Tipsheet: 2026 Dowager Stakes

A deep, well-matched field of fillies and mares will vie in the 12-furlong, $350,000 Dowager (G3) over the Keeneland lawn on Sunday. 

Dowager Stakes Picks

• #9 Speed Shopper
• #10 Somethinabouther
• #5 Fionn
• #8 Golden Sunshine

Dowager Stakes Wagers

• $20 win #9 Speed Shopper
• $3 exacta key box 9 with 5,8,10
• $.30-cent superfecta 9 with 5,8,10 with 5,8,10 with all

Dowager Stakes Contenders

#1 MASSARAT (20-1): First of three from the Brendan Walsh barn is well perched on the rail to save ground throughout this affair. The Curlin filly ran evenly in a pair of tough races at Saratoga, marathoning on the turf lately, and the gray has exotics appeal with Danny Sheehy taking the reins. 

#2 MALIBU SMART (15-1): Razor-sharp daughter of English Channel has rolled home to a pair of big wins in a row and has never been better. The Mike Maker trainee will need a lifetime best to challenge this field late, but she is good right now and not a throw-out with Ben Curtis in the stirrups. 

#3 SKY LOW LOW (50-1): Maiden doesn’t belong in this field at this stage of her development and will be a toss for me. 

#4 PRETTY TAPIT (9-2): Joe Sharp pupil has found her niche running this distance on the sod and might be the one to catch from this post slot. The four-year-old daughter of Tapit will face a stern test stepping up in class off an allowance win at Kentucky Downs, and she will be forcing the pace early with Jose Ortiz in the silks. 

#5 FIONN (3-1): Grade 1 queen has failed to hit the board in three races in 2026, but she did show late life in the Flower Bowl (G1) last time and fits well in this cast on her best day. The Brad Cox trainee is a graded-stakes-placed performer on the oval and will make one run in the lane with Irad in the silks. 

#6 SNIPSNIPPITYSNIP (12-1): Walsh pupil was a smart allowance winner beneath the Twin Spires last time out and will make her second run at Keeneland in this spot. The Girvin four-year-old didn’t show a lot in her lone prior graded affair but is improving and could grab a share late with a step forward under Brian Hernandez, Jr. 

#7 POPPY THE PRINCESS (50-1): Cairo Prince filly was runner-up in a lone previous try at the distance but faces a big class rise and seems like a stretch in the affair. The four-year-old would be a surprise with the blinkers coming off with Axel Concepcion in the irons. 

#8 GOLDEN SUNSHINE (10-1): Talented turf stayer has posted 100-plus Brisnet Speed ratings in three of her last four outings and has to be on tickets for Eoin Harty. The Medaglia d’Oro four-year-old owns two seconds from a trio of lifetime runs on the course, and the Godolphin homebred will be rallying late with a chance beneath Luis Saez. 

#9 SPEED SHOPPER (7-2): Top pick was an excellent winner of the Bewitch (G3) on the surface in the spring, And following a trio of subpar runs in the Empire State, the Will Walden trainee gets back to a better spot in this one. The Quality Road mare owns two wins and a placing from four outings at the distance, and the mare figures to sit a perfect trip from just off the pace to the top of the lane, with John Velazquez retaining the ride. 

#10 SOMETHINABOUTHER (8-1): Multiple graded stakes placed daughter of Mendelssohn was a close third in the Beverly D. S. (G2) at Colonial Downs two back and will be a major factor in this one with a similar type of performance. The four-year-old filly will make her first run going 1 ½ miles on Sunday, and I expect her to be well placed turning for home with Tyler Gaffalione in the silks.  

#11 VENENCIA (30-1): Defending champ owns one placing from her last seven outings since winning the race in 2025 and will look to regain her best form in her local return for Saffie Joseph. The Recoletos mare could improve third time off the layoff, but I can’t endorse her with confidence in this spot, nonetheless. 

#12 MODAROSA (6-1): Sneaky daughter of Palace Malice is a relatively lightly raced mare who will run beyond 1 1/16 miles in her lifetime on this day. The Riley Mott charge is in fine form coming off of a pair of very good runs in succession, and if the five-year-old handles the distance, then she could make some noise in her graded bow despite drawing widest of all in the field. Junior Alvarado will ride.