Immediately before the Championship, a field of 10 older fillies and mares contested the $150,000 Premier Night Distaff at 1 mile. Jockey Eddie Martin Jr. sent 6-1 Warrior Maid to the front immediately and she set fractions of 22.63, 46.70, and 1:12.24 while as many as 3 lenths in front of 17-1 Lee City and 3-2 favorite Lawyer Tiffany. Lawyer Tiffany put in a late rally through the stretch but Warrior Maid held her off by 3/4 lengths for the win in 1:40.04. It was a long 6 1/2 lengths back to 9-1 Rileys Monarch third.
Warrior Maid was cross-entered in the Distaff and the Matron but trainer Eric Heitzmann kept the 6-year-old daughter of Holy Bull in the Distaff.
Results Chart from Daily Racing Form
