| Class | Grade I |
|---|---|
| Location | Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky United States |
| Inaugurated | 1998 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www.keeneland.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Fillies & Mares, three-years-old and older |
| Weight | Weight for Age 4-year-olds and up: 125 lbs. 3-year-olds: 121 lbs. |
| Purse | $800,000 (2025) |
| Bonuses | Win and You're In Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf |
The First Lady Stakes is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for fillies & mares, age three and older over a distance of one mile on the turf held annually in October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky during the fall meeting.
The race was first run on October 16, 1998, as the First Lady Stakes at a distance of 1+3⁄16 miles and was sponsored by Vinery Farm located in Lexington.[1]
In 2000, WinStar Farm became the race's sponsor from then through 2005 and it was renamed the Galaxy Stakes.[2] Also that year the event was classified Grade III by the American Graded Stakes Committee who upgraded it as a Grade II race the following year.[3]
In 2005 the distance of the event was decreased to its present distance of one mile.[3]
In 2006, the name of the event was reverted to its inaugural title.[2]
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.[4] In 2005, Intercontinental won this race and the ensuing Breeders' Cup and was crowned US Champion Female Turf Horse. The 2008 winner Forever Together also went on to win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and was crowned US Champion Female Turf Horse. The 2015 winner Tepin went on to defeat the males in the Breeders' Cup Mile and also was crowned US Champion Female Turf Horse. The British bred Uni was the most recent winner to claim the Breeders' Cup Mile after winning this event in 2019.
Speed record:
Margins:
Most wins
Most wins by an owner
Most wins by a jockey
Most wins by a trainer
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Lady Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2025 | Simply in Front | 4 | Ben Curtis | Eddie Kennelly | Colebrook Farms | 1 mile | 1:34.76 | $776,750 | I | [5] |
| 2024 | Gina Romantica | 5 | Jose L. Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant | 1 mile | 1:33.80 | $728,750 | I | [6] |
| 2023 | Gina Romantica | 4 | Tyler Gaffalione | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant | 1 mile | 1:33.70 | $724,688 | I | [7] |
| 2022 | In Italian (GB) | 4 | Joel Rosario | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant | 1 mile | 1:33.22 | $683,837 | I | [8] |
| 2021 | Blowout (GB) | 5 | Flavien Prat | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant | 1 mile | 1:34.86 | $400,000 | I | [9] |
| 2020 | Uni (GB) | 6 | Joel Rosario | Chad C. Brown | Michael Dubb, Head Of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta & Bethlehem Stable | 1 mile | 1:34.90 | $343,000 | I | [10] |
| 2019 | Uni (GB) | 5 | Joel Rosario | Chad C. Brown | Michael Dubb, Head Of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta & Bethlehem Stable | 1 mile | 1:32.87 | $400,000 | I | [11] |
| 2018 | A Raving Beauty (GER) | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Chad C. Brown | Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables & Bethlehem Stables | 1 mile | 1:37.78 | $400,000 | I | [12] |
| 2017 | Zipessa | 5 | Joe Bravo | Michael Stidham | Empyrean Stables | 1 mile | 1:36.99 | $400,000 | I | [13] |
| 2016 | Photo Call (IRE) | 5 | Kent J. Desormeaux | Todd A. Pletcher | Teresa Viola Racing | 1 mile | 1:35.62 | $400,000 | I | [14] |
| 2015 | Tepin | 4 | Julien R. Leparoux | Mark E. Casse | Robert E. Masterson | 1 mile | 1:37.04 | $400,000 | I | [15] |
| 2014 | Dayatthespa | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Chad C. Brown | Jerry & Ronald Frankel, Steve Laymon & Bradley Thoroughbreds | 1 mile | 1:35.21 | $400,000 | I | [16] |
| 2013 | Better Lucky | 4 | Julien R. Leparoux | Thomas Albertrani | Godolphin Racing | 1 mile | 1:39.78 | $400,000 | I | [17] |
| 2012 | Tapitsfly | 5 | Jose Lezcano | Dale L. Romans | Frank L. Jones Jr. | 1 mile | 1:35.44 | $350,000 | I | [18] |
| 2011 | Never Retreat | 6 | Julien R. Leparoux | Chris M. Block | Team Block | 1 mile | 1:34.08 | $350,000 | I | [19] |
| 2010 | Proviso (GB) | 5 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Juddmonte Farms | 1 mile | 1:34.81 | $400,000 | I | [20] |
| 2009 | Diamondrella (GB) | 5 | Rajiv Maragh | Angel A. Penna Jr. | IEAH Stables | 1 mile | 1:38.66 | $400,000 | I | [21] |
| 2008 | Forever Together | 4 | Julien R. Leparoux | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 1 mile | 1:35.00 | $400,000 | I | [22] |
| 2007 | Vacare | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Christophe Clement | Sarah & Jon Kelly | 1 mile | 1:35.85 | $432,000 | II | [23] |
| 2006 | Gorella (FR) | 4 | Julien R. Leparoux | Patrick L. Biancone | Martin S. Schwartz | 1 mile | 1:34.14 | $400,000 | II | [24] |
| Galaxy Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2005 | Intercontinental (GB) | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1 mile | 1:37.40 | $400,000 | II | [25] |
| 2004 | Stay Forever | 7 | Eddie Castro | Martin D. Wolfson | Santa Cruz Ranch | 1+3⁄16 miles | 1:57.08 | $500,000 | II | [26] |
| 2003 | Bien Nicole | 5 | Donald R. Pettinger | Donnie K. Von Hemel | Kristine & John Richter | 1+3⁄16 miles | 1:55.87 | $500,000 | II | [27] |
| 2002 | Owsley | 4 | Edgar S. Prado | Randy Schulhofer | Arthur B. Hancock III | 1+3⁄16 miles | 1:56.72 | $544,500 | II | [28] |
| 2001 | Spook Express (SAF) | 7 | Mike E. Smith | Thomas J. Skiffington | Robert & Janet Aron | 1+3⁄16 miles | 1:54.24 | $563,500 | II | [29] |
| 2000 | Tout Charmant | 4 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Stonerside Stable | 1+3⁄16 miles | 1:54.60 | $554,000 | III | [4] |
| First Lady Stakes | ||||||||||
| 1999 | Happyanunoit (NZ) | 4 | Brice Blanc | Robert J. Frankel | Amerman Racing Stables | 1+3⁄16 miles | 1:53.80 | $558,500 | Listed | [30] |
| 1998 | Witchful Thinking | 4 | Chris McCarron | Niall M. O'Callaghan | Leslie R. Grimm | 1+3⁄16 miles | 1:54.20 | $273,250 | Listed | [1] |
Legend:
Turf
