Though summer racing was off to a sluggish start thanks to COVID-19 it is now reaching full gear, highlighted by top-level contests like Saturday’s Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park. The race is expected to attract some of the best fillies and mares from across the country to compete for Grade 1 glory.

Find eight fun facts about this year’s race below.

1. This year is the 52^nd running of the race, which was first contested in 1961. It was not run from 1962 through 1969.

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2. Bill Mott and Shug McGaughey are among six trainers tied with a record three wins in the race. Either could make it four on Saturday if Blamed (Mott) or Pink Sands (McGaughey) wins.

3. The race was inaugurated as the Hempstead Handicap and renamed in 2002 in honor of prominent owner-breeder Ogden Phipps, whose horses won the race in 1988 (Personal Ensign) and 1990 (Fantastic Find).

4. Mossflower won the race by a remarkable 12 lengths in 1998, a record.

5. The race is a “Win and You’re In” event for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. The Ogden Phipps winner receives an expenses-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup race at Keeneland this fall.

6. Jockey Mike Smith has won the race a record five times, including the last three years in a row.

7. The betting favorite has finished first or second in four of the last five runnings of the race.

8. No horse has finished the 1 1/16-mile race faster than Midnight Bisou did last year. She set the speed record of 1:39.69 for the race.