What is the Shuvee Stakes?
The Shuvee Stakes is a Grade II Thoroughbred race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Contested at 1⅛ miles on the dirt for fillies and mares aged four and older, it is one of the most prestigious distaff dirt races of the Saratoga summer meet and a key benchmark for older fillies and mares targeting the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes and Breeders' Cup Distaff. The race was inaugurated on May 16, 1976 at Belmont Park as the Shuvee Handicap and is named in honor of Shuvee, the Hall of Fame chestnut mare who won the 1969 Fillies Triple Crown and became the only female horse to defeat males in the two-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Shuvee was voted American Champion Older Female Horse in 1970 and 1971 and inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1975. The race moved to Saratoga in 2013 and was upgraded to Grade II in 2022. It has produced a distinguished roll of honor including Lady's Secret, Personal Ensign, Inside Information, Sky Beauty, and Stopchargingmaria — all Breeders' Cup Distaff winners. Todd Pletcher holds the record for most wins with six including Leslie's Rose in 2025 and Nest in 2023.
When is the Shuvee Stakes in 2026?
The 2026 Shuvee Stakes is scheduled for Friday, July 24 at Saratoga Race Course. Contested at 1⅛ miles on the dirt with a purse of $250,000, the race draws the top older fillies and mares targeting the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes and Breeders' Cup Distaff trail.
Shuvee Stakes History & Notable Winners
The Shuvee Stakes has produced a series of standout distaff dirt performers in recent years. Leslie's Rose gave trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. a 2025 win in 1:50.77 for Whisper Hill Farm, the daughter of Constitution rallying between horses in deep stretch to earn her first graded stakes win. Raging Sea gave trainer Chad Brown and jockey Flavien Prat a 2024 score in 1:51.95 for Alpha Delta Stables, continuing her strong older mare campaign. Nest gave Pletcher and Ortiz a 2023 victory in 1:50.72 for Repole Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, the multiple Grade I winner adding another important score to her remarkable career. Clairiere gave trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Joel Rosario a 2022 win in 1:51.96 for Stonestreet Stables, the daughter of Curlin recording her fourth career stakes win. Royal Flag gave trainer Chad Brown and Rosario a 2021 score in 1:49.42 for William Farish, using the Shuvee as a warm-up for a successful autumn campaign.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Leslie's Rose | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 1:50.77 |
| 2024 | Raging Sea | Flavien Prat | 1:51.95 |
| 2023 | Nest | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 1:50.72 |
| 2022 | Clairiere | Joel Rosario | 1:51.96 |
| 2021 | Royal Flag | Joel Rosario | 1:49.42 |
The Shuvee Stakes is one of the most prestigious distaff dirt races of the Saratoga summer meet and the key prep for the Grade I Personal Ensign Stakes each July.
