Soaring Softly Stakes Explained

Surface:Turf
Class:Grade III
Horse Race:Soaring Softly Stakes
Location:Belmont Park
Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated:2014 (as Wait A While Stakes)
Race Type:Thoroughbred - Flat racing - Turf
Website:nyra.com
Distance:7 furlongs
Track:Left-handed
Qualification:Fillies, three years old
Weight:123lbs. with allowances
Purse:$175,000 (since 2023)

The Soaring Softly Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old fillies, over a distance of 7 furlongs on the turf held annually in May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $175,000.

History

The race was inaugurated in 2014 as the Wait A While Stakes[1] with a stakes purse of $100,000[2] after the and duel Yellow Ribbon Stakes winner Wait A While.

In 2018 the event was classified as Grade III.[2]

The race was renamed in 2016 to the Soaring Softly Stakes after the 1999 American Champion Female Turf Horse and inaugural Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Soaring Softly.[3]

In 2024 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.[4] The distance of the event was decreased to six furlongs since the Aqueduct turf course does not hold events over the 7 furlong distance.

Records

Speed record:

Margins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

YearWinnerJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRef
At Aqueduct  - Soaring Softly Stakes
2024Pipsy (IRE)Flavien PratWilliam WaldenWoodford Thoroughbreds 6 furlongs1:09.41$175,000III[5]
At Belmont Park
2023Jose OrtizSienna Farm, Michael E. Kisber, Peter Deutsch & The Elkstone Group7 furlongs1:21.24$169,750III[6]
2022Chardy Party (IRE)Irad Ortiz Jr.Wesley A. WardStonestreet Farm7 furlongs1:21.47$100,000III[7]
2021Bye Bye Eric CancelChristophe ClementBach Stables align=center 7 furlongs1:21.19$100,000III[8]
2020Race not held
2019Seek and Destroy Kendrick CarmoucheChad C. Browne Five Racingalign=center 7 furlongs1:22.53$100,000III[9]
2018Nootka Sound Dylan DavisWesley A. WardHat Creek Racingalign=center 7 furlongs1:24.59$98,000III[10]
2017Morticia Jose LezcanoGeorge ArnoldG. Watts Humphrey Jr.align=center 7 furlongs1:19.93$100,000Listed[11]
2016LightstreamEric CancelBrian A. Lynch Up Hill Stable & Head of Plains Partnersalign=center 7 furlongs1:20.54$100,000[12]
Wait A While Stakes
2015CelestineRajiv MaraghWilliam I. MottJames A. Bryan Jr.align=center 7 furlongs1:21.06$98,000[13]
2014Richies Party GirlJohn R. VelazquezWesley A. WardRichard Ravin and Wesley A. Wardalign=center 7 furlongs1:21.84$98,000[14]
Legend:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WAIT A WHILE STAKES - BELMONT - BELMONT. Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. 19 April 2020.
  2. Web site: Soaring Softly Stakes (Gr. 3). equibase. 19 April 2020. 19 April 2020.
  3. Web site: Wins - Soaring Softly . Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. 19 April 2020.
  4. Web site: NYRA sets 2024 calendar, with Belmont Stakes at Saratoga . nyra.com . . 5 May 2024 . January 24, 2024.
  5. Web site: 2024 Soaring Softly Stakes Grade 3 - Thoroughbred (race 8) . Equibase . 12 May 2024 . 12 May 2024.
  6. Web site: 2023 Soaring Softly Stakes Grade 3 - Thoroughbred (race 7) . Equibase . 27 May 2023 . 28 May 2023.
  7. Web site: Soaring Softly Stakes Grade 3 - Thoroughbred (race 9) . Equibase . 28 May 2022 . 28 May 2022.
  8. Web site: Soaring Softly Stakes Grade 3 - Thoroughbred (race 10) . Equibase . 15 May 2021 . 19 May 2021.
  9. Web site: Soaring Softly S. Grade 3 - Thoroughbred (race 11) . Equibase. 18 May 2019. 19 April 2020.
  10. Web site: Soaring Softly S. Grade 3 - Thoroughbred (race 9) . Equibase. 19 May 2018. 19 April 2020.
  11. Web site: Soaring Softly S. Listed - Thoroughbred (race 7) . Equibase. 20 May 2017. 19 April 2020.
  12. Web site: Soaring Softly S. Black Type - Thoroughbred (race 10) . Equibase. 21 May 2016. 19 April 2020.
  13. Web site: Wait a While S. Black Type - Thoroughbred (race 10). Equibase. 15 May 2015. 19 April 2020.
  14. Web site: Wait a While S. Black Type - Thoroughbred (race 6). Equibase. 18 May 2014. 19 April 2020.