What is the Baird Doubledogdare Stakes?
The Baird Doubledogdare Stakes is a Grade II Thoroughbred race held annually at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky. Run at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt for fillies and mares aged four and older, it is one of the premier springtime dirt tests for older female horses in North America. The race takes its name from Doubledogdare, the brilliant Claiborne Farm filly who gave the farm its first major Keeneland stakes win in 1955 and went on to earn Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors. First run in 1992, the race was upgraded to Grade III status in 2007 and received a further elevation to Grade II for 2026, along with a purse increase to $400,000.
When is the Baird Doubledogdare Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Baird Doubledogdare Stakes is scheduled for Friday, April 17 at Keeneland. One of three Keeneland Spring Meet races to receive both a grade upgrade and purse increase for 2026, the race is a showcase for the top older dirt fillies and mares in training heading into the summer championship season.
Baird Doubledogdare Stakes History & Notable Winners
The Baird Doubledogdare Stakes has a strong record of producing top-class performers. Champion Malathaat ran to her best under John Velazquez in 2022, winning convincingly for trainer Todd Pletcher. Bonny South, trained by Brad Cox for Juddmonte Farm, set the tone in 2021 with a sharp front-running effort under Florent Geroux. In 2025 the Calumet Farm homebred Gin Gin pulled off a massive 38-1 upset under Jose Ortiz for trainer Brendan Walsh, a win that launched her on a path to the Grade I Juddmonte Spinster Stakes that fall.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Gin Gin | Jose Ortiz | 1:45.15 |
| 2024 | Raging Sea | Flavien Prat | 1:44.24 |
| 2023 | Frost Point | Flavien Prat | 1:43.95 |
| 2022 | Malathaat | John Velazquez | 1:44.58 |
| 2021 | Bonny South | Florent Geroux | 1:43.46 |
Last Updated on 04/14/2026
The Baird Doubledogdare Stakes is a key early-season dirt test for older fillies and mares and a highlight of the Keeneland Spring Meet each April.
