What is the Coronation Cup Stakes?
The Coronation Cup Stakes is a Grade III Thoroughbred race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Contested at 5½ furlongs on the turf for 3-year-old fillies, it is one of the premier early-summer turf sprint tests for sophomore fillies in North America and a key benchmark for the division targeting the Grade I Test Stakes and Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. The race was inaugurated on August 13, 2012 and is named in honor of Coronation Cup, a Virginia-bred filly owned by the storied Rokeby Stable who won the 1994 Nijana Stakes at Saratoga. Upgraded to Grade III by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association for 2025, the Coronation Cup Stakes carries a purse of $225,000 in 2026 and has grown into one of the most competitive 3-year-old filly turf sprint events in the Northeast. Luis Saez leads all jockeys with three wins, including Italian Soiree in 2025 and Twirling Queen in 2024, while Brad Cox holds the trainer record with two wins including Goin' Good in 2021. Lady Shipman holds the stakes record of 1:00.85 set in 2015.
When is the Coronation Cup Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Coronation Cup Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, July 18 at Saratoga Race Course. Contested at 5½ furlongs on the turf with a purse of $225,000, the race is run on the same card as the Grade I Diana Stakes and draws the top 3-year-old fillies in the country targeting the summer and fall turf sprint championship circuit.
Coronation Cup Stakes History & Notable Winners
Italian Soiree gave trainer John Terranova II and jockey Luis Saez a 2025 victory in 1:02.21 for Hit The Bid Racing Stable, Morplay Racing, and Randell Hartley — the first Grade III running of the race. Twirling Queen gave trainer Jose D'Angelo and Saez a Listed win in 2024 in 1:01.93 for GU Racing Stable, the front-running filly holding off late challengers on the inner turf course. Unified Alliance produced a 2023 score for trainer Thomas Morley and jockey Javier Castellano in 1:03.80, the race run on the main track due to rain. Empress Tigress gave trainer Jonathan Thomas and Hall of Famer John Velazquez a Listed 2022 win in 1:01.70 for Augustin Stables, the daughter of Empire Maker prevailing on the inner turf in a driving finish. Goin' Good gave trainer Brad Cox and jockey Tyler Gaffalione a 2021 score in 1:05.26 for Klein Racing, the race again moved to the main track due to inclement weather.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Italian Soiree | Luis Saez | 1:02.21 |
| 2024 | Twirling Queen | Luis Saez | 1:01.93 |
| 2023 | Unified Alliance | Javier Castellano | 1:03.80* |
| 2022 | Empress Tigress | John Velazquez | 1:01.70 |
| 2021 | Goin' Good | Tyler Gaffalione | 1:05.26* |
* Run on dirt due to inclement weather.
The Coronation Cup Stakes is one of the most competitive 3-year-old filly turf sprints in the Northeast and a key early-summer benchmark at Saratoga each July.
