Distaff Stakes

The Distaff Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older at a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt run annually in early April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $175,000.

History

The event was inaugurated on 28 June 1954 as the Distaff Handicap at the old Aqueduct racetrack, and was won by Robert S. Howard's British mare Mab's Choice, who was trained by the future US Hall of Fame trainer Charles E. Whittingham in a time of 1:24. Mab's Choice was a 20-1 longshot in the field who had not won a race in two years came through with a late drive to win by length.

After the 1955 season the old Aqueduct track was close for reconstruction for a period of four years. During the four years from 1956 to 1959 the event was held at Belmont Park during the summer or late spring.

On Wednesday, 20 April 1960 the event was scheduled back at the new Aqueduct racetrack and 29,195 were on hand to see the odds-on favorite Mommy Dear win by 2 lengths.

The event was run in two split divisions in 1964. This was only time that the event was run in split divisions.

In 1973 the first year the classification system was enacted, the event was set with Grade III status.

In 1989 the event was upgraded as Grade II.

The event has been run at a shorter distance of 6 furlongs in several times and on the inter dirt track in 1994 and from 2006 to 2009.

The event was scheduled for 13 March 1993 but postponed twice due to bad weather before finally being cancelled.

In 2016 the event was downgraded to Grade III status.

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Aqueduct closed their track and the event was cancelled.

In 2024 the conditions of the event were changed from handicap to stakes allowance and this the events name was modified to the Distaff Stakes.

Records Speed record:

7 furlongs – 1:21.18 Devil's Orchid (1991) 6 furlongs – 1:09.10 La Verdad (2014)

Margins: 14 lengths – Ride Sally (1986)

Most wins: 2 – La Verdad (2014, 2015) 2 – Happy Princess (1958, 1959)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1976, 1983, 1984, 1987) 4 – Richard Migliore (1997, 1998, 2004, 2005)

Most wins by a trainer: 3 – Claude R. McGaughey III (1988, 1995, 1999) 3 – Linda L. Rice (2014, 2015, 2018)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Lady Sheila Stable (2014, 2015, 2018)

Winners YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainer OwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRefAt Aqueduct – Distaff Stakes2026Grammy Girl5Javier CastellanoSaffie A. Joseph Jr.Red Storm Stable, Miller Racing & Flower Power Stables7 furlongs1:23.47$139,500 III2025Irish Maxima4Frankie PenningtonJohn C. ServisIrish Three Racing 7 furlongs 1:22.92$169,750 III2024Shidabhuti 4Dylan DavisChad C. BrownPeter M. Brant7 furlongs1:23.86$169,750IIIDistaff Handicap2023Mommasgottarun4Eric CancelLinda RiceRonald P. Stewart7 furlongs1:21.29$150,000III2022Glass Ceiling5Dylan DavisCharlton Baker Michael S. Foster7 furlongs1:21.71$145,500III2021Paris Lights4Junior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottWinStar Stablemates Racing 7 furlongs1:26.99$145,500III2020Race not held2019Come Dancing4Manuel FrancoCarlos F. MartinBlue Devil Racing Stable 7 furlongs1:22.31$150,000III2018Holiday Disguise4Irad Ortiz Jr.Linda L. RiceLady Sheila Stable7 furlongs1:22.98$150,000III2017Highway Star4Angel S. ArroyoRodrigo A. UbilloChester Broman Sr. & Mary R. Broman 7 furlongs1:22.25$150,000III2016Paulassilverlining4Jose L. OrtizMichelle NevinVincent S. Scuderi7 furlongs1:22.01$200,000III2015La Verdad5Jose L. OrtizLinda L. RiceLady Sheila Stable6 furlongs1:10.00$190,000II2014La Verdad4Jose L. OrtizLinda L. RiceLady Sheila Stable6 furlongs1:09.10$200,000II2013Cluster of Stars4Junior AlvaradoSteven M. AsmussenTurtle Bird Stable6 furlongs1:10.14$190,000II2012It's Tricky4Eddie CastroKiaran P. McLaughlinGodolphin Racing7 furlongs1:22.39$196,000II2011Nicole H4Channing HillMichael E. HushionGem, Inc (Dr. John Waken)7 furlongs1:23.29$147,000II2010Tar Heel Mom5Stanley M. HoughAlex Rankin7 furlongs1:24.51$147,000II2009Secret Gypsy4Robby AlbaradoRonny W. WernerRichland Hills Stable & John Kuehl6 furlongs1:10.01$149,800II2008Rite Moment4Rajiv MaraghGary C. ContessaWinning Move Stable, Seidman Stables, John L. Moirano & Ravenwood Stable6 furlongs1:09.86$143,900II2007Maryfield6Jorge F. ChavezDoug F. O'NeillMark Gorman, Nick J. Mestrandrea & Jim Perry 6 furlongs1:09.73$158,500II2006Smokey Glacken5Javier CastellanoJames A. JerkensSusan & John Moore6 furlongs1:10.49$154,500II2005Bank Audit4Richard MiglioreFrank LaBoccetta Jr.Robert J. Amendola7 furlongs1:22.07$148,900II2004Randaroo4Richard MiglioreKiaran P. McLaughlinH. Joseph Allen7 furlongs1:22.64$146,400II2003Carson Hollow4Michael J. LuzziRichard E. Dutrow Jr.Stronach Stables & Hemlock Hills Farm7 furlongs1:22.42$152,400II2002Raging Fever4John R. VelazquezMark A. HennigEdward P. Evans7 furlongs1:21.78$142,300II2001Dream Supreme4Aaron GryderWilliam I. MottKinsman Stable7 furlongs1:23.66$181,600II2000Honest Lady4Brice BlancRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms7 furlongs1:22.10$183,250II1999Furlough5Heberto Castillo Jr.Ogden Phipps7 furlongs1:23.23$174,350II1998Parlay4Richard MiglioreJohn C. KimmelAckerly Brothers Farm7 furlongs1:24.10$112,100II1997Miss Golden Circle5Richard MiglioreJohn C. KimmelCaesar P. Kimmel7 furlongs1:24.47$109,000II1996Lottsa Talc6Frank T. AlvaradoTimothy D. KellyVincent McGuire7 furlongs1:24.04$119,700II1995Recognizable4Mike E. SmithClaude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Mills Phipps7 furlongs1:22.94$110,900II1994§ Classy Mirage4Robbie DavisH. Allen JerkensMiddletown Stable6 furlongs1:11.37$110,800II1993Race not held1992Nannerl5Mike E. SmithFlint S. SchulhoferMarablue Farm7 furlongs1:24.68$114,800II1991Devil's Orchid4Russell BazeRichard E. MandellaGeorge Yates7 furlongs1:21.18$111,800II1990Channel Three4Jorge F. ChavezMichael J. GoswellMrs. Henry Elser7 furlongs1:23.20$90,150II1989Avie's Gal4Nick SantagataJohn J. Lenzini Jr.John R. Cioci7 furlongs1:24.00$86,100II1988Cadillacing5Randy RomeroClaude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps7 furlongs1:22.60$84,550III1987Pine Tree Lane5Angel Cordero Jr.D. Wayne LukasLeonard Mathis7 furlongs1:22.00$87,750III1986Ride Sally5Walter GuerraNicholas P. ZitoManhasset Stable7 furlongs1:21.60$90,900III1985Give Me A Hint5Wesley A. WardBraulio BaezaNathaniel Usdan7 furlongs1:25.20$91,600III1984Am Capable4Angel Cordero Jr.John ParisellaTheodore Sabarese6 furlongs1:11.00$87,150III19834Angel Cordero Jr.John ParisellaTheodore Sabarese7 furlongs1:23.20$54,800III1982Lady Dean4Donald A. Miller Jr.Ronald A. AlfanoDavid P. Reynolds7 furlongs1:23.80$55,000III1981Lady Oakley (IRE)4Jeffrey FellWarren J. PascumaBette S. Karlinsky7 furlongs1:25.40$56,500III1980Misty Gallore4Donald MacBethThomas J. KellySpring Hill Stable7 furlongs1:24.60$55,200III1979Skipat5James W. EdwardsDaniel L. HasbanyJohn A. Grondin6 furlongs1:10.40$54,200III1978Vandy Sue4Angel M. RodriguezRamon M. HernandezAssunta Louis Farm6 furlongs1:12.00$36,975III1977What A Summer5Eddie MapleLeRoy JolleyDiana M. Firestone6 furlongs1:11.60$36,675III1976Shy Dawn5Angel Cordero Jr.Woodrow M. SedlacekJacques D. Wimpfheimer7 furlongs1:24.20$37,650III1975Something Super5Jean CruguetWillard C. FreemanSkara Glen Stable7 furlongs1:22.20$28,325III1974Krislin5 Vincent Bracciale Jr. Stephen A. DiMauroHarold I. Snyder7 furlongs1:22.00$27,450III1973Ferly5Ron TurcotteFrank CatroneAda L. Rice7 furlongs1:24.00$28,200III1972§ Royal Signal5Chuck BaltazarStephen A. DiMauroMrs. Lawrence W. Knapp Jr.7 furlongs1:24.20$27,5751971Double Delta5Braulio Baeza Stanley M. Reiser James D. Drymon7 furlongs1:22.80$33,3001970Process Shot4Chuck Baltazar J. Bowes Bond Elberon Farm7 furlongs1:22.80$28,0001969Heartland4John L. RotzMax HirschKing Ranch7 furlongs1:22.40$28,000 1968Just Kidding4Jorge VelásquezJ. Elliott BurchRokeby Stable7 furlongs1:23.20$28,3001967§ Cologne4Braulio Baeza Frank H. Merrill Jr. Mrs. Romola Voynow7 furlongs1:24.20$27,8001966Sailor Princess4 Gary Mineau Burley ParkeHarbor View Farm7 furlongs1:22.40$27,8501965Affectionately5Walter BlumHirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs7 furlongs1:24.00$27,8501964Charspiv4Bobby UsseryBuddy JacobsonMarion R. Frankel7 furlongs1:24.00$21,300Smart Deb4 Bill HartackArnold N. WinickMrs. Russell L. Reineman1:25.20$21,3001963Cicada4Bill ShoemakerJ. Homer Hayes Meadow Stable7 furlongs1:21.60$23,9501962Rose O'Neill4Ismael Valenzuela Ted Saladin Bert W. Martin7 furlongs1:23.80$23,1001961Teacation4Ray Broussard Charles R. Parke Fred W. Hooper7 furlongs1:23.60$22,6501960Mommy Dear4Manuel YcazaEddie HaywardCircle M. Farm7 furlongs1:23.00$27,550At Belmont Park1959Happy Princess7Hedley Woodhouse George Lewis Mabel D. Lewis7 furlongs1:24.20$28,6001958Happy Princess6Hedley Woodhouse George Lewis Mabel D. Lewis7 furlongs1:24.00$24,5001957Searching5Conn McCrearyHirsch JacobsEthel D. Jacobs7 furlongs1:24.40$23,9501956Blue Banner4Eddie Arcaro Jack Skinner Rokeby Stable7 furlongs1:23.80$22,350At Aqueduct1955Oil Painting4Hedley Woodhouse Anthony W. Rupelt Mrs. Joseph A. Goodwin7 furlongs1:24.00$29,3501954Mab's Choice (GB)5Angel Valenzuela Charles E. WhittinghamRobert S. Howard7 furlongs1:24.40$30,050

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References