The Winter Memories Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies over a distance of one mile on the turf held annually in September at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $150,000. History The event is named after Darby Dan Farm owner John Phillips' multiple-Grade I winning mare Winter Memories. This gray mare won five graded stakes events at Belmont Park. In her last competitive race at Saratoga Racetrack the mare won the Grade I Diana Stakes.
The inaugural running of the event was on November 25, 2016 over a distance of miles and was won by Stuart S. Janney III's My Impression who won the event by a half a length, starting as the 11/4 favorite in a time of 1:44.22.
The event was run on the dirt track due to the conditions of the turf track in 2018 and held at shorter distance of one mile.
In 2023 the distance of the event was decreased to one mile. The event was also moved in the fall schedule from November and held in mid September.
Several entrants who have run in this race have won Grade I events. The 2020 winner Duopoly won the GI American Oaks in her next start. The 2023 winner Sacred Wish the following year won the GI Matriarch Stakes as a four-year-old.
In 2025 the event was upgraded to Grade III by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
Records Speed record: 1 mile: 1:34.86 – Shelzawa (FR) (2026) miles: 1:43.16 – Feel Glorious (GB) (2019)
Largest margin of victory: 3 lengths – Salimah (IRE) (2022)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 – Irad Ortiz Jr. (2017, 2020) 2 – Manuel Franco (2018, 2021) 2 – Jose L. Ortiz (2016, 2022)
Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Chad C. Brown (2017, 2020, 2022, 2026)
Most wins by an owner: 2 - Madaket Stables (2021, 2026) 2 - Michael Dubb (2021, 2026) 2 - Michael J. Caruso (2021, 2026)
Winners
Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Belmont - Winter Memories Stakes2026Shelzawa (FR)Flavien PratChad C. BrownMadaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss, William J. Ruckers and Michael J. Caruso1 mile1:34.86$200,000IIIAt Aqueduct2025 Ready for Candy Philip AntonacciLindy Farms1 mile1:35.29$175,000III 2024Les Reys (FR) Joel RosarioChristophe ClementWest Point Thoroughbreds, Peter Leidel & Winters Equine 1 mile 1:35.95 $150,000 Listed 2023Sacred WishGeorge WeaverBlack Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher T. Dunn & Anthony Spinazzola 1 mile 1:35.46 $135,000 Listed2022 Salimah (IRE) Jose L. Ortiz Chad C. Brown Stephanie Seymour Brant miles 1:44.69$135,000 Listed2021Plum Ali Manuel FrancoChristophe ClementMichael Dubb, Madaket Stables & Michael J. Caruso miles1:45.11$150,000 2020Duopoly Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownKlaravich Stables miles1:44.80$100,000 2019Junior Alvarado Christophe Clement Reeves Thoroughbred Racing & Tango Uniform Racing miles1:43.16$156,188 2018Matty's Magnum Manuel Franco David G. Donk Edward R. & Mary Jo Lessell1 mile1:41.97$157,538 2017Rymska (FR) Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownAlain Jathiere, Sheep Pond Partners, Thomas Coleman & Elayne S. Herrick miles1:45.48$150,000 2016My ImpressionJose L. Ortiz Stuart S. Janney III miles1:44.22$125,000
Legend:
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References