Winter Memories Stakes
| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Aqueduct Racetrack Queens, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated | 2016 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-old fillies |
| Weight | 124 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | $150,000 (since 2024) |
The Winter Memories Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies over a distance of one mile on the turf held annually in September at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $150,000.
History
The event is named after Darby Dan Farm owner John Phillips' multiple-Grade I winning mare Winter Memories. This gray mare won five graded stakes events at Belmont Park. In her last competitive race at Saratoga Racetrack the mare won the Grade I Diana Stakes.[1]
The inaugural running of the event was on November 25, 2016 over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles and was won by Stuart S. Janney III's My Impression who won the event by a half a length, starting as the 11/4 favorite in a time of 1:44.22.
The event was run on the dirt track due to the conditions of the turf track in 2018 and held at shorter distance of one mile.[2]
In 2023 the distance of the event was decreased to one mile.[2] The event was also moved in the fall schedule from November and held in mid September.
Several entrants who have run in this race have won Grade I events. The 2020 winner Duopoly won the GI American Oaks in her next start.[3] The 2023 winner Sacred Wish the following year won the GI Matriarch Stakes as a four-year-old.[4]
In 2025 the event was upgraded to Grade III by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.[5]
Records
Speed record:
- 1 mile: 1:35.46 – Sacred Wish (2023)
- 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:43.16 – Feel Glorious (GB) (2019)
Largest margin of victory:
- 3 lengths – Salimah (IRE) (2022)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 2 – Irad Ortiz Jr. (2017, 2020)
- 2 – Manuel Franco (2018, 2021)
- 2 – Jose L. Ortiz (2016, 2022)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 – Chad C. Brown (2017, 2020, 2022)
- 3 – Christophe Clement (2019, 2021, 2024)
Most wins by an owner:
- No owner has won this race more than once.
Winners
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Aqueduct – WInter Memories Stakes | |||||||||
| 2024 | Les Reys (FR) | Joel Rosario | Christophe Clement | West Point Thoroughbreds, Peter Leidel & Winters Equine | 1 mile | 1:35.95 | $150,000 | Listed | [6] |
| 2023 | Sacred Wish | John R. Velazquez | George Weaver | Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher T. Dunn & Anthony Spinazzola | 1 mile | 1:35.46 | $135,000 | Listed | [7] |
| 2022 | Salimah (IRE) | Jose L. Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | Stephanie Seymour Brant | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.69 | $135,000 | Listed | [8] |
| 2021 | Plum Ali | Manuel Franco | Christophe Clement | Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables & Michael J. Caruso | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.11 | $150,000 | [9] | |
| 2020 | Duopoly | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.80 | $100,000 | [10] | |
| 2019 | Feel Glorious (GB) | Junior Alvarado | Christophe Clement | Reeves Thoroughbred Racing & Tango Uniform Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.16 | $156,188 | [11] | |
| 2018 | Matty's Magnum | Manuel Franco | David G. Donk | Edward R. & Mary Jo Lessell | 1 mile | 1:41.97 | $157,538 | [12] | |
| 2017 | Rymska (FR) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Alain Jathiere, Sheep Pond Partners, Thomas Coleman & Elayne S. Herrick | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.48 | $150,000 | [13] | |
| 2016 | My Impression | Jose L. Ortiz | Claude R. McGaughey III | Stuart S. Janney III | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.22 | $125,000 | [14] | |
Legend:
Dirt
Turf
See also
References
- ^ "Winter Memories (KY)". equibase. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ a b "WINTER MEMORIES STAKES - AQUEDUCT, NY". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ "Duopoly (KY)". equibase. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ "Sacred Wish (KY)". equibase. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2025". Bloodhorse.com. Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "2024 Winter Memories Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "2023 Winter Memories Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "2022 Winter Memories Stakes Listed - (race 6)". Equibase. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "2021 Winter Memories Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "2020 Winter Memories Stakes Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 November 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "2019 Winter Memories Stakes Black Type - (race 2)". Equibase. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "2018 Winter Memories Stakes Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "2017 Winter Memories Stakes Black Type - (race 7)". Equibase. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "2016 Winter Memories Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2025.