The Test Stakes is a Grade I Thoroughbred race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Contested at 7 furlongs on the dirt exclusively for 3-year-old fillies, it is one of the most prestigious sprint races for sophomore fillies in North America and a key Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint prep. Inaugurated in 1922, the Test Stakes is one of the oldest Grade I events at Saratoga and carries more than a century of history. The race's name derives from the original conditions — it was designed to "test" the ability of young fillies at sprint distances. A Grade I event since 1973, the Test has been won by some of the most celebrated fillies in American racing history, including Lady's Secret (1985), Inside Information (1993), Stormy Blues (1998), Fleet Indian (2005), and Gamine (2020), who shares the stakes record of 1:20.83 set by Lady Tak in 2003. James Fitzsimmons holds the all-time trainer record with five wins, while Jerry Bailey leads all jockeys with six victories between 1988 and 2003. Chad Brown has dominated the modern era with four wins since 2018. The Test Stakes runs on the same card as the Saratoga Derby Invitational, Fourstardave Stakes, and Whitney Stakes in one of the great days of summer racing in North America.
The 2026 Test Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, August 8 at Saratoga Race Course on the same card as the Saratoga Derby Invitational, Fourstardave Stakes, and Whitney Stakes. Contested at 7 furlongs on the dirt with a purse of $500,000, the race draws the top 3-year-old fillies in the country targeting the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in October.
Kilwin gave trainer George R. Arnold II and jockey Jose Ortiz a 2025 victory in 1:23.10 for BBN Racing, producing a dominant front-running score that gave Arnold his second Test Stakes win following Victory Ride in 2001. Ways and Means gave trainer Chad Brown and jockey Flavien Prat a 2024 score in 1:22.28 for Klaravich Stables — the fastest Test in the digital timing era and Brown's fourth Test Stakes victory. Pretty Mischievous gave trainer Brendan Walsh and jockey Tyler Gaffalione a 2023 win in 1:23.40 for Godolphin, the daughter of Mischief Maker producing a front-running score in her stakes debut. Chi Town Lady gave trainer Wesley Ward and jockey Joel Rosario a 2022 victory in 1:23.87 for Castleton Lyons, the brilliantly fast filly proving her best at sprint distances with a dominant wire-to-wire performance. Bella Sofia gave trainer Rudy Rodriguez and jockey Luis Saez a 2021 score in 1:21.54, producing a stunning upset at 12-1 odds on Whitney Day to record her first graded stakes win.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kilwin | Jose L. Ortiz | 1:23.10 |
| 2024 | Ways and Means | Flavien Prat | 1:22.28 |
| 2023 | Pretty Mischievous | Tyler Gaffalione | 1:23.40 |
| 2022 | Chi Town Lady | Joel Rosario | 1:23.87 |
| 2021 | Bella Sofia | Luis Saez | 1:21.54 |
The Test Stakes is one of the most prestigious Grade I events in American distaff sprint racing and a highlight of the most important day of racing at Saratoga each August.
