History's Top 10 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint performances

The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) enjoyed its inaugural running in 2007. In the years since, the seven-furlong race has been a proving ground for the fleetest female racehorses in North America.

On Nov. 2 at Del Mar, the Filly & Mare Sprint will be contested for the 17th time. In advance of the race, let’s look back through history and rank the Top 10 best performances seen in the Filly & Mare Sprint:

10. Wavell Avenue (2015)

The early pace of the 2015 Filly & Mare Sprint wasn’t blazing, and the two pacesetters stayed on strongly down the lane to finish second and third. They would have run 1-2 if not for the powerful rally of Wavell Avenue, who overcame the modest tempo to close from four lengths back at the eighth pole to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

9. Informed Decision (2009)

Reigning Filly & Mare Sprint winner Ventura was heavily favored to defend her title in 2009, but a tenacious performance from Informed Decision stole the show. After tracking a modest early pace, Informed Decision sprinted her final furlong in a quick :12.00 to hold off Ventura’s fierce charge and prevail by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:21.66.

8. Covfefe (2019)

After the three-year-old filly Covfefe put away her pace rivals in the 2019 Filly & Mare Sprint, she had to dig deep to turn back a challenge from three-time Grade 1 winner Bellafina. This Covfefe did by three-quarters of a length, and the strength of her effort was indicated by the fact Bellafina finished 7 3/4 lengths clear of the rest.

7. Ce Ce (2021)

A small but talented field lined up for the 2021 Filly & Mare Sprint, including defending winner Gamine. But no one could match strides with Ce Ce down the homestretch, as the accomplished multi-Grade 1 winner rallied to lead through six furlongs in 1:08.66 and ultimately won by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:21.00.

6. Dubai Majesty (2010)

The quality of competition Dubai Majesty defeated in the 2010 Filly & Mare Sprint was stellar. Even while squaring off against reigning Filly & Mare Sprint winner Informed Decision and Grade 1 winners like Switch, Evening Jewel, and Champagne d’Oro, Dubai Majesty drove home on top by 2 1/4 lengths.

5. Groupie Doll (2013)

In 2013, Groupie Doll became the only two-time winner of the Filly & Mare Sprint, and she did so in impressive fashion. After settling in seventh place through an opening quarter-mile in :22.19, Groupie Doll accelerated her second quarter-mile in about :21 3/5 to challenge for command. Opening up a two-length lead in midstretch, Groupie Doll began to weaken late, but held on to beat 2014 Filly & Mare Sprint winner Judy the Beauty by half a length in 1:20.75.

4. Goodnight Olive (2022)

The first of Goodnight Olive's back-to-back wins in the Filly & Mare Sprint came in 2022. Facing a stellar field including reigning Filly & Mare Sprint winner Ce Ce plus 2021 champion two-year-old filly Echo Zulu, Goodnight Olive settled in fifth place early on before advancing with authority to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:21.61.

3. Groupie Doll (2012)

Groupie Doll’s first Filly & Mare Sprint triumph was a picture of dominance. Rallying wide from midfield, Groupie Doll took command in the homestretch and relentlessly pulled away through a strong final furlong in :12.27 to score by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:20.72, the third-fastest Filly & Mare Sprint contested over seven furlongs.

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2. Ventura (2008)

The stakes record for the Filly & Mare Sprint (excluding one six-furlong edition) belongs to Ventura. Racing over a fast-playing synthetic track at Santa Anita, Ventura launched a sweeping rally from behind fast fractions, closing from 9 1/2 lengths off the pace to beat reigning Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Indian Blessing by four lengths in 1:19.90.

1. Gamine (2020)

In 2020, the brilliant three-year-old Gamine ran the fastest Filly & Mare Sprint ever contested over seven furlongs on dirt. After pushing Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress through intense fractions of :21.77 and :44.27, Gamine took command through a blazing six furlongs in 1:07.98 before pulling away effortlessly to win by 6 1/4 lengths in 1:20.20.