The Hillsborough Stakes (Grade 2)- $225.000 Purse
TAM- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
March 7, 2026

As we get set for the Hillsborough Stakes on Saturday, all eyes will be on Lady Hilltopper, as the seven-year-old mare looks to pick up her third consecutive win in the race. It won’t be easy, as ten others in the field have their own idea for how this race should turn out. The race first appeared on the schedule as a Grade 3 in 2005 and would be upgraded in 2016. The $225.000 purse is a high point and has been constant since 2018. Let’s take a look now at our entire field of eleven!

1- Snow Pea (First Flight Stable, ridden by G Corrales)- Over nine starts, Snow Pea has finished third on four occasions, but only managed one win. That victory was a good one at KEE last April, but the trainer has been waiting to see her return to the winner’s circle. Returned to the grass in December for the $125.000 Tropical Park Oaks, finishing in her favorite spot, and did the same a month later in the $100.000 Krantz Memorial.

2- Date Knight (Our Athletes, ridden by T Gaffalione)- After a strong two year old season that carried into the early portions of her three-year-old campaign, Date Knight lost her spark for the finish following her win in the ONT Colleen, and has only made two starts since August. Following close to a three-month layoff, she was seen in a FG allowance last time out and took a page out of Snow Pea’s book by running third. Worked nicely at FG about two weeks ago, so there is room for optimism here.

3- Reorganize (Czech Out Farms, ridden by A A Gallardo)- Last year, Reorganize readily went out against some of the best in the division, but could only win once in eight starts. That came in May at the Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes at PIM, but her best performance on the year was probably when she placed second at the Grade 1 Diana at SAR. Followed that up by running fourth in the Ballston at the Spa but fizzled out at the end of the year. Ran third in Endeavor BC in January right here, so maybe she’s reorganized her form to being positive once again.

4- Lady Hilltopper (Black N Gold Stable, ridden by S Elliott)- Looking to make Hillsborough history by winning the race for the third year in a row, and she is the only horse to win the race more than once. She did have to share the winners circle in 2024 with Ponzi Scheme but was the undisputed winner last year. After leaving, she would only get better for the rest of the 2025, and has won her last three starts, a stretch that began in none other than the BC Fillies and Mares Turf. After winning the Pegasus F & M Turf last time out, she’s clearly on a roll right now.

5- Bronxbabesarebest (Big Jd Racing, ridden by P Morales)- This five-year-old mare has been running the maximum distances of late and having success with it, winning the $125.000 Via Borghese two back and barely missing doing the same in the Grade 3 Clement at GP. She’s perfectly fine at distances closer to a mile as well and should not be overlooked here. If her odds climb to anywhere near the 20/1 level she was at in her last start, take a shot.

6- Decimas Queen (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by J C Ferrer)- May be best remembered for finishing second in the KYO in 2024, as well as winning the Grade 1 Hirsch later that same year. The Queen has only managed one win since then, surprisingly enough, and it was in an open allowance last October. Still hitting the board on most occasions but is prone to a head scratching performance every now and then, as well. While most of her races are on the main track, she has had several opportunities on the grass as well. Her biggest grass win also came in 2024.

7- Swing Radio (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- Makes her stake debut here in the Hillsborough, having won three times over 13 races. She hasn’t always run for high purses but seemed to answer the call last year when she was gradually brought forward. She’s still a little inconsistent and will certainly need the version of her that won at GP on Christmas Eve to show up here in order to have a chance.

8- Youthful Thoughts (Greyhound, ridden by C Landeros)- Began her career in my stable and was a slow developer, but began to pick it up for me up to the point where she was claimed for $25.000. Passed through a couple barns and was even dropped back down into free track claimers before Greyhound landed her for $15.000. In her new barn, Youthful Thoughts has continued to age well, winning the $150.000 Noble Damsel in October, then five weeks ago, ran second in the Grade 3 Endeavor BC. Could pull it off, and I can confirm that her parents will be watching from their stalls.

9- Yesterdays Queen (Wood Racing Stable, ridden by I Castillo)- Comes into the race off of a win in the $100.000 Krantz Memorial Stakes at FG, which would be her third win in seven starts after the trainer claimed her for just $5.000. She has hit the board in all of those races as the trainer has gradually moved her up in class. This will be her second graded start, with the previous one being the Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes at MTH on soft turf where she was the runner up.

10- Explorer (Avenue Z, ridden by F H Da Silva)- Four months ago, Explorer took part in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf, and placed fifth in the race. To get there, she won the Grade 3 Sheepheads Bay and the Grade 3 RGD, as well as finishing second in the Grade 1 Taylor up at WO. While she didn’t cash a check in the BC, she showed she belonged in that field, and kicked off her campaign to try and get back there with a win in the Grade 3 Clement at GP six weeks ago. She is continuing to work well and would like to establish herself as one of the new powerhouses in this division.

11- Ailin (Royalty Stables, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- Took on Explorer in the Clement last time out, but was not near her at the end as she worked her way through traffic to get up for sixth. Her signature win came last summer, when she jumped right from breaking her maiden to the winning the Grade 3 Matchmaker at MTH. Finished third in the DMR Oaks following that race, and if that’s where we were now, I’d feel a little better about her. Needs to be better than she was last time.

Prediction: 4-10-5-8

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES