The Soaring Softly Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old fillies, over a distance of 7 furlongs on the turf held annually in May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $175,000.
History
The race was inaugurated in 2014 as the Wait A While Stakes with a stakes purse of $100,000 after the and duel Yellow Ribbon Stakes winner Wait A While.
In 2018 the event was classified as Grade III.
The race was renamed in 2016 to the Soaring Softly Stakes after the 1999 American Champion Female Turf Horse and inaugural Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Soaring Softly.
In 2024 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park. The distance of the event was decreased to six furlongs since the Aqueduct turf course does not hold events over the 7 furlong distance.
In 2025 the event was moved to Saratoga and due to the state of the turf track was moved and held on the dirt track over a distance of five-and-one-half furlongs.
Records Speed record: furlongs: 1:01:02 - Slay the Day (2026) 6 furlongs: 1:09.41 - Pipsy (IRE) (2024) 7 furlongs: 1:19.93 - Morticia (2017)
Margins: 4 lengths - Nootka Sound (2018)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 - Eric Cancel (2016, 2021) 2 - John R. Velazquez (2014, 2026)
Most wins by a trainer: 4 - Wesley A. Ward (2014, 2018, 2022, 2025)
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 – Soaring Softly Stakes2026Slay the DayJohn R. VelazquezBrian A. LynchFlying Dutchmen furlongs1:01.02$200,000III2025Saturday Flirt Junior AlvaradoWesley A. WardMrs. Fitriani Hay furlongs1:04.00$175,000ListedAt Aqueduct 2024Pipsy (IRE)Flavien PratWilliam WaldenWoodford Thoroughbreds 6 furlongs1:09.41$175,000IIIAt Belmont Park2023Jose OrtizSienna Farm, Michael E. Kisber, Peter Deutsch & The Elkstone Group7 furlongs1:21.24$169,750III2022Chardy Party (IRE)Irad Ortiz Jr.Wesley A. WardStonestreet Farm7 furlongs1:21.47$100,000III2021Bye Bye Eric CancelChristophe ClementBach Stables 7 furlongs1:21.19$100,000III2020Race not held2019Seek and Destroy Kendrick CarmoucheChad C. Browne Five Racing7 furlongs1:22.53$100,000III2018Nootka Sound Dylan DavisWesley A. WardHat Creek Racing7 furlongs1:24.59$98,000 III2017Morticia Jose LezcanoGeorge ArnoldG. Watts Humphrey Jr.7 furlongs1:19.93$100,000Listed2016LightstreamEric CancelBrian A. Lynch Up Hill Stable & Head of Plains Partners7 furlongs1:20.54$100,000Wait A While Stakes2015CelestineRajiv MaraghWilliam I. MottJames A. Bryan Jr.7 furlongs1:21.06$98,0002014Richies Party GirlJohn R. VelazquezWesley A. WardRichard Ravin and Wesley A. Ward7 furlongs1:21.84$98,000
Legend:
References