The Forward Gal Stakes is a Grade III horse race held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida. It features three-year-old fillies racing 7 furlongs, making it a crucial stepping stone for young fillies aspiring to mark history. The event has a rich history and is known for producing top-tier contenders.
The 2026 Forward Gal Stakes is scheduled to take place on January 31st.
The Forward Gal Stakes has served as an early showcase for some of the best fillies of their generation. Hall of Fame star Open Mind, who captured the race in 1989 before going on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and the Kentucky Oaks, stands out as one of the most accomplished winners in the race’s history.
Other notable Forward Gal champions include Miss Oceana (1984), a multiple Grade 1 winner who earned more than $1 million; Madcap Escapade (2004), who later defeated eventual champion Ashado in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes; and Cathryn Sophia (2016), who parlayed her Forward Gal victory into Kentucky Oaks success. Together, they highlight how this February sprint at Gulfstream Park often serves as a launchpad for top-class three-year-old fillies.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Eclatant | Luis Saez | Brad H. Cox | Stonestreet Stables LLC | 1:23.61 |
| 2024 | R Harper Rose | Edgard J. Zayas | Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. | Averill Racing LLC and Two Eight Racing LLC | 1:24.34 |
| 2023 | Red Carpet Ready | Luis Saez | George R. Arnold II | Ashbrook Farm and Upland Flats Racing | 1:23.54 |
| 2022 | Girl With a Dream | Luis Saez | Brad H. Cox | Bakke, James J. and Isbister, Gerald | 1:23.42 |
| 2021 | Zaajel | Luis Saez | Todd A. Pletcher | Shadwell Stable | 1:24.72 |
| 2020 | Tonalist's Shape | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. | Slam Dunk Racing, Branham, Doug and Legacy Ranch, Inc. | 1:24.77 |
