The Anchorage Stakes will be run on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Churchill Downs as Race #6, a 1 1/8 mile turf stake for fillies and mares four years old and upward carrying a purse of $275.000. The race began in 2022 with Lipsticker winning for Our Athletes, while Alydar Stables took the 2025 edition with Reaper Lightning. This year, Our Athletes returns with Enough Class To Pass, and Alydar Stables sends out Antares, giving both prior winning owners a chance to add another Anchorage Stakes score.

1. Enough Class To Pass — Our Athletes / Curtis B — Odds: 8/1

Enough Class To Pass has been consistent on turf, with a 12-3-3-2 surface record and all 12 of her long-distance starts producing the same 3-3-2 profile. She was second in a Churchill allowance over good turf on April 29 and won an optional claimer at Santa Anita over 1 1/4 miles in February. Her fifth in the Santa Ana-G3 was not a bad placement against graded company, but she will need to turn consistency into a sharper finishing punch to win here.

2. Happy Dancer — Nakamura Stables / Santana R Jr — Odds: 4/1

Happy Dancer brings serious graded company form. She was fourth in the Gamely-G1 at Santa Anita, third in the Bewitch-G3 at Keeneland, and third in the Santa Ana-G3 earlier this year. Her 2025 Red Carpet-G3 win at Del Mar over 1 3/8 miles gives her a strong turf-distance foundation, and her turf record of 10-2-4-2 shows reliability. She is a major contender if she produces her best late-stage effort.

3. Bronxbabesarebest — Big Jd Racing / Fresu A — Odds: 6/1

Bronxbabesarebest has been knocking on the door in longer turf races. She was third in the Keertana at Churchill and second in the Bewitch-G3, where she made the lead at the third call before finishing second. Her win in the Via Borghese at Gulfstream last December showed she can carry speed around a route of ground. Cutting back from 1 1/2 miles to 1 1/8 miles may help, but she still needs to finish off the race stronger than she did in her latest two.

4. Kash Bounty — Mb Stables / Velazquez J R — Odds: 7/1

Kash Bounty enters off a sharp allowance win at PRX going 170 yards on turf, leading throughout and drawing off by four. She also won a six-furlong turf allowance at Aqueduct in January and has been in the exacta in five of six turf starts. This is a class test, but she has improving 2026 form, gets Velazquez J R, and owns enough tactical speed to be involved early.

5. Ailin — Royalty Stables / Gaffalione T — Odds: 5/1

Ailin comes in after a strong second in the Keertana at Churchill, where she closed from sixth and finished two lengths behind the winner. She was seventh in the Bewitch-G3 but had been fourth in the Hillsborough-G2 before that. Her turf record of 14-3-2-3 is solid, and she already owns a Churchill turf win from December. She fits as a contender, especially if the race develops for a sustained closer.

6. Antares — Alydar Stables / Esquivel E — Odds: 2/1

Antares is the class and form standout. She won the Gallorette-G3 at Laurel on May 16, finished second by a neck in the Buena Vista-G2, won the Las Cienegas-G3, and won the Goldikova-G3 last fall. Her lifetime record of 42-17-12-3 reflects exceptional consistency, and her turf record of 40-16-12-3 is the strongest in the field. Alydar Stables won this race last year, and Antares gives that owner a very realistic chance to repeat.

7. My Dams Atitude — The Sidley Stud / Lopez P — Odds: 9/2

My Dams Atitude has won three of four starts in 2026, including the Sheepshead Bay-G3 at Aqueduct over 1 3/8 miles. She was fifth in the Gamely-G1 last out, but before that she won three straight turf routes. Her long-distance record of 5-4-0-0 is excellent, and she has enough early speed to control or press the pace. She is a serious win threat if she rebounds from the Gamely.

8. Affair Expert — TwinTowersRacing / Sanchez M J — Odds: 10/1

Affair Expert is undefeated in three starts this year, with wins at 5 furlongs, 1 mile, and 1 1/8 miles on turf. Her May 26 allowance win at PRX came at this distance, where she led at every call and held by a neck. This is a tougher field than she has faced recently, but her current form is strong enough to make her dangerous if she gets comfortable early.

Pace Structure & Race Outlook

Kash Bounty, My Dams Atitude, Affair Expert, and possibly Bronxbabesarebest all have enough early speed to shape the race. Affair Expert and Kash Bounty are coming off front-running allowance wins, while My Dams Atitude has also been effective when placed forward. Bronxbabesarebest has shown pace in longer races and may be close again.

Antares should sit in a stalking position rather than needing the lead, which may be the ideal setup if the front runners apply pressure to one another. Happy Dancer and Ailin are likely to do their best work from just behind the main pace group.

Projected Winner

Top Selection: Antares

Antares gets the call based on superior class, current graded-stakes form, and a dominant lifetime turf profile. My Dams Atitude is the main danger with her strong 2026 route form, while Happy Dancer and Ailin are credible late-running threats. Affair Expert is the live longshot if her winning streak carries forward against stakes company.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded