The With Anticipation Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of miles on the turf track scheduled annually in end of August or early September at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.
History The race is named in honor of George W. Strawbridge Jr.'s outstanding turf runner, With Anticipation who won the Grade I Sword Dancer Stakes twice at Saratoga.
The event was inaugurated on 3 September 2005 with the second favorite Stream Cat, ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens winning by lengths in a time of 1:45.
The event was classified as a Grade III race in 2009, the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded it to Grade II for 2011. In 2017 the event was downgraded to Grade III. The 2020 running was taken off the turf and run on a sloppy dirt track with four starters which resulted in an automatic downgrade to a Listed event.
The race is currently part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. The winner will automatically qualify for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
The 2007 winner Nownownow went on to win the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Monmouth Park.
In 2023, Gala Brand became the first filly to win the With Anticipation Stakes.
Records Speed record: 1:40.94 – Catholic Boy (2017)
Margins: lengths – Startup Nation (2014), Final Score (2025)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – Fab Oak Stable (2005, 2007) 2 – Klaravich Stables & William Lawrence (2012, 2014) 2 – Three Chimneys Farm (2016, 2020)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Javier Castellano (2013, 2016, 2018)
Most wins by a trainer: 8 – Todd A. Pletcher (2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2025, 2026)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026Liam's LawRicardo Santana Jr.Todd A. PletcherLawana L. Low and Robert E. Low miles1:42.59$225,000III2025Final Score Kendrick Carmouche Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable miles1:41.75$175,000III2024Flavien PratChad C. BrownMadaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss & Michael J. Caruso miles1:41.79$175,000III2023Gala BrandJosé OrtizWilliam I. MottArnmore Thoroughbreds LLC & Even Keel Thoroughbreds LLC miles1:45.93$175,000III2022Boppy ODylan DavisMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley & Breeze Easy miles1:46.13$175,000III2021Coinage Junior AlvaradoMark E. CasseD. J. Stable, Mary & Chester Broman Sr. miles1:43.69$150,000III2020Fire At WillIrad Ortiz Jr.Michael J. MakerThree Chimneys Farm7 furlongs1:23.14$93,000Listed 2019Fighting SeabeeBrian Hernandez Jr.Kenneth G. McPeekWalking L Thoroughbreds miles1:43.34$150,000III2018OpryJavier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherCheyenne Stables & Gaillardia Racing miles1:42.00$150,000III2017Catholic BoyManuel FrancoJonathan ThomasRobert V. LaPenta miles1:40.94$150,000III2016Made You LookJavier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherLet's Go Stable & Three Chimneys Farm miles1:43.12$200,000II2015AzarJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherAlto Racing miles1:41.68$200,000II2014Startup NationJoel RosarioChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables & William Lawrence miles1:41.63$200,000II2013BashartJavier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherRosedown Racing miles1:41.97$200,000II2012Julien R. LeparouxChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables & William Lawrence miles1:42.30$200,000II2011State of PlayH. Graham MotionTeam Valor International miles1:43.97$151,000II2010Soldat Alan GarciaHarvey A. Clarke & Craig W. Robertson III miles1:41.37$100,000III2009InteractifKent J. DesormeauxTodd A. PletcherWertheimer et Frère miles1:41.41$109,500III2008Bittel RoadJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherJames T. Scatuorchio & John Iracane miles1:42.30$82,400 Listed 2007NownownowJulien R. LeparouxPatrick L. BianconeFab Oak Stable miles1:41.26$83,250 Listed 2006Fernando PoEdgar S. PradoMichael E. HushionBarry K. Schwartz miles1:44.47$72,700 2005Stream CatGary L. StevensPatrick L. BianconeFab Oak Stable, Robert M. Hurley & Team Derby Dreams Stable miles1:45.40$67,200
Legend:
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References