The Hopeful Stakes is a prestigious Grade 1 horse race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is typically run in early September and covers a distance of seven furlongs on dirt. It's open to two-year-old Thoroughbreds and is known as a key race for young horses showing early promise.
The 2026 Hopeful Stakes is scheduled to take place on September 7th. This race is one of the final stakes races of the summer meet at Saratoga and often features some of the top two-year-old colts in the country.
The Hopeful Stakes has a rich history with many notable winners. Past champions include Secretariat (1972), who later became a Triple Crown winner, Affirmed (1977), another Triple Crown champion, and Gulch (1986), who went on to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint. In recent years, horses like Jackie's Warrior (2020) and Forte (2022) have also claimed victory in this prestigious race. The race's legacy is marked by its association with future champions, making it a highlight on the racing calendar.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ted Noffey | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Spendthrift Farm LLC | 1:22.35 |
| 2024 | Chancer McPatrick | Flavien Prat | Chad C. Brown | Flanagan Racing | 1:23.44 |
| 2023 | Nutella Fella | Junior Alvarado | Gary C. Contessa | Bell Gable Stable | 1:24.41 |
| 2022 | Forte | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable | 1:22.58 |
| 2021 | Gunite | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steven M. Asmussen | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 1:23.08 |
| 2020 | Jackie's Warrior | Joel Rosario | Steven M. Asmussen | J. Kirk & Judy Robison | 1:21.29 |
