The Eight Belles Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old filly sprinters run at a distance of 7 furlongs at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky each year on Kentucky Oaks Day.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on the opening day of the 1956 Spring meeting at Churchill Downs on Saturday, 27 April 1956 as the seventh and main feature race on the nine race program named the Oaks Prep over a distance of six furlongs. The event attracted the 1955 US Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Doubledogdare and Calumet Farm's fine filly Princess Turia. The event was scheduled as a preparatory event for the much longer Kentucky Oaks which was scheduled on the following Friday. Doubledogdare started as the 2/5 odds-on favorite and held off Princess Turia to win by half a length in a time of 1:11. However, six days later Princess Turia turned the tables and defeated her rival in the Kentucky Oaks by a neck.

In 1961 the distance of the event was increased to seven furlongs.

The 1962 winner Cicada started 3/10 odds-on and easily won the event by four lengths under the reins of US Hall of Fame jockey William L. Shoemaker. Cicada then proceeded to win the Kentucky Oaks en route to being crowned US Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.

In 1967 the event was renamed to the La Troienne Stakes for one of the greatest broodmares in the United States throughout the twentieth century, La Troienne. The 1967 winner Fure Sail would go on to being crowned US Champion Three-Year-Old Filly as would the 1968 winner Dark Mirage and 1972 winner Susan's Girl. The 1972 Canadian Horse of the Year La Prevoyante would win the event in 1973.

In 1982 the event was run in split divisions. This was only time that the event was run in split divisions.

The event was classified as Grade III in 1998.

Between 2004 and 2010 the event was run over a lightly longer distance of furlongs.

Churchill Downs announced that beginning in 2009 this race would be called the Eight Belles Stakes in honor of the deceased filly, Eight Belles, who finished second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby. In 2010, the Louisville Distaff Stakes was renamed the La Troienne Stakes.

Since 2011 the event has been scheduled on the same card as the Kentucky Oaks.

The American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the race to its current Grade II status in 2016.

Records Speed record: 7 furlongs: 1:21.29 - Contested (2012) furlongs: 1:28.18 - Joint Effort (2006)

Margins lengths - Roxelana (2000)

Most wins by a jockey: 9 - Pat Day (1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1999, 2001)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 - Brad H. Cox (2017, 2019, 2022, 2026)

Most wins by an owner: 3 - Heiligbrodt Racing Stable (2002, 2009, 2018)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefEight Belles Stakes2026On Time GirlIrad Ortiz Jr.Brad H. CoxAlbaugh Family Stables 7 furlongs1:22.16 $680,000II2025Look ForwardUmberto RispoliMichael W. McCarthy Reddam Racing 7 furlongs1:22.36$579,660II2024My Mane Squeeze Luis SaezMichael J. MakerWilliam Butler & WinStar Farm7 furlongs1:22.85$534,340 II2023Red Carpet Ready Luis SaezGeorge R. Arnold IIAshbrook Farm & Upland Flats Racing7 furlongs1:22.28$500,000II2022MatareyaFlavien PratBrad H. CoxGodolphin7 furlongs1:21.86$500,000II2021Obligatory Jose OrtizWilliam I. MottJuddmonte Farms7 furlongs1:21.89$300,000II2020SconsinJames GrahamGregory D. FoleyLloyd Madison Farms IV 7 furlongs1:21.30$300,000II2019Break EvenShaun BridgmohanBrad H. Cox Klein Racing7 furlongs1:22.13$250,000II2018Mia MischiefRicardo Santana Jr.Steven M. Asmussen William & Corrine Heiligbrodt, Heider Family Stables & Madaket Stables 7 furlongs1:21.84$200,000II2017Benner IslandJavier CastellanoBrad H. Cox Shortleaf Stable 7 furlongs1:24.28$200,000II2016Carina Mia Julien R. LeparouxWilliam I. Mott Three Chimneys Farm7 furlongs1:21.74$200,000II2015Promise Me SilverRobby AlbaradoW. Bret Calhoun Robert G. Luttrell7 furlongs1:22.90$200,000III2014FiftyshadesofgoldMike E. SmithW. Bret Calhoun Estate of Clarence Scharbauer Jr.7 furlongs1:22.50$200,725III2013So Many WaysGarrett K. GomezThomas M. Amoss Maggi Moss7 furlongs1:22.84$177,150III2012ContestedMartin GarciaBob Baffert Natalie J. Baffert7 furlongs1:21.29$110,000III2011Victoria's WildcatKent J. DesormeauxRobert B. Hess Jr.Bob & Victoria Bayer & Jonathan Metcalf 7 furlongs1:23.03$118,800III2010BuckleupbuttercupJulien R. LeparouxEddie Kenneally Avalon Farms furlongs1:29.49$110,700III2009Four GiftsShaun BridgmohanSteven M. Asmussen Heiligbrodt Racing Stable furlongs1:30.94$113,300IIILa Troienne Stakes2008Game FaceJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. Pletcher Zabeel Racing International furlongs1:28.44$168,450III2007SilverinyourpocketCalvin H. BorelHelen Pitts-BlasiRobert D. & Marilyn Randal furlongs1:30.14$182,850III2006Joint EffortEdgar S. PradoDale L. Romans Donald R. Dizney furlongs1:28.18$119,600III2005Seek a StarJorge F. ChavezJohn T. Ward Jr. John C. Oxley furlongs1:28.75$100,000III2004Friendly MichelleAlex O. SolisBob Baffert Ed Friendly furlongs1:28.26$112,200III2003Final RoundJerry D. BaileyGeorge R. Arnold II G. Watts Humphrey Jr.7 furlongs1:22.13$111,800III2002Cashier's DreamDonnie MecheSteven M. Asmussen Heiligbrodt Racing Stable & Team Valor7 furlongs1:24.83$112,600III2001Caressing Pat DayDavid R. Vance Carl F. Pollard7 furlongs1:22.90$121,000III2000RoxelanaLarry MelanconWilliam G. Huffman William L. S. Landes III7 furlongs1:21.97$113,400III1999Sapphire n' SilkPat DayDallas Stewart William A. Carl7 furlongs1:23.85$112,800III1998Sister ActCalvin H. BorelJeffrey N. Jacobs Choctaw Racing Stable & Harold C. Kitchen7 furlongs1:24.46$112,700III1997Star of GoshenAlex O. SolisMike Puype Cobra Farm 7 furlongs1:22.75$113,500 Listed 1996Rare BlendPat DayDavid A. Vivian Barbara Vivian & Dominic Vittese 7 furlongs1:23.75$85,575 Listed 1995Dixieland GoldDave PennaLouis M. Goldfine Arthur I. Appleton7 furlongs1:22.74$84,750 Listed 1994PacketJoe M. JohnsonGary G. Hartlage Upson Downs Farm & Patricia Lenihan7 furlongs1:24.14$85,800 Listed 1993Traverse CityJulie KroneWilliam I. Mott Charles Armstrong7 furlongs1:24.38$58,500 Listed 1992Bell WitchJulie KroneLawrence C. Metz Tom E. Hall7 furlongs1:24.35$56,150Listed 1991Exclusive BirdJerry D. BaileyJohn T. Ward Jr. John C. Oxley7 furlongs1:23.64$56,850 Listed 1990Screen ProspectPat DayPeter M. Vestal Alamo Ranches 7 furlongs1:24.40$56,950 1989Top of My LifePat DayThomas Victor Smith Robert & Joan Masterson 7 furlongs1:23.80$56,300 1988Gerri n Jo GoPat DayD. Wayne Lukas Joseph Scardino & David Sofro 7 furlongs1:25.40$55,700 1987FootyChris McCarronWillard L. Proctor Cherry Valley Farm7 furlongs1:23.80$58,500 1986Lazer ShowPat DayDonald R. Winfree James Devaney 7 furlongs1:23.60$38,180 1985Magnificent LindyEddie DelahoussayeNeil D. Drysdale Mrs. Paula Tucker 7 furlongs1:23.40$35,150 1984SintraK. Keith AllenSteven C. Penrod Cherry Valley Farm7 furlongs1:23.20$35,650 1983How CleverGerland GallitanoBilly S. Borders J. R. Straus 7 furlongs1:25.40$37,300 1982Betty MoneyLarry MelanconRonnie G. WarrenRussell Michael 7 furlongs1:26.20$35,675 Hoist Emy's FlagPat DayEdwin K. Cleveland Jr. Nickels & Dimes Stable 1:26.20$35,6751981Heavenly CausePat DayWoodford C. Stephens Ryehill Farm 7 furlongs1:24.00$26,450 1980RibbonRonald ArdoinHarry Trotsek Arthur B. Hancock III & Leon Peters 7 furlongs1:26.60$29,900 1979Justa ReflectionArthur P. Hoffman Marvin L. Warner 7 furlongs1:25.80$27,450 1978White Star LineEddie Maple Newstead Farm 7 furlongs1:25.20$20,800 1977Sweet AllianceChris McCarronBud Delp Windfields Farm 7 furlongs1:25.20$22,000 1976Moreland HillsAllen RiniJames E. Morgan Thomas F. Classen 7 furlongs1:26.60$21,200 1975§ High EstimateEddie DelahoussayeDouglas M. Davis Jr. Diamond Stable 7 furlongs 1:25.60$21,200 1974†Shantung SilkAngel Cordero Jr.A. B. May William Lussky 7 furlongs1:25.40$22,200 1973La Prevoyante (CAN)Jimmy LeBlanc Joseph Starr Jean-Louis Levesque 7 furlongs1:23.80$21,600 1972Susan's GirlVictor Tejada John W. Russell Fred W. Hooper 7 furlongs1:23.80$21,600 1971 Don Brumfield Horatio A. Luro Louisa d’Andelot Carpenter 7 furlongs1:24.00$22,600 1970Missile BellePete Anderson Woodford C. StephensJohn Morris 7 furlongs1:23.60$16,350 1969Double Delta Carlos Marquez Stanley M. RieserClifford Lussky 7 furlongs1:23.60$16,200 1968Dark MirageManuel Ycaza Everett W. King Lloyd Miller 7 furlongs1:24.60$16,800 1967 Furl Sail Bill Shoemaker John L. Winans Mrs. Edwin K. Thomas7 furlongs1:23.40$16,200 Oaks Prep1966Justakiss Ray BroussardStanley M. RieserClifford Lussky 7 furlongs1:25.20$16,200 1965Marry the Prince Kenneth KnappWillard L. Proctor Graham Brown 7 furlongs1:23.60$13,900 1964Silver Dollar Don BrumfieldStanley M. RieserBarbara Hunter 7 furlongs1:23.60$15,825 1963Saree Jacinto VasquezDonald Lague Mrs. Mary Keim 7 furlongs1:25.60$10,700 1962Cicada Bill Shoemaker J. Homer Hayes Meadow Stable 7 furlongs1:22.20$16,800 1961Play TimeJohnny SellersIvan H. Parke Pin Oak Stable 7 furlongs1:23.60$16,950 1960Rash StatementJohn L. RotzAllen R. Hultz Hal Price Headley6 furlongs1:12:00$12,175 1959Ruwenzori Bill Shoemaker R. E. Meredith Preston Madden 6 furlongs1:11.20$12,775 1958Stay Smoochie Walter Blum Jack Price Dorchester Farm Stable 6 furlongs1:11.40$12,325 1957§ Pillow TalkKenneth ChurchMaurice H. Dudley Hal Price Headley6 furlongs1:11.20$12,675 1956Doubledogdare Steve BrooksMoody Jolley Claiborne Farm 6 furlongs1:11.60$13,150

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

† In the 1974 running Clemenna was first past the post but came out in the straight causing interference to the second-place finisher Shantung Silk and was disqualified and placed second. Shantung Silk was declared the winner.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links Churchill Downs Media Guide - $250,000 Eight Belles

References