The 2026 Ballerina Stakes will be run Saturday, August 29 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The Grade I race is contested at 7 furlongs on dirt for fillies and mares aged three and older with a $500,000 purse. The winner earns an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland.
| Date | Saturday, August 29, 2026 |
| Track | Saratoga Race Course |
| Race | Race 12 |
| Distance | 7 furlongs |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Grade | Grade I |
| Purse | $500,000 |
| Age | Fillies & mares, 3-year-olds and up |
| Breeders' Cup | Win & You're In - Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint |
| Post Time | 5:49 PM ET |
| # | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Echo Sound (KY) | L Saez | G R Arnold II | 15/1 |
| 2 | Kilwin (KY) | J L Ortiz | G R Arnold II | 8/1 |
| 3 | Munnings Express (NY) | J Lezcano | L Rice | 30/1 |
| 4 | Usha (NY) | J R Velazquez | B Baffert | 12/1 |
| 5 | Grammy Girl (KY) | J Castellano | S A Joseph, Jr. | 30/1 |
| 6 | Kappa Kappa (PA) | P Lopez | R E Reid, Jr. | 30/1 |
| 7 | Ways and Means (KY) | F Prat | C C Brown | 9/5 |
| 8 | Maida (KY) | S Russell | B T Russell | 10/1 |
| 9 | Paradise City (KY) | E J Zayas | S A Joseph, Jr. | 30/1 |
| 10 | R Disaster (FL) | T Gaffalione | S A Joseph, Jr. | 5/1 |
| 11 | Beauty Reigns (KY) | J Alvarado | W I Mott | 15/1 |
| 12 | Eclatant (KY) | M Franco | B H Cox | 3/1 |
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The Ballerina Stakes is one of Saratoga's premier Grade I sprint races for fillies and mares. The 7-furlong dirt event carries a $500,000 purse and is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, with the winner earning an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
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The Ballerina Stakes was first run in 1979 and is named for Ballerina, the filly who won the inaugural Maskette Handicap in 1954. Blitey won the inaugural Ballerina for owner Ogden Phipps.
The race earned Grade III status in 1981, was upgraded to Grade II in 1984 and became a Grade I event in 1988.
Echo Zulu set the race record at the current 7-furlong distance when she won the 2023 Ballerina in 1:20.95. Shine Again is the only two-time winner, capturing consecutive editions in 2001 and 2002.
Recent winners include Serengeti Empress in 2020, Gamine in 2021, Goodnight Olive in 2022, Echo Zulu in 2023, Society in 2024 and Hope Road in 2025.
Hope Road won the 2025 Ballerina Stakes under jockey Jose L. Ortiz for trainer Bob Baffert, completing the 7 furlongs in 1:21.93.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hope Road | Jose L. Ortiz | Bob Baffert | 1:21.93 |
| 2024 | Society | Tyler Gaffalione | Steven Asmussen | 1:22.00 |
| 2023 | Echo Zulu | Florent Geroux | Steven Asmussen | 1:20.95 |
| 2022 | Goodnight Olive | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | 1:21.40 |
| 2021 | Gamine | John R. Velazquez | Bob Baffert | 1:21.61 |
| 2020 | Serengeti Empress | Luis Saez | Thomas M. Amoss | 1:21.63 |
The 2026 Ballerina Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, August 29 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It will be run as Race 12, with post time set for 5:49 PM ET.
The Ballerina Stakes is contested at 7 furlongs on dirt at Saratoga Race Course.
The 2026 Ballerina Stakes carries a $500,000 purse.
The Ballerina Stakes is open to fillies and mares three years old and upward.
Yes. The Ballerina Stakes is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. The nominated winner earns an automatic starting position in the 2026 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland.
Ways and Means is the morning-line favorite for the 2026 Ballerina Stakes, with Eclatant among the leading contenders. Check USRacing.com for current race-day odds and updates.
The latest 2026 Ballerina Stakes odds are listed in the odds table above and will be updated as race-day prices change.
The Ballerina Stakes is a Grade I Thoroughbred dirt race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It is contested at 7 furlongs for fillies and mares three years old and upward.
The Ballerina Stakes is held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.
You can bet online at BUSR. Create an account, fund your account, and select Saratoga and the Ballerina Stakes from the available racing markets. BUSR also offers a 10% horse betting rebate paid daily on selected wagers.
Hope Road won the 2025 Ballerina Stakes under jockey Jose L. Ortiz for trainer Bob Baffert, completing the 7 furlongs in 1:21.93.
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