First Lady Stakes

Turf race infobox
class = Grade 1
horse race = First Lady Stakes


caption =
location = Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky United States
inaugurated = 1998
race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing
website = [http://www.keeneland.com www.keeneland.com]
distance = 1 mile (8 furlongs)
track = Grass, left-handed
qualification = Fillies & Mares, three-years-old & up
weight = Assigned
purse = $400,000
bonuses = The First Lady Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. A one mile (8 furlongs) race on turf, it is open to Fillies & Mares, age three and older. Cite web|url=http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=relatedcontent&id=28241|title=Contention runs deep in First Lady|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=November 23|publisher=Equibase Company LLC|year=2007|author=National Thoroughbred Racing Association] Cite web|url=http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=relatedcontent&id=28241|title=First Lady favorites iffy for F&M Turf|accessyear=2007|accessmonthday=November 23|publisher=Equibase Company LLC|year=2007|author=National Thoroughbred Racing Association] Run in mid October, it offers a purse of $400,000.

The race was first run in 1998 as the First Lady Stakes at a distance of 1 3/16 miles. In 2005 it was modified to its present distance of one mile. In 2000, WinStar Farm became the race's sponsor from then through 2005 and it was renamed the Galaxy Stakes. In 2006, the name reverted back to its inaugural title.

A listed race in its first two years, it earned Grade III status in 2000 from the American Graded Stakes Committee who sanctioned it as a Grade II race the following year. On November 28th, 2007, it was upgraded to a Grade I event.

The First Lady stakes is a steppingstone to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. In 2000, Perfect Sting ran second in this race but went on to win that year's inaugural edition of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. In 2005, Intercontinental won this race and the ensuing Breeders' Cup.

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1 mile)
* 1:34.14 - Gorella (2006)

Most wins:
* No horse has won this race more than once.

Most wins by an owner:
* No owner has won this race more than once.

Most wins by a jockey:
* 2 - Chris McCarron (1998, 2000)

Most wins by a trainer:
* 2 - Robert J. Frankel (1999, 2005)

Winners of the First Lady Stakes

References