What is the Mamzelle Stakes?
The Mamzelle Presented by Kentucky Proud is a Grade III Thoroughbred race held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Contested at 5½ furlongs on the Matt Winn Turf Course for 3-year-old fillies, it is one of the premier springtime turf sprint tests for sophomore fillies in North America and a key early-season indicator for the top young turf sprinters pointing toward summer and fall championship races. Originally inaugurated in 1997 at five furlongs, the race was reestablished in 2019 under new conditions for 3-year-old fillies only. The distance was extended to 5½ furlongs in 2023, and the race received Grade III status from the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association in 2025. For 2026, Churchill Downs moved the race to Thurby — the popular Thursday of Derby Week — and boosted the purse from $225,000 to $300,000.
When is the Mamzelle Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Mamzelle Presented by Kentucky Proud is scheduled for Thursday, April 30 at Churchill Downs as part of Thurby, the official Thursday of Derby Week. Contested at 5½ furlongs on the turf with a purse of $300,000, the race draws the top 3-year-old fillies targeting the turf sprint championship track for the season ahead.
Mamzelle Stakes History & Notable Winners
The Mamzelle has produced some of the brightest young turf sprint talents of each generation. Shisospicy delivered the most dominant performance in the race's modern history in 2025, winning by 4¼ lengths in a stakes record 1:01.46 under Jose Ortiz for trainer Jose D'Angelo — a performance that launched her campaign to Royal Ascot and a Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint title. Danse Macabre won the 2023 edition in equally authoritative fashion under Adam Beschizza for trainer Kelsey Danner, then went on to win the Music City Stakes (G1) at Kentucky Downs later that season. Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Twilight Gleaming (IRE) gave trainer Wesley Ward a 2022 victory under Tyler Gaffalione before heading back to Europe.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Shisospicy | Jose Ortiz | 1:01.46 |
| 2024 | Twirling Queen | Francisco Arrieta | 1:03.12 |
| 2023 | Danse Macabre | Adam Beschizza | 1:02.98 |
| 2022 | Twilight Gleaming (IRE) | Tyler Gaffalione | :58.22* |
| 2021 | Change of Control | Gabriel Saez | :56.25* |
* Run at 5 furlongs. Race extended to 5½ furlongs in 2023.
Last Updated on 04/20/2026
The Mamzelle Stakes is a highlight of Churchill Downs' Derby Week race card and one of the most important early-season benchmark races for 3-year-old turf sprint fillies in North America.
