Ten Things You Should Know: Frizette Stakes
By Kevin Martin, Hello Race Fans Contributing Editor
Originally published on October 8, 2010
1) The Frizette Stakes is a race held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a Grade 1 race restricted to 2-year-old fillies. It has been graded since 1973, the first year of the American graded stakes system. This year’s edition is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, the winner will qualify for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in November.
2) The inaugural Frizette took place in 1945 at Jamaica Racetrack in New York. The race moved to Belmont in 1955. Aqueduct hosted the race from 1959 to 1961 and from 1963 to 1967, while Belmont Park underwent major renovations.
3) It is named for Frizette, a mare who raced under the colors of the legendary James R. Keene. After her racing career, she went on to become an important foundation mare in the United States and France. Her descendants went on to win major stakes in both countries.
4) The race is currently run at one mile. During its history, it’s been run at five furlongs, six furlongs, and 1 1/16 miles. It has been run at the current distance since 2005; it was also run at one mile from 1960 to 1993.
5) Since 1984, the race has served as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Six fillies have won both races: Meadow Star (1990), Flanders (1994), Storm Song (1996), Storm Flag Flying (2002), Indian Blessing (2007) and My Miss Aurelia (2011).
6) In 1986, in only her second career start, Personal Ensign won the Frizette. She would win her next eleven career starts, including a thrilling win in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, finishing her career with a perfect 13 for 13 record.
7) Shuvee scored her first stakes victory in the 1968 Frizette. She went on to win the Filly Triple Crown, later named the Triple Tiara, in 1969 and two editions of the Jockey Club Gold Cup in 1970 and 1971.
8) In 1982, Princess Rooney won the Frizette by eight lengths during her perfect 2-year-old campaign. She would go on to win 17 of 21 starts, including a victory in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Distaff in 1984.
9) Since 1945, 26 winners of the Frizette were voted 2-year-old filly champions at the end of the racing season. The last came in 2011 with My Miss Aurelia.
10) Owner Ogden Phipps won five editions of the Frizette (the most by any owner) in five different decades (1967, 1972, 1986, 1993, 2002).
