Soaring Softly Stakes
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| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated | 2014 (as Wait A While Stakes) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing - Turf |
| Website | nyra.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 7 furlongs |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Fillies, three years old |
| Weight | 123lbs. with allowances |
| Purse | $175,000 (since 2023) |
The Soaring Softly Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old fillies, over a distance of 7 furlongs on the turf held annually in May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $175,000.
The race was inaugurated in 2014 as the Wait A While Stakes[1] with a stakes purse of $100,000[2] after the American Oaks and duel Yellow Ribbon Stakes winner Wait A While.
In 2018 the event was classified as Grade III.[2]
The race was renamed in 2016 to the Soaring Softly Stakes after the 1999 American Champion Female Turf Horse and inaugural Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Soaring Softly.[3]
In 2024 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.[4] The distance of the event was decreased to six furlongs since the Aqueduct turf course does not hold events over the 7 furlong distance.
In 2025 the event was moved to Saratoga and due to the state of the turf track was moved and held on the dirt track over a distance of five-and-one-half furlongs.[5]