The Hopeful Stakes is the only Grade 1 middle-distance race for two-year-old thoroughbreds in the JRA.

This race was started as the Radio Tampa Hai Sansai Hinba Stakes (Grade 3) in 1984, which was a mile race that was held at Hanshin Racecourse for two-year-old fillies.

In 2014, the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, a grade 1 race for two-year-old colts previously held at Nakayama Racecourse, was moved to Hanshin Racecourse.

[1] Then the Radio Nikkei Hai Nisai Stakes was moved to Nakayama Racecourse.

With this transfer, its name was changed to Hopeful Stakes, and the grade of the race was elevated to Grade 2, and the race was once again opened to fillies, although this time geldings were barred from entering.