The Wonder Again Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies aged three years old held over a distance of miles on the inner turf scheduled annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.
History
The race is named after the Grade I winner Wonder Again, full sister to Grass Wonder (Japanese-trained), who won the GI Garden City Breeders' Cup (2002) and GI Diana Handicap (2004).
The race was inaugurated on 25 May 2014 with a stakes purse of $200,000.
In 2017 the event was classified as Grade III, and promoted to Grade II in 2022.
The event is considered a preparatory race for the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes which is held in July.
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, NYRA scheduled the event in their updated and shortened spring-summer meeting with a shorter distance of one mile.
In 2024 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.
In 2025 the event was moved to Saratoga and due to the inclement weather was held on a sloppy dirt track. In a three-horse event Nitrogen won by a stakes record 17 lengths.
Records Speed record: miles – 1:46.34 Camber Parc (2019)
Largest margin of victory: 17 lengths – Nitrogen (2025)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Irad Ortiz Jr. (2014, 2015, 2024) 3 – José L. Ortiz (2019, 2020, 2025) 3 - Flavien Prat (2021, 2023, 2026)
Most wins by a trainer: 7 – Chad C. Brown (2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026)
Most wins by an owner: No owner has won this race more than once.
Winners
Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Saratoga 2026Fitz RightFlavien PratChad C. BrownMichael Dubb, William H. Lawrence, The Elkstone Group (Stuart Grant) and Michael E. Kisber miles1:40.39$300,000II2025NitrogenJosé L. OrtizMark E. CasseD. J. Stables 1 mile1:36.16$261,000IIIAt Aqueduct 2024Segesta Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownJuddmonte Farms miles1:48.24$200,000IIAt Belmont Park 2023Prerequisite Flavien PratChad C. BrownFirst Row Partners & Team Hanley miles1:47.20$200,000II2022Manny FrancoChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables miles1:50.73$194,000III2021Con Lima Flavien PratTodd A. PletcherEclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Joseph F. Graffeo, Del Toro, Eric Nikolaus & Troy Johnson miles1:50.84$200,000III2020Sweet MelaniaJosé L. OrtizTodd A. PletcherLawana L. & Robert Low 1 mile1:34.24$145,500III2019Cambier ParcJosé L. OrtizChad C. BrownOXO Equine miles1:46.34$194,000III2018La Signare (FR)Joel RosarioBrian A. LynchMadaket Stables, T&A Cambron, Bradley Thoroughbreds miles1:48.84$200,000III2017Javier CastellanoChad C. Browne Five Racing Thoroughbreds miles1:48.01$200,000III2016Time and MotionJames J. TonerPhillips Racing Partnership miles1:47.48$200,000 Listed 2015Lady EliIrad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownSheep Pond Partners miles1:49.94$200,000 2014Sea QueenIrad Ortiz Jr.Stonetower Stables miles1:49.89$200,000
Notes:
Fillies in bold have won the Wonder Again Stakes – Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes double
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References