The Chicago Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, four years old and older over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt track scheduled annually in June at run annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event currently offers a purse of $300,000 plus a trophy.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 31 August 1986, as the Chicago-Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap, the seventh event on the card for Budweiser-Arlington Million Day and was won by Lazer Show who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day in a time of 1:21. Between 1986 and 1995 Budweiser sponsored the event and from 1986 and 2006 the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event which reflected in the name of the event. Lazer Show would win the event again the following year.

In 1992 the event was upgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade III status.

In 2007, the race was moved to a synthetic surface when Arlington Park switched its main track from dirt to an all-weather course. The Chicago Handicap was switched back to dirt in 2017, when it was moved to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Arlington Park was cutting back on its stakes races in order to boost overnight race purses, and Churchill Downs, which is owned by the same company, picked up both the Chicago Handicap and the Matron Stakes.

In 2018 the event returned to Arlington Park with Princess La Quinta winning the race.

The event was not held in 1988, 1998, 1999 and 2015. In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Arlington Park did not schedule the event in its shortened meeting.

In 2021 the event was scheduled as a stakes allowance event, hence the event was changed to the Chicago Stakes.

In 2022, the event was moved to Churchill Downs after the closure of Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois.Spring Stakes Schedule churchilldowns.com Also the conditions of the event were changed so that only mares four years old or older could enter. In 2023 the event was moved to Ellis Park after Churchill Downs closed their spring meeting earlier due to a spate of injuries.

In 2025 the event was upgraded to Grade II by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

Records

Speed Record: 1:20.54 - Society (2023)

Margins: lengths - Society (2023)

Most wins by an owner: 2 - James J. Devaney (1986, 1987) 2 - Edward P. Evans (1992, 1994) 2 - Knob Hill Stable (2006, 2011) 2 - Augustin Stable (2009, 2010) 2 - Belladonna Racing, Lynne & Edward J. Hudson Jr., West Point, Nice Guys Stables, Twin Brook Stables, Steve Hornstock, LBD Stable, Manganaro Bloodstock & Runnels Racing (2024, 2025)

Most wins: 2 - Lazer Show (1986, 1987) 2 - Informed Decision (2009, 2010) 2 - Vahva (2024, 2025)

Most wins by a trainer: 2 - Donald R. Winfree (1986, 1987) 2 - Frank L. Brothers (1989, 2001) 2 - D. Wayne Lukas (1992, 1995) 2 - Phillip England (1996, 2000) 2 - William I. Mott (2006, 2011) 2 - Jonathan E. Sheppard (2009, 2010) 2 - W. Bret Calhoun (2013, 2017) 2 - Cherie DeVaux (2024, 2025)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 - Pat Day (1986, 1987, 1990) 3 - Craig Perret (1991, 2001, 2003) 3 - Rene R. Douglas (2002, 2004, 2008) 3 - Irad Ortiz Jr. (2024, 2025, 2026)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref At Churchill Downs – Chicago Stakes2026Eclatant4Irad Ortiz Jr.Brad H. CoxStonestreet Stables7 furlongs1:22.62$300,000II2025Vahva 5Irad Ortiz Jr.Cherie DeVauxBelladonna Racing, Lynne & Edward J. Hudson Jr., West Point, Nice Guys Stables, Twin Brook Stables, Steve Hornstock, LBD Stable, Manganaro Bloodstock & Runnels Racing7 furlongs 1:20.89$298,250II 2024Vahva 4Irad Ortiz Jr.Cherie DeVaux Belladonna Racing, Lynne & Edward J. Hudson Jr., West Point, Nice Guys Stables, Twin Brook Stables, Steve Hornstock, LBD Stable, Manganaro Bloodstock & Runnels Racing7 furlongs 1:21.01 $249,500 IIIAt Ellis Park 2023Society4Tyler GaffalioneSteven M. AsmussenPeter E. Blum Thoroughbreds7 furlongs 1:20.54$225,000IIIAt Churchill Downs 2022Lady Rocket5Ricardo Santana Jr.Brad H. CoxFrank Fletcher Racing Operations 7 furlongs 1:21.62$200,000IIIAt Arlington Park 20214Alex AchardAnna MeahDavid Meah7 furlongs1:22.27$100,000III2020Race not heldChicago Handicap2019My Mertie4Michele BoyceOak Rock Racing, Terry Biondo & Cherrywood Racing Stables II 7 furlongs1:22.44$100,000III2018Hotshot Anna4Harry HernandezHugh H. RobertsonHugh H. Robertson7 furlongs1:20.93$100,000IIIAt Churchill Downs 2017Finley'sluckycharm4Brian Hernandez Jr.W. Bret CalhounCarl L. Moore Management 7 furlongs1:22.17$100,000IIIAt Arlington Park 2016Sarah Sis4Jose Valdivia Jr.Ingrid MasonRags Racing Stable 7 furlongs1:23.16$100,000III2015Race not held2014My Option4Eduardo E. PerezChris M. BlockTimothy J. Keeley7 furlongs1:23.72$150,000III2013Cozze Up Lady4Miguel MenaW. Bret CalhounMartin Racing, Morgan Thoroughbred, Westwind Property & Farfellow Farm 7 furlongs1:23.06$150,000III2012Kitty in a Tizzy5Francisco C. TorresH. James BondWilliam L. Clifton Jr.7 furlongs1:23.49$150,000III2011Devil by Design5Corey NakataniWilliam I. MottJohn D. Gunther, Eurowest Bloodstock & Tony Chedraoui 7 furlongs1:25.54$100,000III2010Informed Decision5Julien R. LeparouxAugustin Stable7 furlongs1:24.34$100,000III2009Informed Decision4Julien R. LeparouxJonathan E. SheppardAugustin Stable7 furlongs1:21.49$140,000III2008Leah's Secret5Rene R. DouglasTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm7 furlongs1:22.17$144,500III2007Lady Belsara4Edward T. BairdS. Matthew KintzAt the Moment Stables7 furlongs1:23.10$175,000III2006Ebony Breeze6John JacintoWilliam I. MottKinsman Stable7 furlongs1:22.02$157,750III2005Happy Ticket4Eusebio Razo Jr.Andrew Leggio Jr.Stewart Mather Madison7 furlongs1:22.54$175,000III2004My Trusty Cat4Rene R. DouglasDavid R. VanceCarl F. Pollard7 furlongs1:23.54$175,000III2003For Rubies4Craig PerretLynn S. WhitingChoctaw Racing Stable7 furlongs1:24.21$145,750III2002Mandy's Gold4Rene R. DouglasMichael E. GorhamSteeplechase Farm7 furlongs1:22.86$164,440III2001Trip4Craig PerretFrank L. BrothersClaiborne Farm7 furlongs1:22.18$157,270III2000Saoirse 4David ClarkPhillip EnglandKnob Hill Stable7 furlongs1:23.09$170,325III1998–1999Race not held1997J J'sdream4Mark GuidryBobby C. BarnettJohn A. Franks7 furlongs1:22.25$169,375III1996Bunbeg4Mickey WallsPhillip EnglandKnob Hill Stable7 furlongs1:23.86$171,650III1995Low Key Affair4Aaron GryderD. Wayne LukasMoyglare Stud7 furlongs1:24.64$156,400III1994Minidar4Vann BelvoirMark A. HennigEdward P. Evans7 furlongs1:22.49$156,600III1993Meafara4Juvenal Lopez DiazLeslie E. AhrensFrank L. Muench7 furlongs1:22.12$156,450III1992Withallprobability4Garrett K. GomezD. Wayne LukasEdward P. Evans7 furlongs1:21.24$155,750III1991Safely Kept5Craig PerretAlan E. GoldbergJayeff B. Stable7 furlongs1:23.05$155,100 Listed 1990Fit for a Queen4Pat DaySteven C. PenrodHermitage Farm7 furlongs1:23.00$157,750 1989Rose's Record5Jorge VelasquezFrank L. BrothersDavid V. & Nancy Ringler7 furlongs1:24.60$149,200 1988Race not held1987Lazer Show4Pat DayDonald R. WinfreeJames J. Devaney7 furlongs1:22.80$77,125 1986Lazer Show3Pat DayDonald R. WinfreeJames J. Devaney7 furlongs1:21.40$155,600

Legend:

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References