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 the Acorn Stakes card, previously run on Belmont Stakes day. Usually run over a distance of an extended mile (1,700 meters) on the dirt, there are some changes for 2024 and 2025 while it is run away from Belmont Park.

The 2025 Ogden Phipps Stakes is set at a distance of nine furlongs (1,800 meters). This change is due to the NYRA moving the event from its original location because Belmont Park is undergoing renovation. Consequently, the entire Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will be held outside of New York City at Saratoga Race Course 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 for 2024 and 2025 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, the race was open to younger fillies, and it was won by the three-year-old Summer Guest in 1972. However, since the Acorn Stakes is also held at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival over a similar distance for female horses of that age, it made sense to restrict the Ogden Phipps to older 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). Randomized tries to do that in 2025.

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 belongs to 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 2015 up to the present day:

Ogden Phipps Stakes 2025 Picks

There is a field of seven in this race this year, but a late scratching reduced this to si. 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 in 2024, so aim for better this year:

Quinella Bet: Randomized & Raging Sea

Last year’s winner Randomized returns to defend her crown. Bettors can expect her to strip fitter for her return to action when third to old rival and Chad Brown barn buddy Raging Sea in Churchill Downs’ La Troienne Stakes during the Kentucky Derby meet.

Both have strong claims on their multiple previous Grade I successes. Raging Sea missed the show in the Ogden Phipps of 2024, but has clearly improved with two subsequent course and distance victories around Saratoga. The suggestion from our handicapper is a Quinella exotic wager on both of Brown’s fillies.

Show Bet: Candided – SCRATCHED

Also in with a shout of making the show is Candied off joint-bottom weight. She placed twice here last summer in the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes for Todd Pletcher.

Candied looks a reliable top three finish prospect, as she managed that in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff behind Raging Sea. She meets that older female on better terms now, however, and similar comments apply to Tarifa, another re-opposing rival, from Keeneland in the spring.

2025 Ogden Phipps Stakes Post Position Draw

Following the post position draw, some seven runners race at Saratoga here. Candied has been scratched since then, however, leaving six. These are their Morning Line odds, wights carried and the gates that those fillies and mares jump from:

1. Dorth Vader (118lbs) –  10-1
2. Dazzling Move (120lbs) – 16-1
3. Leslie’s Rose (124lbs) –  7-2
4. Raging Sea (124lbs) – 5-2 fav
5. Candied (118lbs) – 3-1 SCRATCHED
6. Tarifa (122lbs) – 9-2
7. Randomized (124lbs) – 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 2025.

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, then again on Randomized. He also previously won this race in 2014 and has also had two seconds and one third, from ten rides over the decade.

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 Friday, June 6 2025. It’s one of the key supporting races on the Belmont Stakes schedule of events during the meet’s third day. The entire Festival takes place 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. Two of his horses won this race back when it was 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.