2026 Princess Rooney Stakes Race Results

Official race results and payouts are listed below: 

Exotic Payoffs:

• $1.00 Exacta (2-3) Paid: $10.00
• $0.50 Trifecta (2-3-4) Paid: $23.20
• $0.10 Superfecta (2-3-4-1) Paid: $17.85

Watch the 2026 Princess Rooney Stakes

2026 Princess Rooney Stakes Morning Line Odds

Official race entries and morning line odds are listed below:

Princess Rooney Stakes Race History

The Princess Rooney Stakes was inaugurated in 1985 at Calder Race Course in Florida and named in honor of Princess Rooney, the Hall of Fame mare who won the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Distaff in 1984. From the start, the race was designed as a sprint for fillies and mares on dirt, becoming a summer highlight on the Florida racing calendar. Originally contested at seven furlongs, the race shifted to six furlongs for many years before returning to seven furlongs in 2016, where it has remained since.

Over time, the Princess Rooney gained prominence and climbed the graded stakes ladder. It was first upgraded to Grade III in 1999, then to Grade II in the early 2000s, and eventually reached Grade I status from 2006 through 2014, making it one of the most prestigious races in the country for female sprinters. Following shifts in venue and scheduling, however, the race was downgraded back to Grade II in 2015, and more recently to Grade III in 2023 after its date was moved from early July to early October.

The race was held at Calder through its first three decades before being transferred to Gulfstream Park in 2015, coinciding with the change from handicap to allowance weight conditions. In 2014 the event was not run due to the transition between tracks, and in 2020 it was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these interruptions, the Princess Rooney has remained a fixture of the summer and fall racing scene in Florida.

As part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series, the Princess Rooney carries special significance, awarding its winner an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. This has helped ensure a high quality of competition and provided Florida-based connections with a pathway to the national stage. The race has produced repeat winners over the years, including Classy Tricks, Magal, Gold Mover, Stormy Embrace, and Ce Ce, while also showcasing the dominance of top horsemen like trainer Martin Wolfson and jockey Jerry Bailey.

The race’s rich history includes record-setting performances, such as Curlin’s Approval’s seven-furlong time of 1:21.68 in 2017 and Merry Meadow’s six-furlong record of 1:09.29 in 2015. In recent years, horses like Ce Ce and Haulin Ice have continued the tradition of excellence, reinforcing the Princess Rooney’s role as a stage for elite female sprinters. Despite its shifting grade status, the race has maintained a reputation as one of Gulfstream’s most important stakes events for fillies and mares, blending tradition with the promise of Breeders’ Cup glory.

Princess Rooney Stakes All-Time Winners