Elite Power Stakes
Horse race
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Elite Power Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four years old or older at a distance of six furlongs on the dirt run annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $250,000.
Queens, New York, United States
| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Aqueduct Racetrack Queens, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated | 2012 (as Diablo Stakes) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | NYRA |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6 furlongs |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Four-years-old and older |
| Weight | 124 lbs. with allowances |
| Purse | US$250,000 (since 2025) |
History
The event was inaugurated on 10 May 2014 as the Diablo Stakes and was won by Royal Currier who started at 7/1.[1] The following year the event was not held.[2] The event was resumed on 14 May 2014 and was won by the favorite Sensational Slam who defeated four other runners including Royal Currier over 6 furlongs in a time of 1:09.07.[3] The event was marred by the disqualification of the second place finisher Green Grotto who was placed third and Royal Currier installed in second for interference 1⁄8 mile from the finishing post. [4] The event was named after the versatile sprinter Diablo who won the 1991 Grade II True North Handicap and the 1992 Grade III Finger Lakes Budweiser Breeders' Cup. [5]
In 2018 the event was renamed to the Runhappy Stakes in honor of the 2015 US Champion Sprint Horse Runhappy.[2]
The event was upgraded to Grade III in 2020[6] but was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Belmont Park ran a shortened meeting and the event was cancelled in favor of the rescheduled Carter Handicap being moved from Aqueduct Racetrack.[7]
In 2024 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.[8]
In 2025 NYRA moved the event from May to November and renamed the event to the Elite Power Stakes after the two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Elite Power.[9]
Records
Speed record:
- 6 furlongs – 1:08.12 Firenze Fire (2019)
Margins:
- 4+3⁄4 lengths – Firenze Fire (2019)
Most wins:
- 2 – Stallwalkin' Dude (2015, 2017)
- 2 – Firenze Fire (2019, 2021)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 2 – Irad Ortiz Jr. (2019, 2021)
- 2 – Manuel Franco (2016, 2025)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 2 – David Jacobson (2015, 2017)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 – David Jacobson (2015, 2017)
- 2 – Mr. Amore Stable (2019, 2021)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Aqueduct – Elite Power Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2025 | Just Beat the Odds | 5 | Manuel Franco | Gregory Sacco | Donna Wright | 1:09.99 | $242,500 | III | [10] | |
| Runhappy Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2024 | Joey Freshwater | 4 | Jose Lezcano | Linda L. Rice | Winning Move Stable | 1:09.41 | $169,750 | III | [11] | |
| At Belmont Park | ||||||||||
| 2023 | Candy Man Rocket | 5 | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc. | 1:09.33 | $175,000 | III | [12] | |
| 2022 | Drafted | 8 | José Ortiz | David P. Duggan | Dublin Fjord Stables, Racepoint Stables, Kevin D. Hilbert, & Thom O'Keefe | 1:10.84 | $139,500 | III | [13] | |
| 2021 | Firenze Fire | 6 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Kelly Breen | Mr. Amore Stable | 1:09.76 | $145,500 | III | [14] | |
| 2020 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 2019 | Firenze Fire | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Jason Servis | Mr. Amore Stable | 1:08.12 | $150,000 | Listed | [15] | |
| 2018 | Westwood | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Godolphin | 1:09.45 | $147,000 | Listed | [16] | |
| Diablo Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2017 | Stallwalkin' Dude | 7 | Joe Bravo | David Jacobson | David Jacobson & Head of Plains Partners | 1:10.16 | $100,000 | Listed | [17] | |
| 2016 | Joking | 7 | Manuel Franco | Charlton Baker | Charlton Baker | 1:09.44 | $100,000 | Listed | [18] | |
| 2015 | Stallwalkin' Dude | 5 | Angel Cruz | David Jacobson | David Jacobson | 1:09.48 | $98,000 | [19] | ||
| 2014 | Sensational Slam | 6 | Cornelio Velasquez | Patrick Quick | Paradise Farms | 1:09.07 | $98,000 | [3] | ||
| 2013 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 2012 | Royal Currier | 4 | Rajiv Maragh | Patricia Farro | MAT Stables | 1:08.42 | $83,300 | Listed | [1] | |