| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| 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.
In 2025 the event was moved to Saratoga and due to the state of the turf track was moved and held on the dirt track over a distance of five-and-one-half furlongs. [5]
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 Saratoga –Soaring Softly Stakes | |||||||||
| 2025 | Saturday Flirt | Junior Alvarado | Wesley A. Ward | Mrs. Fitriani Hay | 5+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:04.00 | $175,000 | Listed | [6] |
| At Aqueduct | |||||||||
| 2024 | Pipsy (IRE) | Flavien Prat | William Walden | Woodford Thoroughbreds | 6 furlongs | 1:09.41 | $175,000 | III | [7] |
| 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 | [8] |
| 2022 | Chardy Party (IRE) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Wesley A. Ward | Stonestreet Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:21.47 | $100,000 | III | [9] |
| 2021 | Bye Bye | Eric Cancel | Christophe Clement | Bach Stables | 7 furlongs | 1:21.19 | $100,000 | III | [10] |
| 2020 | Race not held | ||||||||
| 2019 | Seek and Destroy | Kendrick Carmouche | Chad C. Brown | e Five Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:22.53 | $100,000 | III | [11] |
| 2018 | Nootka Sound | Dylan Davis | Wesley A. Ward | Hat Creek Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:24.59 | $98,000 | III | [12] |
| 2017 | Morticia | Jose Lezcano | George Arnold | G. Watts Humphrey Jr. | 7 furlongs | 1:19.93 | $100,000 | Listed | [13] |
| 2016 | Lightstream | Eric Cancel | Brian A. Lynch | Up Hill Stable & Head of Plains Partners | 7 furlongs | 1:20.54 | $100,000 | [14] | |
| Wait A While Stakes | |||||||||
| 2015 | Celestine | Rajiv Maragh | William I. Mott | James A. Bryan Jr. | 7 furlongs | 1:21.06 | $98,000 | [15] | |
| 2014 | Richies Party Girl | John R. Velazquez | Wesley A. Ward | Richard Ravin and Wesley A. Ward | 7 furlongs | 1:21.84 | $98,000 | [16] | |
Legend:
Dirt Turf