The 2025 Dowager Stakes (G3) anchors the final weekend of the Keeneland Fall Meet. Mark your calendars for Sunday, October 19, 2025. Keeneland schedules the Dowager as the capstone of its Sunday stakes program, typically running as one of the later events on the card. This strategic placement ensures the race receives maximum attention, following a spectacular weekend of racing that includes major Breeders' Cup preps. The massive $350,000 purse for this 12-furlong (1 1/2 miles) turf marathon guarantees a highly competitive field of accomplished fillies and mares aged three and up.
You must check the official Keeneland race card closer to the date for the exact post time, but anticipate the Dowager running late in the afternoon, likely around 5:00 PM EST. You can watch the action live on the BUSR Experience platform.
October in Lexington, Kentucky, offers some of the most beautiful, yet variable, weather of the year, which significantly impacts the turf course. Handicappers must pay close attention to the forecast as they finalize their Dowager betting picks. Historically, the third week of October brings temperatures that range from crisp lows in the mid-40s to highs in the mid-70s.
We expect a generally ideal fall day on Sunday, October 19, with mostly sunny skies and a high likely hovering near 68 degrees Fahrenheit. This forecast points toward a Firm turf course, the preferred footing for most European and American turf specialists in this field. However, in the event of late-week rain, Keeneland's turf can become yielding quickly. A softer course drastically changes the pace dynamics and favors horses proven to handle the demanding conditions, a factor that could completely alter the current Dowager odds on the board.
The 2025 Keeneland Fall Meet weekend, leading up to the Dowager Stake,s delivers an unparalleled slate of racing, offering diverse challenges and fantastic Dowager odds to track. Saturday, October 18, features a powerful stakes doubleheader, including the $400,000 Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2), a seven-furlong dirt sprint for three-year-old fillies, and the $350,000 Perryville Stakes (G3), a seven-furlong dirt sprint for three-year-olds. These races provide thrilling, quick-fire action, contrasting sharply with the tactical, grueling marathon of the Dowager. Throughout the weekend, Keeneland also offers a deep undercard of high-value Maiden Special Weights and competitive Allowance Optional Claiming races. Savvy bettors utilize these races to observe track biases, analyze jockey-trainer connections' current form, and identify "live" longshots before tackling the Dowager.
Smart handicappers know the importance of watching the full Keeneland card. On both Friday and Saturday, pay close attention to how turf runners perform at distances longer than a mile. Look for horses closing strongly from the back of the pack, indicating a fast and fair pace, or those holding on after setting the tempo, suggesting a favorable front-end bias. Specifically, focus on the performance of horse trainers Brendan P. Walsh and Joe Sharp’s turf entrants throughout the weekend, as both trainers send multiple contenders in the Dowager.
The results from the Saturday races will provide the latest clues on the racing surface, crucial for adjusting your Dowager odds sheet for the Sunday feature. Finding success on the undercard often builds the bankroll needed to make a sizable bet on Dowager with greater confidence.
Nine accomplished fillies and mares enter the 2025 Dowager Stakes (G3) field, creating a challenging, yet rewarding, puzzle for bettors. The 1 1/2-mile distance attracts a specific kind of competitor—one possessing tactical speed combined with immense stamina. Using our customized display format, we present the final Morning Line (ML) odds, which will help shape the final Dowager odds on race day.
Vive Veuve (3-1 ML) assumes the role of Morning Line favorite, a testament to her consistent form. Close behind her in the Dowager odds are Spanish Eyes (4-1 ML) and the co-fourth choices Duvet Day and Miwa (both 9-2 ML). The long-distance turf specialists command respect, but the marathon distance always leaves room for a price horse to upset the field, making the Dowager betting pools highly attractive.
| No. | Horse | Morning Line |
| 2 | Spanish Eyes | 4-1 |
| 3 | Venencia | 6-1 |
| 6 | Vive Veuve | 3-1 |
| 5 | Adrasteia | 8-1 |
| 9 | Bless My Stars | 8-1 |
| 4 | Duvet Day | 9-2 |
| 8 | Miwa | 9-2 |
| 1 | Boss Lady Bailey | 20-1 |
| 7 | Cupids Crush | 20-1 |
Reviewing the historical winners of the Dowager Stakes reveals key trends for handicapping the race. The last five editions have shown a balance of favorites and mid-range prices prevailing, but all winning horses demonstrate an ability to handle the demanding 1 1/2-mile distance. Chop Chop won the 2024 edition, showcasing the deep talent from the Brad Cox barn.
Before that, Romagna Mia (GB) (2023) and the Brendan Walsh-trained Temple City Terror (2022) delivered strong performances, proving the importance of international pedigree and top-tier training. The connections of Temple City Terror’s win are particularly relevant, as it highlights the continued success of trainer Brendan P. Walsh in this very race, a fact you must consider before you bet on Dowager this year. The marathon nature of this Grade 3 event also often draws European imports or domestically raced horses with European pedigrees, which we observe in this year’s field with Zarak, Recoletos, and Siyouni progeny.
Trainer Joe Sharp sends out the Morning Line favorite, Vive Veuve (Collected), with the leading jockey, Irad Ortiz, Jr., aboard. Vive Veuve showed a solid performance, finishing sixth in the restricted One Dreamer Stakes most recently. While that race was at a shorter distance, her overall resume and pedigree suggest she has the turn of foot to handle the stretch out in trip. Ortiz, Jr. gives her a tactical advantage, and Sharp boasts a good record in turf marathons. Bettors believe the added distance will greatly benefit her, confirming her position at the top of the Dowager odds board, making her a formidable selection for trifecta and exacta tickets.
Spanish Eyes (Zarak) represents the potent barn of Brendan P. Walsh, who already knows the Dowager winner's circle. Her last outing was a disappointing ninth in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon (G3), but Walsh enters her here, suggesting confidence in her ability to handle Keeneland's turf and the 12-furlong distance. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione is a master of the local turf course and is seeking to improve upon his past success in this race. Her 4-1 ML indicates strong respect from the oddsmaker, and she demands consideration in all forms of Dowager betting. If you follow trainer trends, you must look closely at this contender.
Another charge from Brendan P. Walsh’s strong contingent, Venencia (Recoletos) arrives with a solid fourth-place effort in the Singspiel Stakes (G3) overseas. This international experience, paired with the services of jockey Ben Curtis, suggests she possesses the necessary class and stamina for this distance. Recoletos progeny thrive at distance, making her 6-1 ML price potentially a huge value play. Walsh clearly targets this race, and having two capable runners in the field gives him significant leverage. She presents a great opportunity to find value in the Dowager odds outside the favorite.
Trained by Michael W. McCarthy and ridden by Axel Concepcion, Duvet Day (Starspangledbanner) finished a respectable fourth in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon (G3). She enters the Dowager as a co-fourth choice at 9-2 ML, demonstrating her consistent competitiveness at this level. McCarthy has strategically pointed her to this race. Her proven ability at the marathon distance at a Grade 3 level makes her a must-include in your exotic wagers. Her consistency makes her one of the most reliable selections in this year’s Dowager betting lineup.
Adrasteia (Speightster) is the biggest wildcard in the field. She finished third in the One Dreamer Stakes and is trained by Fergus Bogle with jockey Jaime Torres up. Her 8-1 ML reflects the uncertainty surrounding her class jump and her lack of prior Graded Stakes success. However, her connections feel she belongs, and her domestic form is good. The lack of a published Rating (0.00) also makes her a true mystery horse, representing a massive risk but a huge reward if you want to bet on Dowager and swing for a high payoff.
Miwa (Siyouni) joins her stablemate Vive Veuve from the Joe Sharp barn, completing a potent one-two punch for the trainer. She finished a strong third in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon (G3), showing she can compete with the best at this distance. With Jose L. Ortiz taking the reins, her 9-2 ML is entirely justified. The Sharp/Ortiz connection presents a serious threat to the favorite, offering slightly better Dowager odds than her stablemate while possessing comparable recent form at the distance.
Bless My Stars (Gimmethegreenlight) represents the third runner from the Brendan P. Walsh barn, making a powerful statement about the trainer’s confidence in his long-distance turf stable. She comes off a sixth-place finish in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2), which provides a high-level class indicator. Ridden by veteran John R. Velazquez, her 8-1 ML makes her a very appealing longshot in the Dowager odds. Her G2 experience is a massive factor, and her trainer’s strong record in this race positions her as an excellent value bet.
Completing the field are Boss Lady Bailey (Connect) and Cupids Crush (Cupid), both carrying 20-1 ML odds. Boss Lady Bailey, trained by Michael J. Maker and ridden by Luis Saez, finished seventh in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon (G3). Maker is a top turf trainer, and this factor alone prevents her from being completely dismissed. Cupids Crush, trained by Hugh H. Robertson and ridden by Nik Juarez, enters off a win in a restricted stakes in Minnesota. While she won her last start impressively, the massive leap in class to a Grade 3 at Keeneland is a serious challenge, justifying her long Dowager odds. Both represent excellent options for the back end of superfectas and large-field exotic wagers.
The 2025 Rood & Riddle Dowager Stakes (G3) promises a thrilling end to the Keeneland racing weekend. The field is deep with talented fillies, many possessing the European pedigree and proven stamina required to navigate the 1 1/2-mile Haggin Turf Course. The battle between the potent two-pronged attacks from trainers Brendan P. Walsh and Joe Sharp will define the race’s dynamic. While Vive Veuve deserves her status atop the Dowager odds, we can't ignore the strong combination of trainer form and long-distance class. Spanish Eyes presents a significant threat, but the value is truly found in the horses with proven G2/G3 class and favorable Dowager odds beyond the favorite. Study the pace, look for value, and make an informed bet on Dowager that secures a big payoff in the season’s final marathon turf challenge.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
