Chicago Stakes – (Grade ll)

Purse $300.00 – For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward

 7 Furlongs – Dirt

Churchill Downs – June 20, 2026

Older sprinting fillies and mares will take center stage this weekend in the 20th edition of the Chicago Stakes. Churchill Downs has been the venue for the past four years after inheriting this stakes from the great Arlington Park. Last year marked a significant milestone for the Chicago, as the race was upgraded to Grade Two status and its purse increased to a record $300.00. Team 7 Illusions sits tied atop the owner leaderboard with The Sidley Stud, who both have three career victories in this race. The Sidley Stud will pull clear this year if Lady Sammyantha can come through and capture her fourth win in the Chicago. The stakes record was set just last year by Mo Mentum Farms’ Lille, going the seven furlongs in wire-to-wire in 1:21.24. Will we see a piece of HRP history on Saturday, or will a new face enter the winners circle? There’s a lot of interesting entrants this year with growing résumés, so let’s take a deep dive into each of the contenders!

1. Dolphin Bay – (TwinTowersRacing, A. Beschizza) The most lightly raced filly in the field with five career starts and two wins. After being purchased at auction for $11.01, connections took Dolphin Bay to Sunland Park. She absolutely dominated a five-horse field as the favorite to win by four easy lengths. The daughter of Acapulco Bay then made two starts in the N1X condition, both sprinting and routing. Things didn’t quite work out as she failed to show her ability to kick away late. However, things were different last time out. Dolphin Bay cut back in distance to six furlongs and pretty much made every pole a winning one. There’s no doubt she can run, but it’s difficult to overlook the more accomplished runners.

2. So Beautiful – (Temulac Farm, F. Pennington) This California-bred went on a three race win streak before being sold privately for $125.00. She ended the year in a new barn and made a start in the Grade One La Brea at Santa Anita. The track came up muddy, but So Beautiful still put together a good performance to finish third. Now as a four-year-old, she had struggled to find the winner’s circle. The daughter of Commanding The Storm started 2026 in the Inside Information Stakes, finishing tenth after not making any impact. Connections then cut her back to six furlongs in a black-type and failed as the odds-on favorite. So Beautiful’s last start was a massive improvement, getting second in a Grade One.

3. Chase The Money – (Avenue Z, V. Espinoza) Although this mare hasn’t crossed the wire first in over a year, she looks to be in good form. Chase The Money is still on the hunt for her first graded stakes. The good thing is that her record going seven furlongs is relatively good. Two starts back, this New York-bred was seen in The Distaff Handicap and closed from sixth to barely miss at the wire by a neck. She followed up that effort in another Grade Three, but it was at the six-furlong distance. Chase The Money’s trip was nearly identical—settle five lengths behind the pacesetters and come with a big run. This resulted in a third place with a 99 speed figure. This is going to be my longshot play.

4. Aghast – (Mb Stables, A. Fresu) A speedy daughter of Dehara who loves to set the early pace. Owned by Mb Stables, she has continued to run at the top level of HRP since she was a two-year-old. Connections have found that Aghast runs best around one turn, especially seven furlongs. This mare ran third in the Vinery Madison and tried to parlay that effort in the Derby City Distaff. Aghast failed to make the lead that day, and she ended up fading to finish sixth. Last time out, Mb Stables got this Kentucky-bred in the winner’s circle as the favorite and put up a 100 speed figure at Churchill Downs. The return to seven furlongs could bring out Aghast’s best, making her one of the ones to watch out for.

5. Lady Sammyantha – (The Sidley Stud, J R. Velazquez) The 2023 and 2024 HRP Female Sprinter of the Year with over $5,500.00 in career purse earnings. Fourteen of her victories have come at seven furlongs, a distance that has clearly become her trademark. She has also compiled an outstanding seventeen graded stakes wins! Few dirt sprinting fillies in the history of the game can match that résumé. A two-time Breeders Cup champion, the daughter of Ginger Haggis has remained at the top of her division well into her eight-year-old season, continuing to deliver elite performances with little indication that age has diminished her talent. Let’s see if Lady Sammyantha can make it win #4 in the Chicago Stakes! My top pick.

6. Quail Trot – (Maxmillion Farm, S X. Bridgmohan) Comes in here off a fourth-place finish in the Grade One Vinery Madison. Connections changed tactics that day, as Quail Trot tried coming from off the pace. In her two races prior, she tried to take the field wire-to-wire. The Beholder Mile at Santa Anita produced one of the best performances of her career, as the daughter of Declassified put together a tremendous effort against Grade One company. It should be interesting how this filly will do moving forward with her new running style. There also looks to be enough speed to set up her closing kick. Based on her outing last time out, Quail Trot no doubt deserves plenty of respect.

7. Gigafemme – (Big Guns Stables, M E. Smith) Gigafemme launched her career against New York-bred rivals, earning her first stakes victory as a two-year-old before climbing the ranks. She later proved especially effective at seven furlongs, collecting wins in a Grade Two and a Grade One. That established success at this distance is a significant asset heading into this race. The biggest question, though, is her current form. After breaking through with a Grade 1 victory, she took a surprising step backward when she finished last in the Inside Information Stakes. Gigafemme did just miss last time out by a neck, but that was against allowance company. Others have demonstrated a higher level of consistency.

– AJM

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES