One of the annual summer highlights of the horse racing calendar takes on an added importance in a year where COVID-19 has disrupted every aspect of social life.

The Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff historically has been one of the most formful races at the World Championships with favorites winning 42% of the time since the race’s inception in 1984.  Likewise, the older dirt female division typically features accomplished Grade 1-quality runners at the top who consistently run well, and while that often leads to terrific showdowns between elite racemares, it rarely produces big surprises in the division’s summer and fall marquee races.