The Lake George Stakes is a Grade III Thoroughbred race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Contested at 1 1/16 miles on the turf exclusively for 3-year-old fillies, it is one of the premier sophomore filly turf tests of the Saratoga summer meet and a key early-summer benchmark for the division targeting the Grade I Flower Bowl Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in the fall. Inaugurated on August 2, 1996 in two split divisions, the race is named for Lake George, the legendary 32-mile-long lake located approximately 26 miles north of Saratoga Springs in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, one of the most celebrated natural landmarks in upstate New York. Originally contested at 1 1/16 miles, the race was shortened to 1 mile in 2019 and restored to 1 1/16 miles in 2025. Classified Grade III in 1998 and upgraded to Grade II in 2008 before being downgraded back to Grade III in 2024, the Lake George has been dominated by trainer Chad Brown with a remarkable seven wins including five consecutive editions from 2019 to 2023. Jerry Bailey leads all jockeys with five victories. The one-mile speed record of 1:35.64 was set by Dolce Zel (FR) in 2022.
The 2026 Lake George Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, August 1 at Saratoga Race Course. Contested at 1 1/16 miles on the turf with a purse of $175,000, the race draws the top 3-year-old fillies in the country targeting the summer and fall turf championship circuit.
Daisy Flyer gave trainer George Arnold II and jockey Jose Lezcano a 2025 victory in 1:40.19 for Calumet Farm, the first running of the race at the restored distance of 1 1/16 miles since 2018. Pounce gave trainer Mark Casse and jockey Dylan Davis a 2024 win in 1:35.84 for Resolute Racing at the one-mile distance. Surge Capacity gave trainer Chad Brown his seventh Lake George title in 2023 under Joel Rosario in 1:38.00 for Klaravich Stables, an unusually slow time reflecting the soft ground conditions. Dolce Zel (FR) set the one-mile speed record of 1:35.64 in 2022 under Irad Ortiz Jr. for Brown and the partnership of Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Robert LaPenta. Technical Analysis gave Brown a 2021 score in 1:36.61 under Jose Ortiz for Klaravich Stables.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Daisy Flyer | Jose Lezcano | 1:40.19* |
| 2024 | Pounce | Dylan Davis | 1:35.84 |
| 2023 | Surge Capacity | Joel Rosario | 1:38.00 |
| 2022 | Dolce Zel (FR) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 1:35.64** |
| 2021 | Technical Analysis | Jose Ortiz | 1:36.61 |
* Run at 1 1/16 miles (distance restored in 2025). ** Speed record at 1 mile.
The Lake George Stakes is one of the premier 3-year-old filly turf races of the Saratoga summer meet and a key proving ground for the top members of the division each August.
