Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series > Ballerina Stakes
Ballerina Stakes Race Facts
- Location: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
- Inaugural Race: 1979
- Distance: 7/8ths of a mile (7 furlongs)
- Track Type: Left-handed, Dirt
- Age Qualifications: Three Year Olds and up
- 2022 Purse: $500,000
- 2022 Race Date: Sunday, August 28th
2022 Ballerina Stakes Race Results
| POST | HORSE | JOCKEY / TRAINER | WIN / PLACE / SHOW |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Goodnight Olive | Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Chad C. Brown | $13.60 / $6.90 / $3.20 |
| 3 | Caramel Swirl | Junior Alvarado / William I. Mott | $12.20 / $6.30 |
| 2 | Obligatory | Jose L. Ortiz / William I. Mott | $3.00 |
| 6 | Travel Column | Tyler Gaffalione / William I. Mott | |
| 1 | Ce Ce | Victor Espinoza / Michael W. McCarthy | |
| 4 | Lady Rocket | Ricardo Santana, Jr. / Brad H. Cox | |
| 5 | Bella Sofia | Luis Saez / Rudy R. Rodriguez |
Exotic Payoffs:
- $1.00 Exacta (7-3) Paid: $58.25
- $0.50 Trifecta (7-3-2) Paid: $104.00
- $0.10 Superfecta (7-3-2-6) Paid: $123.60
Watch the 2022 Ballerina Stakes
Ballerina Stakes Race History
Named for Howard E. Jackson’s famed filly, the Ballerina Stakes is a Grade I horse race held each year at the Saratoga Race Course in New York. In 1981 the event was listed as a Grade III, but by 1988 the race was upgraded to Grade I due to the increased quality in competition and winners, like Ambassador of Luck (1983 edition winner and US Champion) and Lady’s Secret (1985 edition winner and 1986 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner).
Another notable winner of the race is Maryfield (2007), who went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint that year and was also crowned American Champion Sprint Horse. Shine Again is the only multiple time winner with back-to-back wins in 2001 and 2002, and John Velasquez holds the record for most wins by a jockey with five (2005, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2021). Additionally, trainer C.R. McGaughey III has notched a record 5 wins (1984, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1999) for himself.
As a part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” Series, the winner of each year’s race is automatically entered into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
Ballerina Stakes Past Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey / Trainer | Distance / Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Goodnight Olive | Irad Ortiz, Jr. / Chad C. Brown | 7 F / 1:21.40 |
| 2021 | Gamine | John R. Velazquez / Bob Baffert | 7 F / 1:21.61 |
| 2020 | Serengeti Empress | Luis Saez / Thomas M. Amoss | 7 F / 1:21.63 |
| 2019 | Come Dancing | Javier Castellano / Carlos F. Martin | 7 F / 1:21.48 |
| 2018 | Marley's Freedom | Mike E. Smith / Bob Baffert | 7 F / 1:21.39 |
| 2017 | By the Moon | Rajiv Maragh / Michelle Nevin | 7 F / 1:22.97 |
| 2016 | Haveyougoneaway | John R. Velazquez / Thomas Morley | 7 F / 1:21.63 |
| 2015 | Unbridled Forever | John R. Velazquez / Dallas Stewart | 7 F / 1:22.54 |
| 2014 | Artemis Agrotera | Rajiv Maragh / Michael E. Hushion | 7 F / 1:21.89 |
| 2013 | Dance to Bristol | Xavier Perez / Ollie L. Figgins III | 7 F / 1:23.11 |
| 2012 | Turbulent Descent | John R. Velazquez / Todd A. Pletcher | 7 F / 1:22.13 |
| 2011 | Hilda's Passion | Javier Castellano / Todd A. Pletcher | 7 F / 1:22.06 |
| 2010 | Rightly So | Cornelio Velásquez / Anthony W. Dutrow | 7 F / 1:22.58 |
| 2009 | Music Note | Rajiv Maragh / Saeed bin Suroor | 7 F / 1:22.10 |
| 2008 | Intangaroo | Alonso Quinonez / Gary Sherlock | 7 F / 1:22.18 |
| 2007 | Maryfield | Elvis Trujillo / Doug F. O'Neill | 7 F / 1:22.78 |
| 2006 | Dubai Escapade | Edgar S. Prado / Eoin G. Harty | 7 F / 1:23.07 |
| 2005 | Happy Ticket | John R. Velazquez / Andrew Leggio Jr. | 7 F / 1:24.53 |
| 2004 | Lady Tak | Jerry D. Bailey / Steven M. Asmussen | 7 F / 1:21.09 |
| 2003 | Harmony Lodge | Richard Migliore / Todd A. Pletcher | 7 F / 1:22.23 |
| 2002 | Shine Again | Jean-Luc Samyn / H. Allen Jerkens | 7 F / 1:22.26 |
| 2001 | Shine Again | Jean-Luc Samyn / H. Allen Jerkens | 7 F / 1:22.33 |
| 2000 | Dream Supreme | Pat Day / William I. Mott | 7 F / 1:22.97 |
| 1999 | Furlough | Mike E. Smith / Claude R. McGaughey III | 7 F / 1:23.04 |
| 1998 | Stop Traffic | Shane Sellers / Richard E. Mandella | 7 F / 1:22.23 |
| 1997 | Pearl City | Joe Bravo / D. Wayne Lukas | 7 F / 1:22.39 |
| 1996 | Chaposa Springs | Shane Sellers / Martin D. Wolfson | 7 F / 1:21.80 |
| 1995 | Classy Mirage | Julie Krone / H. Allen Jerkens | 7 F / 1:22.40 |
| 1994 | Roamin Rachel | Pat Day / Claude R. McGaughey III | 7 F / 1:21.80 |
| 1993 | Spinning Round | Jorge F. Chavez / Carl J. Domino | 7 F / 1:21.40 |
| 1992 | Serape | Chris Antley / Henrietta Alexander George | 7 F / 1:21.20 |
| 1991 | Queena | Mike E. Smith / Claude R. McGaughey III | 7 F / 1:22.00 |
| 1990 | Feel The Beat | José A. Santos / D. Wayne Lukas | 7 F / 1:22.00 |
| 1989 | Proper Evidence | Chris Antley / John L. Dalton | 7 F / 1:23.20 |
| 1988 | Cadillacing | Ángel Cordero Jr. / Claude R. McGaughey III | 7 F / 1:21.60 |
| 1987 | I'm Sweets | Eddie Maple / Woodford C. Stephens | 7 F / 1:22.60 |
| 1986 | Gene's Lady | Randy Romero / D. Wayne Lukas | 7 F / 1:22.40 |
| 1985 | Lady's Secret | Donald MacBeth / D. Wayne Lukas | 7 F / 1:22.60 |
| 1984 | Lass Trump | Pat Day / Claude R. McGaughey III | 7 F / 1:21.80 |
| 1983 | Ambassador of Luck | Antonio Graell / Mitchell C. Preger | 7 F / 1:22.20 |
| 1982 | Expressive Dance | Donald MacBeth / Stanley M. Hough | 7 F / 1:22.80 |
| 1981 | Love Sign | Ruben Hernandez / Sidney J. Watters Jr. | 7 F / 1:22.60 |
| 1980 | Davona Dale | Jorge Velásquez / John M. Veitch | 7 F / 1:22.20 |
| 1979 | Blitey | Ángel Cordero Jr. / Angel Penna Sr. | 7 F / 1:23.20 |