Marche Lorraine made only one start in North America in 2021, but it was a doozy. A 49-1 shocker in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff catapulted the 5-year-old from anonymity to notoriety and earned her a dual distinction – first Japan-based winner of a Breeders’ Cup race on dirt and first Japan-based Eclipse Awards finalist as outstanding older dirt female. While the Breeders’ Cup upset at Del Mar was not the least bit expected – Marche Lorraine’s $101.80 payoff was the second-highest in Breeders’ Cup Distaff history – the win reflected the international complexion of the 2021 lineup. In the first 37 editions of the Distaff, only nine runners entered off starts outside North America, and none hit the board. But the 2021 Distaff field was different. The favorite, Letruska, began her career in Mexico City before relocating to the United States. Blue Stripe, from South America, was making her U.S. debut; Marche Lorraine was the first Japanese runner to start in the Distaff. Marche Lorraine is trained by Yoshito Yahagi and owned in Japan by U. Carrot Farm. Her ownership syndicate is comprised of some 400 shareholders. She may have had a fan club in Japan, but Marche Lorraine arrived in the United States as a low-profile novelty. The Japan-bred daughter of Orfevre seemed merely a travel companion for stablemate Loves Only You, a Group 1 winner who would win the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf three races before Marche Lorraine started in the Distaff. :: Full list of 2021 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories As it turns out, superficial analysis of Marche Lorraine’s race record underestimated her ability. Though largely unproven against top international competition, and having never raced outside Japan, Marche Lorraine certainly had a nose for the wire. She had won 8 of 20 starts and was 3 for 3 on fast dirt. Marche Lorraine’s rider in the Distaff was internationally recognized Oisin Murphy, a native of Ireland riding Marche Lorraine for the first time in a race. The nine-furlong Distaff unfolded perfectly for chaos. While front-runners Private Mission and Letruska blazed the opening quarter-mile in 21.84 seconds and opening half in 44.97, Murphy bided his time. Marche Lorraine was positioned ninth in the 11-runner field, some 10 lengths behind the blistering pace. Murphy turned her loose with a three-wide move on the far turn, and Marche Lorraine hit the front at the quarter pole. She was challenged from the outside in early stretch, and from the inside in deep stretch, and won by a nose over Dunbar Road in the biggest upset of Breeders’ Cup 2021. According to published reports, Marche Lorraine could make the final start of her career in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 26 at King Abdulaziz in Riyadh. Bred in Japan by Northern Farm, Marche Lorraine has won nine races and $2,845,677 from 21 starts.