The Ogden Phipps Stakes is one of the big races for older fillies and mares during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. This page has all the details on this Grade I contest.

What is the Ogden Phipps Horse Race?

Open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged four and up, the Ogden Phipps is a key supporting race on Belmont Stakes day. This is the second Saturday in June. Usually run over a distance of an extended mile (1,700m) on the dirt, there are some changes this year.

The length of the 2024 Ogden Phipps Stakes is nine furlongs (1,800m). This is because race organizers the NYRA switched venues as Belmont Park has renovation work done at it. As a result of that, the entire Belmont Stakes Racing Festival moves out of New York City to Saratoga Race Course upstate in Saratoga Springs.

Ogden Phipps Stakes History

Beginning life as the Hempstead Handicap in 1961, this race was originally ran over a distance of 12 furlongs (a mile-and-a-half or 2,400m) at Belmont Park. After that inaugural edition, it was not run again until 1970, this time over six furlongs (1,200m).

The Ogden Phipps then changed to a distance of nine furlongs (1,800m) in 1972. A slight shortening of the distance followed in 1995 to an extended mile (1700m).

In 2002, the Hempstead Handicap became the Ogden Phipps Handicap. Ogden Phipps was an owner-breeder, whose horses won the race in 1988 and 1990.

Born into a wealthy family in 1908, he became a prominent stockbroker and businessman, who used his riches to indulge his passions for philanthropy, art collecting and horse racing.

Phipps was also a champion court tennis player as a young man, winning the U.S. championship seven times and the British championship once.

In 2014, the race changed from being a handicap to a conditions race, becoming the Ogden Phipps Stakes. It had become a Grade I race in 1984.

Logical Closure for Three-Year-Olds

The switch to Saratoga in 2024 will be only the second time that this race has been held away from Belmont Park. It previously took place at Aqueduct in 1973 and 1974.

Previously open to younger fillies, the race was once won by the three-year-old Summer Guest in 1972. With the Acorn Stakes also taking place at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival over a similar distance for females of that age, however, it made sense to close the Ogden Phipps to such horses.

Four horses have won the race on two occasions. They are Heatherten (1984, 1985), Sightseek (2003, 2004), Take D’Tour (2006, 2007) and Clairiere (2022, 2023).

The most successful jockeys have been Eddie Maple (1975, 1977, 1983, 1986 and 1992) and Mike E. Smith (1981, 1984, 2017, 2018 and 2019), with five wins apiece.

Steven M. Asmussen has won the race on the most occasions as a trainer, with four wins. All those have come in the last five years (2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023).

The speed record at the distance of one and 1/16 miles was set by Midnight Bisou in 2019, with a time of 1:39:69. Mossflower set the record for the biggest margin of victory in 1998, when she won by 12 lengths.

Recent Ogden Phipps Winners

Let’s take a look back at the winners of the Ogden Phipps Stakes from 2014 up to the present day:

Ogden Phipps Stakes 2024 Picks

There is a field of six in this race this year. Based on past performances, Morning Line odds and prices on Belmont Stakes racebooks that cover the whole Festival, the Ogden Phipps picks from our handicappers were close but not quite this year

Their main bet to win, Idiomatic, missed out victory by a head after just failing to overhaul Randomized. Our experts’ recommended show bet, Pretty Mischievous, made a top 3 finish, so that was a successful pick.

2024 Ogden Phipps Stakes Post Position Draw

Following the post position draw, some six runners race at Saratoga here. These are their Morning Line odds and the gates that those fillies and mares jump from:

1. Randomized (124lbs) –  6-1
2. Tizzy In The Sky (118lbs) – 12-1
3. Pretty Mischievous (124lbs) – 6-1
4. Soul Of An Angel (122lbs) – 8-1
5. Idiomatic (124lbs) – 3-5
6. Raging Sea (120lbs) – 9-2

Key Trends & Stats for the Ogden Phipps

Let’s take a look back at some of the key trends and stats from this race, which could help you to pick out bets for the Ogden Phipps Stakes 2024.

The most obvious place to start is the performances of horses trained by Steven Asmussen. He is the most successful trainer in the history of the race with all four his victories have coming since 2019.

Asmussen’s star filly Clairiere won in 2023 and 2022, while he also saddled She’s A Julie (2020) and Midnight Bisou (2019) to victory. The only other trainer to have enjoyed more than one win over the last ten years is Kiaran McLaughlin, who enjoyed victories in 2016 and 2015.

Joel Rosario won on Clairiere in 2022 and 2023. He previously won this race in 2014 and has also had two seconds and one third, from nine rides over the last ten years.

Mike E. Smith also has three wins (2019, 2018 and 2017), but hasn’t featured in the race since his last victory five years ago.

Favorites have done well in recent races, winning in two of the last three years. They have however, only won four times over the last ten editions, with the favorite finishing second on three occasions.

There have been some interesting trends when it comes to post positions over the last five years. Gate 3 has won twice and had one second place, while gate 2 has two places and one victory. The strangest phenomenon has been the performances of the horses coming out of gate 5, who have all finished third in each of the last five years.

FAQs

When is the Ogden Phipps Stakes?

The Ogden Phipps will take place on Saturday, June 8 2024. It’s one of the key supporting races on the Belmont Stakes schedule of events during the meet’s feature third day. The Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga in 2024 and 2025, due to redevelopment work that is currently taking place at Belmont Park.

Who was Ogden Phipps?

Ogden Phipps was an American stockbroker, philanthropist and court tennis champion, who became most famous for his breeding and ownership of racehorses. The Ogden Phipps Stakes is named after him. This is a race that his horses won twice back when it was called the Hempstead Handicap.

Where can I bet on the Ogden Phipps Stakes online?

Any bookmaker that features US racing will cover the Ogden Phipps. Here at Belmont Stakes Betting Sites we have ranked our recommended racebooks. Find the one that best serves your needs and place your bet on the Ogden Phipps. 

Who is the top trainer in the history of the Ogden Phipps horse race?

The most successful trainer in the history of the Ogden Phipps is Steven M. Asmussen. Horses trained by Asmussen have won the race on four occasions, all in recent years. Asmussen has triumphed in 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023.