# Chicago Stakes

The Chicago Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, four years old and older over a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt track scheduled annually in June at run annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event currently offers a purse of $250,000 plus a trophy.

## History

The inaugural running of the event was on 31 August 1986, as the Chicago-Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap, the seventh event on the card for Budweiser-Arlington Million Day and was won by Lazer Show who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day in a time of 1:212⁄5. Between 1986 and 1995 Budweiser sponsored the event and from 1986 and 2006 the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event which reflected in the name of the event. Lazer Show would win the event again the following year.
In 1992 the event was upgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade III status.
In 2007, the race was moved to a synthetic surface when Arlington Park switched its main track from dirt to an all-weather course. The Chicago Handicap was switched back to dirt in 2017, when it was moved to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Arlington Park was cutting back on its stakes races in order to boost overnight race purses, and Churchill Downs, which is owned by the same company, picked up both the Chicago Handicap and the Matron Stakes.
In 2018 the event returned to Arlington Park with Princess La Quinta winning the race.
The event was not held in 1988, 1998, 1999 and 2015. In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Arlington Park did not schedule the event in its shortened meeting.
In 2021 the event was scheduled as a stakes allowance event, hence the event was changed to the Chicago Stakes.
In 2022, the event was moved to Churchill Downs after the closure of Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Also the conditions of the event were changed so that only mares four years old or older could enter. In 2023 the event was moved to Ellis Park after Churchill Downs closed their spring meeting earlier due to a spate of injuries.

## Records

Speed Record:
* 1:20.54 - Society (2023)
Margins:
* 10+1⁄2 lengths - Society (2023)
Most wins:
* 2 - Lazer Show (1986, 1987)
* 2 - Informed Decision (2009, 2010)
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 - James J. Devaney (1986, 1987)
* 2 - Edward P. Evans (1992, 1994)
* 2 - Knob Hill Stable (2006, 2011)
* 2 - Augustin Stable (2009, 2010)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 - Pat Day (1986, 1987, 1990)
* 3 - Craig Perret (1991, 2001, 2003)
* 3 - Rene R. Douglas (2002, 2004, 2008)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 2 - Donald R. Winfree (1986, 1987)
* 2 - Frank L. Brothers (1989, 2001)
* 2 - D. Wayne Lukas (1992, 1995)
* 2 - Phillip England (1996, 2000)
* 2 - William I. Mott (2006, 2011)
* 2 - Jonathan E. Sheppard (2009, 2010)
* 2 - W. Bret Calhoun (2013, 2017)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| At Churchill Downs – Chicago Stakes |||||||||||
| 2024 | Vahva | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Cherie DeVaux | Belladonna Racing, Lynne & Edward J. Hudson Jr., West Point, Nice Guys Stables, Twin Brook Stables, Steve Hornstock, LBD Stable, Manganaro Bloodstock & Runnels Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:21.01 | $249,500 | III | |
| At Ellis Park |||||||||||
| 2023 | Society | 4 | Tyler Gaffalione | Steven M. Asmussen | Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds | 7 furlongs | 1:20.54 | $225,000 | III | |
| At Churchill Downs |||||||||||
| 2022 | Lady Rocket | 5 | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Brad H. Cox | Frank Fletcher Racing Operations | 7 furlongs | 1:21.62 | $200,000 | III | |
| At Arlington Park |||||||||||
| 2021 | Abby Hatcher (IRE) | 4 | Alex Achard | Anna Meah | David Meah | 7 furlongs | 1:22.27 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2020 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| Chicago Handicap |||||||||||
| 2019 | My Mertie | 4 | Carlos H. Marquez Jr. | Michele Boyce | Oak Rock Racing, Terry Biondo & Cherrywood Racing Stables II | 7 furlongs | 1:22.44 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2018 | Hotshot Anna | 4 | Harry Hernandez | Hugh H. Robertson | Hugh H. Robertson | 7 furlongs | 1:20.93 | $100,000 | III | |
| At Churchill Downs |||||||||||
| 2017 | Finley'sluckycharm | 4 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | W. Bret Calhoun | Carl L. Moore Management | 7 furlongs | 1:22.17 | $100,000 | III | |
| At Arlington Park |||||||||||
| 2016 | Sarah Sis | 4 | Jose Valdivia Jr. | Ingrid Mason | Rags Racing Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:23.16 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2015 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 2014 | My Option | 4 | Eduardo E. Perez | Chris M. Block | Timothy J. Keeley | 7 furlongs | 1:23.72 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2013 | Cozze Up Lady | 4 | Miguel Mena | W. Bret Calhoun | Martin Racing, Morgan Thoroughbred, Westwind Property & Farfellow Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:23.06 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2012 | Kitty in a Tizzy | 5 | Francisco C. Torres | H. James Bond | William L. Clifton Jr. | 7 furlongs | 1:23.49 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2011 | Devil by Design | 5 | Corey Nakatani | William I. Mott | John D. Gunther, Eurowest Bloodstock & Tony Chedraoui | 7 furlongs | 1:25.54 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2010 | Informed Decision | 5 | Julien R. Leparoux | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:24.34 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2009 | Informed Decision | 4 | Julien R. Leparoux | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:21.49 | $140,000 | III | |
| 2008 | Leah's Secret | 5 | Rene R. Douglas | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:22.17 | $144,500 | III | |
| 2007 | Lady Belsara | 4 | Edward T. Baird | S. Matthew Kintz | At the Moment Stables | 7 furlongs | 1:23.10 | $175,000 | III | |
| 2006 | Ebony Breeze | 6 | John Jacinto | William I. Mott | Kinsman Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:22.02 | $157,750 | III | |
| 2005 | Happy Ticket | 4 | Eusebio Razo Jr. | Andrew Leggio Jr. | Stewart Mather Madison | 7 furlongs | 1:22.54 | $175,000 | III | |
| 2004 | My Trusty Cat | 4 | Rene R. Douglas | David R. Vance | Carl F. Pollard | 7 furlongs | 1:23.54 | $175,000 | III | |
| 2003 | For Rubies | 4 | Craig Perret | Lynn S. Whiting | Choctaw Racing Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:24.21 | $145,750 | III | |
| 2002 | Mandy's Gold | 4 | Rene R. Douglas | Michael E. Gorham | Steeplechase Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:22.86 | $164,440 | III | |
| 2001 | Trip | 4 | Craig Perret | Frank L. Brothers | Claiborne Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:22.18 | $157,270 | III | |
| 2000 | Saoirse | 4 | David Clark | Phillip England | Knob Hill Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:23.09 | $170,325 | III | |
| 1998–1999 | 1998–1999 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1997 | J J'sdream | 4 | Mark Guidry | Bobby C. Barnett | John A. Franks | 7 furlongs | 1:22.25 | $169,375 | III | |
| 1996 | Bunbeg | 4 | Mickey Walls | Phillip England | Knob Hill Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:23.86 | $171,650 | III | |
| 1995 | Low Key Affair | 4 | Aaron Gryder | D. Wayne Lukas | Moyglare Stud | 7 furlongs | 1:24.64 | $156,400 | III | |
| 1994 | Minidar | 4 | Vann Belvoir | Mark A. Hennig | Edward P. Evans | 7 furlongs | 1:22.49 | $156,600 | III | |
| 1993 | Meafara | 4 | Juvenal Lopez Diaz | Leslie E. Ahrens | Frank L. Muench | 7 furlongs | 1:22.12 | $156,450 | III | |
| 1992 | Withallprobability | 4 | Garrett K. Gomez | D. Wayne Lukas | Edward P. Evans | 7 furlongs | 1:21.24 | $155,750 | III | |
| 1991 | Safely Kept | 5 | Craig Perret | Alan E. Goldberg | Jayeff B. Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:23.05 | $155,100 | Listed | |
| 1990 | Fit for a Queen | 4 | Pat Day | Steven C. Penrod | Hermitage Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:23.00 | $157,750 | | |
| 1989 | Rose's Record | 5 | Jorge Velasquez | Frank L. Brothers | David V. & Nancy Ringler | 7 furlongs | 1:24.60 | $149,200 | | |
| 1988 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1987 | Lazer Show | 4 | Pat Day | Donald R. Winfree | James J. Devaney | 7 furlongs | 1:22.80 | $77,125 | | |
| 1986 | Lazer Show | 3 | Pat Day | Donald R. Winfree | James J. Devaney | 7 furlongs | 1:21.40 | $155,600 | | |
Legend:
 All Weather Track  Dirt