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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.
| Grade II race | |
| Location | Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1984 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Sponsor | Mohegan Sun (2023) |
| Website | NYRA |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄16 miles |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Fillies & Mares, four-years-old and older |
| Weight | 124 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | $300,000 (2023) |
The inaugural running of the Ballston Spa Stakes was 4 August 1983 and was restricted to New York State bred fillies and mares that were three years old or older and run at a distance of 7 furlongs on the dirt.[1] The name of the event honors Ballston Spa, New York, a small town just south of Saratoga Springs. The Ballston Spa name was not used again until 1997.[2]
NYRA created a race in 1989 with Breeders' Cup incentives that was the forerunner of today's event. The event with additional sponsorship from Budweiser was known as the Aqueduct Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap and it was run in late October over a distance of one mile.[2] In 1994 the event was moved to Saratoga and was renamed as the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap with an increase of distance to 1+1⁄16 miles.[2]
In 1995 the event was classified as Grade III and upgraded to Grade II in 2006.[3]
In 1997 the event was renamed once more to the Ballston Spa Handicap.
The 2002 event was taken off the turf track due to consistent rain during the days before the event which resulted in seven scratchings leaving a small field of three to run.[4] Surya won by the stakes largest distance of 9+1⁄4 lengths with over 50 lengths separating second and third on the muddy track.[4]
Several champions have won this event including the 2004–05 Australian Champion Three Year Old Filly Alinghi, the 2006 US Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Wait A While, who was a dual winner of the event, the 2012 US Champion Female Turf Horse French bred Zagora who later that year would also win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Lady Eli, US Champion Female Turf Horse in 2017.
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Speed record:
- 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:38.77 – Strike Charmer (2016)
- 1 mile: 1:33.80 – Wakonda (1989)
Margins:
- 9+1⁄4 lengths – Surya (2002)
Most wins:
- 2 – Weekend Madness (1994, 1995)
- 2 – Wait A While (2007, 2008)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 – New Phoenix Stable (1994, 1995)
- 2 – Arindel Farm (2007, 2008)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 5 – John Velazquez (1997, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 8 – Chad C. Brown (2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024)
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Saratoga – Ballston Spa Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2024 | Beaute Cachee (FR) | 5 | Frankie Dettori | Chad C. Brown | Louis Lazzinnaro, Madaket Stables, Michael J. Caruso & Michael Dubb | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.41 | $279,000 | II | [5] |
| 2023 | Evvie Jets | 5 | Manuel Franco | Mertkan Kantarmaci | Estate of Robert J. Amendola | abt. 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.06 | $300,000 | II | [6] |
| 2022 | Technical Analysis (IRE) | 4 | José L. Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.90 | $388,000 | II | [7] |
| 2021 | Viadera | 5 | Joel Rosario | Chad C. Brown | Juddmonte | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.82 | $400,000 | II | [8] |
| 2020 | Starship Jubilee | 7 | Javier Castellano | Kevin Attard | Blue Heaven Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.76 | $194,000 | II | [9] |
| 2019 | Significant Form | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Chad C. Brown | Stephanie Seymour Brant | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.39 | $400,000 | II | [10] |
| 2018 | Quidura (GB) | 5 | José L. Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.67 | $392,000 | II | [11] |
| 2017 | Lady Eli | 5 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Sheep Pond Partners | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.70 | $384,000 | II | [12] |
| 2016 | Strike Charmer | 6 | Junior Alvarado | Mark A. Hennig | Courtland Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:38.77 | $400,000 | II | [13] |
| 2015 | Dacita (CHI) | 4 | Javier Castellano | Chad C. Brown | Sheep Pond Partners & Bradley Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.67 | $400,000 | II | [14] |
| 2014 | Abaco | 6 | José L. Ortiz | Claude R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.64 | $250,000 | II | [15] |
| 2013 | Laughing (IRE) | 5 | Jose Lezcano | Alan E. Goldberg | Richard Santulli | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.37 | $250,000 | II | [16] |
| 2012 | Zagora (FR) | 5 | Ramon A. Dominguez | Chad C. Brown | Martin S. Schwartz | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.07 | $250,000 | II | [17] |
| 2011 | Daveron (GER) | 6 | Eddie Castro | H. Graham Motion | Team Valor International | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.09 | $200,000 | II | [18] |
| 2010 | Dynaslew | 4 | Eibar Coa | Seth Benzel | Live Oak Plantation | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.58 | $200,000 | II | [19] |
| Ballston Spa Handicap | ||||||||||
| 2009 | Salve Germania (IRE) | 4 | Javier Castellano | Waldemar Hickst | Hellwig Manfred | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:47.25 | $200,000 | II | [20] |
| 2008 | Wait A While | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Arindel Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.70 | $196,000 | II | [21] |
| 2007 | Wait A While | 4 | Garrett K. Gomez | Todd A. Pletcher | Arindel Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.00 | $200,000 | II | [22] |
| 2006 | My Typhoon (IRE) | 4 | Garrett K. Gomez | William I. Mott | Live Oak Plantation | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.72 | $200,000 | II | [23] |
| 2005 | Alinghi (AUS) | 4 | Edgar S. Prado | Robert J. Frankel | John Messara, John Leaver & Alan Jones | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.30 | $135,966 | III | [24] |
| 2004 | Ocean Drive | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Bonnie & Sy Baskin | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.92 | $201,000 | III | [25] |
| 2003 | Stylish | 5 | John R. Velazquez | William I. Mott | Estate of Ahmed bin Salman | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.03 | $213,400 | III | [26] |
| 2002 | Surya | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Flaxman Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.29 | $191,800 | Listed | [4] |
| 2001 | Penny's Gold | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Christophe Clement | Overbrook Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.69 | $190,200 | III | [27] |
| 2000 | License Fee | 5 | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | Winstar Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.53 | $206,500 | III | [28] |
| 1999 | Pleasant Temper | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | W. Elliott Walden | Mark H. Stanley | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.84 | $207,800 | III | [29] |
| 1998 | Memories of Silver | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | James J. Toner | Joan G. Phillips | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.93 | $211,000 | III | [30] |
| 1997 | Valor Lady | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Mark A. Hennig | Jerome & John Amerman | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.47 | $217,000 | III | [31] |
| Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap | ||||||||||
| 1996 | Danish (IRE) | 5 | José A. Santos | Christophe Clement | Jayeff B Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.50 | $210,600 | III | [32] |
| 1995 | Weekend Madness (IRE) | 5 | Shane Sellers | Burk Kessinger Jr. | New Phoenix Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.34 | $155,500 | III | [33] |
| 1994 | Weekend Madness (IRE) | 4 | Shane Sellers | Burk Kessinger Jr. | New Phoenix Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.77 | $155,850 | Listed | [34] |
| At Aqueduct – Aqueduct Breeders' Cup Handicap | ||||||||||
| 1993 | One Dreamer | 5 | Earlie Fires | Thomas F. Proctor | Glen Hill Farm | 1 mile | 1:39.38 | $157,400 | Listed | [35] |
| 1992 | Aurora | 4 | Craig Perret | Flint S. Schulhofer | Helen K. Groves | 1 mile | 1:36.94 | $156,450 | Listed | [36] |
| 1991 | Paris Opera | 5 | Gary L. Stevens | Lawrence W. Jennings Jr. | Earle I. Mack | 1 mile | 1:37.41 | $157,450 | Listed | [37] |
| 1990 | Fire the Groom | 3 | Lanfranco Dettori | Luca M. Cumani | Randall Dee Hubbard | 1 mile | 1:35.20 | $159,700 | [38] | |
| 1989 | Wakonda | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Spasoje Dimitrijevic | John A. Nerud | 1 mile | 1:33.80 | $156,500 | [39] | |
| 1984–1988 | Race not held | |||||||||
| At Saratoga – Ballston Spa Stakes | ||||||||||
| 1983 | § Subversive Chick | 3 | Declan J. Murphy | Michael C. Sedlacek | Badlands Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:24.20 | $37,500 | ‡Restricted | [1] |
Legend:
Turf
Dirt
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
‡ The inaugural event was restricted to New York State bred fillies and mares that are three years old or older.
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