| Grade III race | |
| Location | Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 2014 (as Wait A While Stakes) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing - Turf |
| Website | nyra.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 7 furlongs |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Fillies, three years old |
| Weight | 123lbs. with allowances |
| Purse | $175,000 (since 2023) |
The Soaring Softly Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old fillies, over a distance of 7 furlongs on the turf held annually in May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $175,000.
The race was inaugurated in 2014 as the Wait A While Stakes [1] with a stakes purse of $100,000 [2] after the American Oaks and duel Yellow Ribbon Stakes winner Wait A While.
In 2018 the event was classified as Grade III. [2]
The race was renamed in 2016 to the Soaring Softly Stakes after the 1999 American Champion Female Turf Horse and inaugural Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Soaring Softly. [3]
In 2024 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park. [4] The distance of the event was decreased to six furlongs since the Aqueduct turf course does not hold events over the 7 furlong distance.
Speed record:
Margins:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
Most wins by an owner:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Aqueduct –Soaring Softly Stakes | |||||||||
| 2024 | Pipsy (IRE) | Flavien Prat | William Walden | Woodford Thoroughbreds | 6 furlongs | 1:09.41 | $175,000 | III | [5] |
| At Belmont Park | |||||||||
| 2023 | Queen Picasso (GB) | Jose Ortiz | Christophe Clement | Sienna Farm, Michael E. Kisber, Peter Deutsch & The Elkstone Group | 7 furlongs | 1:21.24 | $169,750 | III | [6] |
| 2022 | Chardy Party (IRE) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Wesley A. Ward | Stonestreet Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:21.47 | $100,000 | III | [7] |
| 2021 | Bye Bye | Eric Cancel | Christophe Clement | Bach Stables | 7 furlongs | 1:21.19 | $100,000 | III | [8] |
| 2020 | Race not held | ||||||||
| 2019 | Seek and Destroy | Kendrick Carmouche | Chad C. Brown | e Five Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:22.53 | $100,000 | III | [9] |
| 2018 | Nootka Sound | Dylan Davis | Wesley A. Ward | Hat Creek Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:24.59 | $98,000 | III | [10] |
| 2017 | Morticia | Jose Lezcano | George Arnold | G. Watts Humphrey Jr. | 7 furlongs | 1:19.93 | $100,000 | Listed | [11] |
| 2016 | Lightstream | Eric Cancel | Brian A. Lynch | Up Hill Stable & Head of Plains Partners | 7 furlongs | 1:20.54 | $100,000 | [12] | |
| Wait A While Stakes | |||||||||
| 2015 | Celestine | Rajiv Maragh | William I. Mott | James A. Bryan Jr. | 7 furlongs | 1:21.06 | $98,000 | [13] | |
| 2014 | Richies Party Girl | John R. Velazquez | Wesley A. Ward | Richard Ravin and Wesley A. Ward | 7 furlongs | 1:21.84 | $98,000 | [14] | |
Legend:
Dirt Turf
The Forty Niner Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older run over a distance of one mile on the dirt held annually in late October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event offers a purse of $250,000.
The New York Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged four-years-old and older run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the turf scheduled annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The current purse is $600,000.
The Sheepshead Bay Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares ages four-years-old and older run over a distance of one and three-eighth miles on the turf scheduled annually in early May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
The Honorable Miss Handicap is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are three years old or older over a distance of six furlongs on the dirt track scheduled annually in September at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
The Ballston Spa Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the turf course scheduled annually in late July or early August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.
The Beaugay Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares three-years-old and older over a distance of one and one-sixteenth of a mile at Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island, New York.
The Hill Prince Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of one and one-eight miles on the turf annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
Soaring Softly was an American Thoroughbred racehorse whose biggest win came in the 1999 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. She originally raced on dirt, with limited success. Switched to turf at age four, she won seven of eight starts and was named the American Champion Female Turf Horse.
The Pennine Ridge Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the inner turf held annually in late May or early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
The Intercontinental Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged four years old and older, over a distance of six furlongs on the turf held annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
The Wonder Again Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies aged three years old held over a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles on the inner turf scheduled annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
The John A. Nerud Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for four years old or older at a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt run annually in early July at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $200,000.
The Troy Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and older over the distance of 5+1⁄2 furlongs on the turf scheduled annually in August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.
The Waya Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, three years old and older run over a distance of 1+3⁄8 miles on the turf held annually in October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event offers a purse of $200,000.
The Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older run over a distance of six furlongs on the turf track held annually in October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event offers a purse of $200,000.
The Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes is an American Grade III Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of one and three-eighths miles on the turf held annually in September at Belmont Park, Elmont, New York. The purse for the event is US$500,000.
The Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes is an American Grade III stakes race Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run over a distance of one and three-eighth miles on the turf held annually in September at Belmont Park, Elmont, New York. The purse for the event is US$350,000.
The Manila Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the turf scheduled annually in early July at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The current purse is $250,000.
Dylan Davis is an American thoroughbred jockey since 2012. In 2018, he "tied a New York Racing Association record ... with a six-win day". At the Aqueduct Racetrack, Davis had the most winter victories in 2022 and 2024. He also had the most wins as a NYRA jockey during 2022. Davis has won 18 Grade III, 6 Grade II and 3 Grade I events as a graded stakes race jockey.