Chicago Stakes

Last updated
Chicago Stakes
ClassGrade II
Location Churchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated1986 (as Chicago-Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap at Arlington Park)
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Race information
Distance7 furlongs
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
Qualification Fillies and Mares, four-years-old and older
Weight123 lbs with allowances
Purse$300,000 (2025)

The Chicago Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, four years old and older over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt track scheduled annually in June at run annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event currently offers a purse of $300,000 plus a trophy.

Contents

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 31 August 1986, as the Chicago-Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap, the seventh event on the card for Budweiser-Arlington Million Day and was won by Lazer Show who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day in a time of 1:212⁄5. [1] Between 1986 and 1995 Budweiser sponsored the event and from 1986 and 2006 the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event which reflected in the name of the event. [2] Lazer Show would win the event again the following year. [3]

In 1992 the event was upgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade III status. [4]

In 2007, the race was moved to a synthetic surface when Arlington Park switched its main track from dirt to an all-weather course. The Chicago Handicap was switched back to dirt in 2017, when it was moved to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Arlington Park was cutting back on its stakes races in order to boost overnight race purses, and Churchill Downs, which is owned by the same company, picked up both the Chicago Handicap and the Matron Stakes. [5]

In 2018 the event returned to Arlington Park with Princess La Quinta winning the race. [6]

The event was not held in 1988, 1998, 1999 and 2015. In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Arlington Park did not schedule the event in its shortened meeting. [7]

In 2021 the event was scheduled as a stakes allowance event, hence the event was changed to the Chicago Stakes. [8]

In 2022, the event was moved to Churchill Downs after the closure of Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. [9] Also the conditions of the event were changed so that only mares four years old or older could enter. In 2023 the event was moved to Ellis Park after Churchill Downs closed their spring meeting earlier due to a spate of injuries. [10]

In 2025 the event was upgraded to Grade II by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. [11]

Records

Speed Record:

Margins:

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by a jockey:

Winners

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRef
At Churchill Downs –Chicago Stakes
2025Vahva5 Irad Ortiz Jr. Cherie DeVauxBelladonna Racing, Lynne & Edward J. Hudson Jr., West Point, Nice Guys Stables, Twin Brook Stables, Steve Hornstock, LBD Stable, Manganaro Bloodstock & Runnels Racing7 furlongs1:20.89$298,250II [12]
2024Vahva4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Cherie DeVauxBelladonna Racing, Lynne & Edward J. Hudson Jr., West Point, Nice Guys Stables, Twin Brook Stables, Steve Hornstock, LBD Stable, Manganaro Bloodstock & Runnels Racing7 furlongs1:21.01$249,500III [13]
At Ellis Park
2023 Society 4 Tyler Gaffalione Steven M. Asmussen Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds7 furlongs1:20.54$225,000III [14]
At Churchill Downs
2022Lady Rocket5 Ricardo Santana Jr. Brad H. Cox Frank Fletcher Racing Operations7 furlongs1:21.62$200,000III [15]
At Arlington Park
2021Abby Hatcher (IRE) 4Alex AchardAnna MeahDavid Meah7 furlongs1:22.27$100,000III [16]
2020Race not held
Chicago Handicap
2019My Mertie4Carlos H. Marquez Jr.Michele BoyceOak Rock Racing, Terry Biondo & Cherrywood Racing Stables II7 furlongs1:22.44$100,000III [17]
2018Hotshot Anna4Harry HernandezHugh H. RobertsonHugh H. Robertson7 furlongs1:20.93$100,000III [18]
At Churchill Downs
2017Finley'sluckycharm4 Brian Hernandez Jr. W. Bret Calhoun Carl L. Moore Management7 furlongs1:22.17$100,000III [19]
At Arlington Park
2016Sarah Sis4 Jose Valdivia Jr. Ingrid MasonRags Racing Stable7 furlongs1:23.16$100,000III [20]
2015Race not held
2014My Option4Eduardo E. PerezChris M. BlockTimothy J. Keeley7 furlongs1:23.72$150,000III [21]
2013Cozze Up Lady4 Miguel Mena W. Bret Calhoun Martin Racing, Morgan Thoroughbred, Westwind Property & Farfellow Farm7 furlongs1:23.06$150,000III [22]
2012Kitty in a Tizzy5Francisco C. TorresH. James BondWilliam L. Clifton Jr.7 furlongs1:23.49$150,000III [23]
2011Devil by Design5 Corey Nakatani William I. Mott John D. Gunther, Eurowest Bloodstock & Tony Chedraoui7 furlongs1:25.54$100,000III [24]
2010 Informed Decision 5 Julien R. Leparoux Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable 7 furlongs1:24.34$100,000III [25]
2009 Informed Decision 4 Julien R. Leparoux Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable 7 furlongs1:21.49$140,000III [26]
2008Leah's Secret5 Rene R. Douglas Todd A. Pletcher WinStar Farm 7 furlongs1:22.17$144,500III [27]
2007Lady Belsara4Edward T. BairdS. Matthew KintzAt the Moment Stables7 furlongs1:23.10$175,000III [28]
2006Ebony Breeze6John Jacinto William I. Mott Kinsman Stable 7 furlongs1:22.02$157,750III [29]
2005Happy Ticket4 Eusebio Razo Jr. Andrew Leggio Jr.Stewart Mather Madison7 furlongs1:22.54$175,000III [30]
2004My Trusty Cat4 Rene R. Douglas David R. Vance Carl F. Pollard7 furlongs1:23.54$175,000III [31]
2003For Rubies4 Craig Perret Lynn S. Whiting Choctaw Racing Stable7 furlongs1:24.21$145,750III [32]
2002Mandy's Gold4 Rene R. Douglas Michael E. GorhamSteeplechase Farm7 furlongs1:22.86$164,440III [33]
2001Trip4 Craig Perret Frank L. Brothers Claiborne Farm 7 furlongs1:22.18$157,270III [34]
2000 Saoirse 4David ClarkPhillip EnglandKnob Hill Stable7 furlongs1:23.09$170,325III [35]
1998–1999Race not held
1997J J'sdream4 Mark Guidry Bobby C. Barnett John A. Franks 7 furlongs1:22.25$169,375III [36]
1996Bunbeg4Mickey WallsPhillip EnglandKnob Hill Stable7 furlongs1:23.86$171,650III [37]
1995Low Key Affair4 Aaron Gryder D. Wayne Lukas Moyglare Stud 7 furlongs1:24.64$156,400III [38]
1994Minidar4Vann Belvoir Mark A. Hennig Edward P. Evans 7 furlongs1:22.49$156,600III [39]
1993Meafara4Juvenal Lopez DiazLeslie E. AhrensFrank L. Muench7 furlongs1:22.12$156,450III [40]
1992Withallprobability4 Garrett K. Gomez D. Wayne Lukas Edward P. Evans 7 furlongs1:21.24$155,750III [41]
1991 Safely Kept 5 Craig Perret Alan E. Goldberg Jayeff B. Stable7 furlongs1:23.05$155,100Listed [42]
1990Fit for a Queen4 Pat Day Steven C. PenrodHermitage Farm7 furlongs1:23.00$157,750 [43]
1989Rose's Record5 Jorge Velasquez Frank L. Brothers David V. & Nancy Ringler7 furlongs1:24.60$149,200 [44]
1988Race not held
1987Lazer Show4 Pat Day Donald R. WinfreeJames J. Devaney7 furlongs1:22.80$77,125 [3]
1986Lazer Show3 Pat Day Donald R. WinfreeJames J. Devaney7 furlongs1:21.40$155,600 [1]

Legend:
  All Weather Track  Dirt

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

  1. 1 2 Milbert, Neil (1 September 1986). "Horse Racing - Arlington Park Charts (1986 Chicago-Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap – race 7: held 31 August 1986)". Chicago Tribune . pp. 19, 29. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  2. ↑ Equibase.com. "Chicago Handicap Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  3. 1 2 Milbert, Neil (1 September 1987). "Horse Racing (1987 Chicago Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap – race 9: held 31 August 1987)". Chicago Tribune . p. 41. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "CHICAGO HANDICAP - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  5. ↑ "Churchill Downs to host Arlington's Matron, Chicago Handicap this year | Daily Racing Form". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  6. ↑ Daugherty, Meredith. "Princess La Quinta Seeks Third Win in Chicago Handicap". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  7. ↑ Cardos, Nicole (15 June 2021). "Arlington Park Takes Its 'Final Turn' Amid a Pandemic as Sale Looms". WTTW . Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  8. ↑ "Arlington Park Condition Book #2". equibase.com. Arlington Park. 2021. p. 25. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  9. ↑ Spring Stakes Schedule churchilldowns.com Archived 2022-07-03 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ King, Byron (2 June 2023). "Churchill Downs Suspends Meet; Dates to Shift to Ellis The ongoing meet at Churchill Downs had been scheduled to run through July 3". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2025". Bloodhorse.com. Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  12. ↑ "2025 Chicago Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 21 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "2024 Chicago Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  14. ↑ "2023 Chicago Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  15. ↑ "2022 Chicago Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "2021 Chicago Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  17. ↑ "2019 Chicago Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 29 June 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  18. ↑ "2018 Chicago Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  19. ↑ "2017 Chicago Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  20. ↑ "2016 Chicago Handicap Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  21. ↑ "2014 Chicago Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 28 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  22. ↑ "2013 Chicago Handicap Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  23. ↑ "2012 Chicago Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  24. ↑ "2011 Chicago Handicap Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  25. ↑ "2010 Chicago Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 July 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  26. ↑ "2009 Chicago Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 4 July 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  27. ↑ "2008 Chicago Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 28 June 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  28. ↑ "2007 Chicago Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 16 June 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  29. ↑ "2006 Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 17 June 2006. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  30. ↑ "2005 Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 18 June 2005. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  31. ↑ "2004 Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 19 June 2004. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  32. ↑ "2003 Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 14 June 2003. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  33. ↑ "2002 Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 June 2002. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  34. ↑ "2001 Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 June 2001. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  35. ↑ "2000 Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 11 June 2000. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  36. ↑ "1997 Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 21 June 1997. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  37. ↑ "1996 Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 22 June 1996. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  38. ↑ "1995 Chicago Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 24 June 1995. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  39. ↑ "1994 Chicago Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 25 June 1994. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  40. ↑ "1993 Chicago Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 26 June 1993. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  41. ↑ "1992 Chicago Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 28 June 1992. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  42. ↑ "1991 Chicago Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 30 June 1991. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  43. ↑ "Arlington Park (1990 Chicago Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap – race 8: held 30 June 1990)". Chicago Tribune . 1 July 1990. pp. 42, 44. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  44. ↑ Milbert, Neil (9 July 1990). "Rose's Record, Velasquez (1989 Chicago Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap – race 8: held 8 July 1989)". Chicago Tribune . p. 52. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.