What is the New York Stakes?
The New York Stakes is a Grade I Thoroughbred race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York, as part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Contested at 1 3/16 miles on the turf for fillies and mares aged four and older, it is one of the most prestigious distaff turf races in North America and a key early-summer championship event for older fillies and mares targeting the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Inaugurated in 1940 as the New York Handicap, the race has a distinguished history stretching back over 85 years and a roll of honor that includes Hall of Famers Soaring Softly, Perfect Sting, and Wonder Again. Upgraded to Grade I in 2022, the New York Stakes carries a purse of $750,000 and has been dominated in the modern era by trainer Chad Brown, who has won five editions between 2016 and 2023 with a stream of top European and American fillies and mares.
When is the New York Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 New York Stakes is scheduled for Friday, June 5 at Saratoga Race Course as part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Contested at 1 3/16 miles on the turf with a purse of $750,000, the race is one of the most prestigious events of the Festival and draws an elite international field of older fillies and mares targeting the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in November.
New York Stakes History & Notable Winners
The New York Stakes has produced some of the most celebrated distaff turf performances in American racing. She Feels Pretty gave trainer Cherie DeVaux and jockey John Velazquez a 2025 win in 2:00.76, the second Grade I win of DeVaux's career following Golden Tempo's Kentucky Derby victory two weeks earlier. Didia (ARG) delivered a stunning 2024 performance at Saratoga, winning wire-to-wire in 1:52.29 at the shortened 1 3/16-mile distance under Jose Ortiz for trainer Ignacio Correas IV. Chad Brown won back-to-back editions with Marketsegmentation in 2023 under Ortiz in 2:02.12 at Belmont Park, following Bleecker Street's 2022 Grade I inaugural win under Irad Ortiz Jr. in 2:02.58. Mean Mary made history in 2021 under Luis Saez for trainer Graham Motion, becoming only the second horse in race history to win in consecutive years after doing so in 2020 as well.
The New York Stakes is one of the most important Grade I events on the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and a premier showcase for the elite older fillies and mares in North America each June.
