of an Angel finished fifth following a slow start under Irad Ortiz Jr., riding the mare for the first time.

Up against the divisional leading Idiomatic for the 8 ½-furlong Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) at Monmouth on July 20, she found the heavy favorite a head too good and had to settle for second. Stepping back into Grade 1 company for the Personal Ensign at Saratoga, Soul of an Angel was a distanced third, beaten by Raging Sea and Idiomatic, however, she rebounded to take Gulfstream's Sept. 21 Princess Rooney Invitational (G3), a "Win and You're In" race for the PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar. The 7-furlong Princess Rooney was her first race at less than a mile since her first start in 2021.

Bred in Kentucky by Westbrook Stables, Soul of an Angel RNA'd for $3,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale in 2020. Out of Factor One, a daughter of Grade 1 winner The Factor, the Pennsylvania-bred mare is a half to Homeboykris (by Roman Ruler), winner of the Champagne (G1), in addition to stakes-placed Lucky Slevin (by Two Punch).

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Vahva

Like a fine wine, Vahva has improved with age. After breaking her maiden at Churchill Downs in her third career start in the fall of 2022, the daughter of Gun Runner rounded out her juvenile campaign with a third-place finish in the Untapable Stakes at Fair Grounds.

At 3, the bay returned with a fourth in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) in February going 1 1/16 miles behind eventual champion Pretty Mischievous before cutting back to a sprint and finishing a close-up second in a 6 ½-furong Keeneland allowance optional claimer in April then winning while facing similar company in Louisville the following month.

Third behind the talented Maple Leaf Mel in the Victory Ride Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park in July, she added a win in that summer's Charles Town Oaks (G3) before annexing the Raven Run Stakes (G2), giving trainer Cherie DeVaux her first career stakes victory at Keeneland Racecourse in the process.

Installed the second wagering choice for her 4-year-old return, Vahva closed from off the pace to finish a close-up second behind favored Alva Starr in the Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on April 6. She turned the tables on that rival in the May 4 Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1), bettering the third-place finish by her stakes-winning dam, Holiday Soiree (Harlan's Holiday), in the 2013 renewal of the race. Pushing her lifetime earnings over the $1.7 million mark, Vahva extended her record to a perfect-four-for-four at Churchill Downs with a win in the June 22 Chicago Stakes (G3).

Vahva returned to action Aug. 24 at Saratoga in the 7-furlong Ballerina Handicap (G1) and finished third as the favorite 4 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Society.

Bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds, the filly was sold by her breeder for $280,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2021. The 4-year-old is campaigned by a partnership including Belladonna Racing LLC, Lynne and Edward J. Hudson Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, Nice Guys Stables, Twin Brook Stables, Steve Hornstock, LBD Stable LLC, Manganaro Bloodstock and Runnels Racing.

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Ways and Means

Ways and Means kicked off her career in style, winning by 12 ¾ lengths in a 6-furlong test at Saratoga last summer before finding winner Brightwork a half-length too good in the GI Spinaway Stakes over that track's meet-ending Labor Day weekend.

Shelved for the remainder of the 2023 racing season, she was runner-up by a length behind subsequent Alabama Stakes (G1) winner Power Squeeze in her 2024 debut in the 1 1/16-mile Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) in March before crossing the wire a well-beaten fourth to Thorpedo Anna in a sloppy renewal of the 1 1/8-mile Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 3.

Bet down to 1-5 favoritism while looking to regroup in a one-mile Saratoga allowance on June 6, the Chad Brown trainee stormed home an 8 ¼-length winner before punctuating the effort with a victory in the 7-furlong Test Stakes presented by Ticketmaster (G1) in the Saratoga mud Aug. 3.

Ways and Means caught another off track on Sept. 29 at Aqueduct in the Gallant Bloom (G2) and like the Test, the sloppy surface did not hinder her performance as she cruised to a 4-length victory as the 2-5 favorite in the field of five.

Campaigned by her breeder Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables, Ways and Means is by Practical Joke out of the Warrior's Reward mare Strong Incentive. Co-owned by Klaravich and William Lawrence and also trained by Brown, Practical Joke earned more than $1.7 million during his racing career, which was highlighted by victories in the Hopeful Stakes (G1), Champagne Stakes (G1) and H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1).

Also campaigned by Klarman and Lawrence and conditioned by Brown, the lightly raced Strong Incentive, who showed modest ability on the racetrack, achieved a career best in Woodbine's Jammed Lovely Stakes in 2015 before retiring with $123,568 in earnings.

In the breeding shed, the Ontario-bred mare excelled, producing three graded stakes winners from four starters, including Grade 3 scorer Highly Motivated, by Into Mischief, and Surge Capacity, by Flintshire (GB). The latter, who won four of six starts, including three at the graded level, recorded a career high in the 2023 renewal of the Matriarch (G1). A $200,000 OBS Spring 2-year-old purchase, Strong Incentive, carrying a filly by Good Magic, realized $2.15 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale last November.

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Zeitlos

Zeitlos, which translates to "timeless or ageless" in German, is living up to her name as she continues her steady ascent through the stakes ranks. Failing to finish after losing her rider in her career debut at Churchill Downs in August 2022, she finished second stretching to a mile at the Louisville oval later in September to cap off her juvenile campaign.

At 3, she finished second behind subsequent two-time graded winner and Grade 1-placed Scylla at Keeneland in April before breaking through with a 3 ¾-length win in a 6-furlong Ellis Park test in June. Hitting the board in her next three starts, including a runner-up finish behind this season's Bed o' Roses Stakes (G2) scorer Accede in a 6 ½-furlong Keeneland allowance last October, she won her next three starts, including by a 1 ½-length victory in Oaklawn's Carousel Stakes (Listed) Feb. 24.

Sixth in the Matron Stakes at the Hot Springs oval in March, the chestnut posted narrow victories in two Churchill sprints -- the April 27 Roxelana Overnight Stakes and a 5 ½-furlong optional claimer May 24. A close-up fifth on the grass in Saratoga's 5 ½-furlong Caress Stakes (G3) on July 25, Zeitlos returned to 6 ½ furlongs to take Churchill's Open Mind Stakes (Listed) on Sept. 14 before adding Keeneland's Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) on Oct. 5.

Zeitlos, a $350,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, is campaigned by her breeder, Barbara Banke's Stonestreet, in partnership with Peter Leidel. The daughter of Horse of the Year and leading sire Curlin is out of an Australian-bred daughter of Redoute's Choice (AUS), Thyme For Roses, who was acquired by Stonestreet for $595,200 at the 2017 Australian Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale. A Grade 3 winner in Australia, Thyme For Roses is out of the Australian millionaire and dual Grade 3 winner Augusta Proud (AUS).

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What is the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint?

The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint is a 7-furlong (1408 m) Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred fillies and mares three years old and up. As its name implies, it is a part of the Breeders' Cup thoroughbred championships, the de facto year-end championship for North American thoroughbred racing, generally held in the United States (also held one time in Canada). The race is run on a dirt course (either natural dirt or a synthetic surface such as Polytrack).

The race was run for the first time in 2007 during the first day of the expanded Breeders' Cup at that year's host track, Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Beginning in 2009, this race is a Grade I event.

The 2007 race was held at a distance of 6 furlongs (1207 m) instead of the normal distance of 7 furlongs because of the configuration of the dirt track at Monmouth Park.

2024 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE