First Lady Stakes

The First Lady Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for fillies & mares, age three and older over a distance of one mile on the turf held annually in October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky during the fall meeting.

First Lady Stakes
Grade I race
LocationKeeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky United States
Inaugurated1998
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
SponsorUK HealthCare (2020)
Websitewww.keeneland.com
Race information
Distance1 mile
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFillies & Mares, three-years-old and older
WeightWeight for Age
4-year-olds and up: 124 lbs.
3-year-olds: 122 lbs.
Purse$350,000 (2020)
BonusesWin and You're In Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf

History

The race was first run on October 16 1998 as the First Lady Stakes at a distance of ​1 3⁄16 miles and was sponsored by Vinery Farm located in Lexington.[1]

In 2000, WinStar Farm became the race's sponsor from then through 2005 and it was renamed the Galaxy Stakes.[2] Also that year the event was classified Grade III by the American Graded Stakes Committee who upgraded it as a Grade II race the following year.[3]

In 2005 the distance of the event was decreased to its present distance of one mile.[3]

In 2006, the name of the event was reverted to its inaugural title.[2]

The First Lady Stakes is a steppingstone to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. In 2000, Perfect Sting ran second in this race but went on to win that year's inaugural edition of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.[4] In 2005, Intercontinental won this race and the ensuing Breeders' Cup and was crowned US Champion Female Turf Horse. The 2008 winner Forever Together also went on to win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and was crowned US Champion Female Turf Horse. The 2015 winner Tepin went on to defeat the males in the Breeders' Cup Mile and also was crowned US Champion Female Turf Horse. The British bred Uni was the most recent winner to claim the Breeders' Cup Mile after winning this event in 2019.

Records

Speed record:

  • 1:34.08 - Never Retreat (2011)

Margins:

  • ​7 1⁄4 lengths – Bien Nicole (2003)
Most wins
  • 2 - Uni (GB) (2019, 2020)
Most wins by an owner
  • 3 - Michael Dubb & Bethlehem Stables (in partnership) (2018, 2019, 2020)
Most wins by a jockey
Most wins by a trainer

Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
First Lady Stakes
2020 Uni (GB) 6 Joel Rosario Chad C. Brown Michael Dubb, Head Of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta & Bethlehem Stable 1 mile 1:34.90 $343,000 I [5]
2019 Uni (GB) 5 Joel Rosario Chad C. Brown Michael Dubb, Head Of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta & Bethlehem Stable 1 mile 1:32.87 $400,000 I [6]
2018 A Raving Beauty (GER) 5 John R. Velazquez Chad C. Brown Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables & Bethlehem Stables 1 mile 1:37.78 $400,000 I [7]
2017 Zipessa 5 Joe Bravo Michael Stidham Empyrean Stables 1 mile 1:36.99 $400,000 I [8]
2016 Photo Call (IRE) 5 Kent J. Desormeaux Todd A. Pletcher Teresa Viola Racing 1 mile 1:35.62 $400,000 I [9]
2015 Tepin 4 Julien R. Leparoux Mark E. Casse Robert E. Masterson 1 mile 1:37.04 $400,000 I [10]
2014 Dayatthespa 5 John R. Velazquez Chad C. Brown Jerry & Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon & Bradley Thoroughbreds 1 mile 1:35.21 $400,000 I [11]
2013 Better Lucky 4 Julien R. Leparoux Thomas Albertrani Godolphin Racing 1 mile 1:39.78 $400,000 I [12]
2012 Tapitsfly 5 Jose Lezcano Dale L. Romans Frank L. Jones Jr. 1 mile 1:35.44 $350,000 I [13]
2011 Never Retreat 6 Julien R. Leparoux Chris M. Block Team Block 1 mile 1:34.08 $350,000 I [14]
2010 Proviso (GB) 5 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Juddmonte Farms 1 mile 1:34.81 $400,000 I [15]
2009 Diamondrella (GB) 5 Rajiv Maragh Angel A. Penna Jr. IEAH Stables 1 mile 1:38.66 $400,000 I [16]
2008 Forever Together 4 Julien R. Leparoux Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable 1 mile 1:35.00 $400,000 I [17]
2007 Vacare 4 Corey Nakatani Christophe Clement Sarah & Jon Kelly 1 mile 1:35.85 $432,000 II [18]
2006 Gorella (FR) 4 Julien R. Leparoux Patrick L. Biancone Martin S. Schwartz 1 mile 1:34.14 $400,000 II [19]
Galaxy Stakes
2005 Intercontinental (GB) 5 Jerry D. Bailey Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1 mile 1:37.40 $400,000 II [20]
2004 Stay Forever 7 Eddie Castro Martin D. Wolfson Santa Cruz Ranch ​1 3⁄16 miles 1:57.08 $500,000 II [21]
2003 Bien Nicole 5 Donald R. Pettinger Donnie K. Von Hemel Kristine & John Richter ​1 3⁄16 miles 1:55.87 $500,000 II [22]
2002 Owsley 4 Edgar S. Prado Randy Schulhofer Arthur B. Hancock III ​1 3⁄16 miles 1:56.72 $544,500 II [23]
2001 Spook Express (SAF) 7 Mike E. Smith Thomas J. Skiffington Robert & Janet Aron ​1 3⁄16 miles 1:54.24 $563,500 II [24]
2000 Tout Charmant 4 Chris McCarron Ron McAnally Stonerside Stable ​1 3⁄16 miles 1:54.60 $554,000 III [4]
First Lady Stakes
1999 Happyanunoit (NZ) 4 Brice Blanc Robert J. Frankel Amerman Racing Stables ​1 3⁄16 miles 1:53.80 $558,500 Listed [25]
1998 Witchful Thinking 4 Chris McCarron Niall M. O'Callaghan Leslie R. Grimm ​1 3⁄16 miles 1:54.20 $273,250 Listed [1]

Legend:
  Turf

See also

References
  1. "1998 Vinery First Lady Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 October 1998. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  2. "First Lady Stakes Profile". Equibase. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  3. "FIRST LADY STAKES - KEENELAND, KY". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  4. "2000 WinStar Galaxy Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 13 October 2000. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  5. "2020 First Lady S. Presented by UK HealthCare Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  6. "2019 First Lady S. Presented by UK HealthCare Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  7. "2018 First Lady Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  8. "2017 First Lady Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  9. "2016 First Lady Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  10. "2015 First Lady Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  11. "2014 First Lady Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  12. "2013 First Lady Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  13. "2012 First Lady Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  14. "2011 First Lady Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  15. "2010 Abu Dhabi First Lady Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  16. "2009 First Lady Stakes Grade 1 - (race 7)". Equibase. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  17. "2008 First Lady Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  18. "2007 First Lady Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 6 October 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  19. "2006 First Lady Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 14 October 2006. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  20. "2005 WinStar Galaxy Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. 9 October 2005. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  21. "2004 WinStar Galaxy Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. 10 October 2004. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  22. "2003 WinStar Galaxy Stakes Grade 2 - (race 6)". Equibase. 5 October 2003. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  23. "2002 WinStar Galaxy Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 4 October 2002. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  24. "2001 WinStar Galaxy Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 5 October 2001. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  25. "1999 Vinery First Lady Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 15 October 1999. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
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