What is the Monmouth Oaks?
The Monmouth Oaks is a Grade III Thoroughbred race held annually at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey. Contested at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt exclusively for 3-year-old fillies, it is the most prestigious filly classic on the New Jersey racing circuit and one of the oldest stakes races in American history, having been inaugurated in 1871 at the original Long Branch Monmouth Park racetrack. Named in honor of the historic Epsom Oaks, the classic English filly race first run in 1779, the Monmouth Oaks has a distinguished roll of honor that includes Hall of Fame inductees Dark Mirage (1968), Gallant Bloom (1969), and Desert Vixen (1973). Spain won the 2000 Monmouth Oaks before going on to win the Breeders' Cup Distaff and retiring as the richest mare in North American racing history. Silverbulletday won in 1999 for trainer Bob Baffert. Todd Pletcher holds the modern record for most wins with six, including Scalable in 2024 and Shahama in 2022. The stakes record of 1:41.54 was set by Shahama in 2022 under Jorge Vargas Jr. for Pletcher and KHK Racing.
When is the Monmouth Oaks in 2026?
The 2026 Monmouth Oaks is scheduled for Saturday, July 25 at Monmouth Park. Contested at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt with a purse of $150,000, the race is the highlight of the Monmouth summer meet for 3-year-old fillies and draws top sophomore fillies targeting the summer championship circuit.
Monmouth Oaks History & Notable Winners
Running Away gave trainer Wesley Ward and jockey Victor Espinoza a 2025 win in 1:46.26 for Stud TNT, the front-running filly holding on gamely to earn her first graded stakes victory. Scalable gave trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Paco Lopez a 2024 score in 1:44.71 for Repole Stable, continuing Pletcher's remarkable record of success in the Monmouth Oaks. Occult gave trainer Chad Brown and jockey Feargal Lynch a 2023 win in 1:45.74 for Alpha Delta Stables, the daughter of Distorted Humor rallying from the back of the pack to score in her stakes debut. Shahama set the stakes record of 1:41.54 in 2022 under Jorge Vargas Jr. for Pletcher and KHK Racing, demolishing her rivals by 6½ lengths in the most dominant Monmouth Oaks performance in modern history. Leader of the Band gave trainer John Servis and jockey Frankie Pennington a 2021 score in 1:43.44 for SMD Limited, the filly rallying strongly in the final furlong to get up in a driving finish.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Running Away | Victor Espinoza | 1:46.26 |
| 2024 | Scalable | Paco Lopez | 1:44.71 |
| 2023 | Occult | Feargal Lynch | 1:45.74 |
| 2022 | Shahama | Jorge A. Vargas Jr. | 1:41.54* |
| 2021 | Leader of the Band | Frankie Pennington | 1:43.44 |
* Stakes record.
The Monmouth Oaks is one of the oldest and most historic filly classics in American racing and the premier 3-year-old filly event on the New Jersey racing calendar each July.
