Fort Lauderdale Stakes
Horse race
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The Fort Lauderdale Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race open for three years old or older, over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf track held annually in December at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $215,000.
| Class | Grade III |
|---|---|
| Location | Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1947 (as Fort Lauderdale Handicap) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | Gulfstream Park |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three year olds and older |
| Weight | Base weights with allowances: 4-year-olds and older: 126 lbs. 3-year-olds: 123 lbs. |
| Purse | $200,000 (since 2025) |
History
The inaugural running of the event was on 5 April 1947 as the Fort Lauderdale Handicap and was won by the 2/5 odds-on favorite Eternal Reward who set a track record of 1:452⁄5 for the 1+1⁄16 miles distance on the dirt track.[1] The event was brought forward for the second running during the 1947–48 meeting and was held on 27 December 1947.[2] In 1950 and 1951 the event was run as the Fort Lauderdale Purse.[3]
By the 1950s the event had established itself as a feature handicap for older horses in South Florida. The 1954 running attracted enough entrants that it was split into two divisions.[4] In 1956 the winner New Trend ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Willie Shoemaker set a new track record for the 1+1⁄16 miles distance of 1:42 flat winning easily by 3+1⁄2 lengths.[5]
The following year, in 1957, the U.S. Champion Three-Year-Old Colt Needles, who had won both the 1956 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, ran his last race of his career here. Needles won the race, coming back from 20 lengths behind the leaders to win by two lengths in the end and equal the track record that was set in 1956.[6]
The 1960s were a stable period for the event as it continually was held in early April. During those years the event attracted many fine entrants including three foreign bred winners including Captain Kidd II[7] who won the National Breeders' Produce Stakes in England as a two-year-old, Valentine won won the event by 7 lengths in 1963[8] ran second in the important Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park in England to Henry The Seventh.[9] The 1965 renewal of the event was as the Fort Lauderdale Purse and was held on the turf track for the first time was won by the Argentine-bred Babington who equaled the world record for the distance in a stunning 1:404⁄5.[10]
During the 1970s the legal inflighting between owner Donn family's Gulfstream Park and John W. Galbreath's Hialeah Park over racing date allotments impacted the scheduling of the event.[11] The event was only held five times during that period. During the early 1980s the event was held over a distance of seven furlongs.[12] In 1988 the event was scheduled on the turf over 1+1⁄16 miles and run in split divisions for the second time.[4]
The 1994 winner Paradise Creek won the event as a 3/5 odds-on favorite with a determined stretch drive winning by 1⁄2 length.[13] The victory was Paradise Creek's third win in a seven race winning streak. Later in the year Paradise Creek was awarded US Champion Male Turf Horse honors.
In 1995 the American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event as Grade III.[14]
The event was not held in 2001, 2003 and 2004 which led to the event losing it classification.
In 2005 the race was renewed as a Black Type event with stakes allowance conditions with the modified name Fort Lauderdale Stakes.[15]
Assigned Grade III status beginning in 2010. Due to weather, however, the race was run off the turf in 2010. It was run a mile on dirt and was automatically downgraded, pending review, after the event was switched. The American Graded Stakes Committee reinstated the Grade III rating. The decision to reinstate the Grade 3 rating was based on the quality of the horses who competed in the race following the surface change.[16]
In 2013 the event was upgraded once more to Grade II.[16]
In 2019 the distance of the event was increased from 1+1⁄16 miles to 1+1⁄8 miles.[16]
In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade III status.[17]
Records
- Speed record
- 1+1⁄8 miles turf: 1:43.42 – Wolfie's Dynaghost (2025) (New Track record)
- 1+1⁄16 miles turf: 1:38.26 – Union Place (2005)
- 1+1⁄16 miles dirt: 1:41.00 – Rouge Chanteur (1971)
- Margins
- 8 lengths – Belleau Chief (1959)
- Most wins by a jockey
- 8 – Jerry D. Bailey (1978, 1985, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002)
- Most wins by a trainer
- 8 – William I. Mott (1988, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2007)
- Most wins by an owner
- 2 – Allen E. Paulson (1999, 2002)
- 2 – Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey (2000, 2018)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale Stakes | ||||||||||
| 2025 | Wolfie's Dynaghost | 7 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Bryan A. Lynch | Woodslane Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:43.42 | $200,000 | III | [18] |
| 2024 | Major Dude | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Spendthrift Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:45.73 | $200,000 | II | [19] |
| 2023 | Main Event | 4 | Javier Castellano | George Weaver | Harrell Ventures | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:46.47 | $200,000 | II | [20] |
| 2022 | City Man | 5 | Joel Rosario | Christophe Clement | Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter & Patty Searles | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:46.10 | $200,000 | II | [21] |
| 2021 | Doswell | 6 | Junior Alvarado | Barclay Tagg | Joseph Allen | abt. 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:45.60 | $200,000 | II | [22] |
| 2020 | Largent | 4 | Paco Lopez | Todd A. Pletcher | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Twin Creeks Racing Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:46.16 | $200,000 | II | [23] |
| 2019 | Instilled Regard | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | OXO Equine | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.18 | $200,000 | II | [24] |
| 2018† | Glorious Empire (IRE) | 8 | Edgar S. Prado | James L. Lawrence II | Matthew Schera | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.44 | $200,000 | II | December[25] |
| 2018 | Shining Copper | 8 | Jose L. Ortiz | Michael J. Maker | Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.44 | $200,000 | II | January[26] |
| 2017 | Flatlined | 5 | Joe Bravo | Charles L. Dickey | Brian Hytrek, Rodney Paden & Ryan Kuhn | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.29 | $200,000 | II | [27] |
| 2016 | Heart to Heart | 5 | Julien R. Leparoux | Brian A. Lynch | Terry Hamilton | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.71 | $200,000 | II | [28] |
| 2015 | Mshawish | 5 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Al Shaqab Racing | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.14 | $200,000 | II | [29] |
| 2014 | Summer Front | 5 | Joe Bravo | Christophe Clement | Waterford Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.24 | $200,000 | II | [30] |
| 2013 | Mucho Mas Macho | 4 | Juan C. Leyva | Henry Collazo | Signal Hill Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.39 | $150,000 | II | [31] |
| 2012 | Silver Medallion | 4 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Black Rock Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.04 | $100,000 | III | [32] |
| 2011 | Little Mike | 4 | Joe Bravo | Allen Iwinski | Priscilla Vaccarezza & KZ Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.52 | $100,000 | III | [33] |
| 2010 | Duke of Mischief | 4 | Eibar Coa | David Fawkes | Alex Lieblong, Marilyn McMaster & David Fawkes | 1 mile | 1:37.70 | $100,000 | III | Off turf[34] |
| 2009 | Kiss the Kid | 6 | Elvis Trujillo | Amy Tarrant | Amy Tarrant | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.59 | $100,000 | Listed | [35] |
| 2008 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 2007 | Classic Campaign | 5 | Edgar S. Prado | William I. Mott | Kinsman Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.19 | $75,750 | Listed | [36] |
| 2006 | Honor in War | 7 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Paul J. McGee | 3rd Turn Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.13 | $75,000 | Listed | [37] |
| 2005 | Union Place | 6 | Javier Castellano | Randy Schulhofer | William A. Sorokolit Sr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:38.26 | $60,000 | [15] | |
| 2003–2004 | Race not held | |||||||||
| Fort Lauderdale Handicap | ||||||||||
| 2002 | Del Mar Show | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson Living Trust | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.54 | $100,000 | III | [38] |
| 2001 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 2000 | Beckon the King | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | William I. Mott | Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.36 | $100,000 | III | [39] |
| 1999 | Garbu | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.33 | $100,000 | III | [40] |
| 1998 | Statesmanship | 4 | Jose A. Santos | Christophe Clement | Peter F. Karches, Charles E. & Susan T. Harris | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.46 | $100,000 | III | [41] |
| 1997 | Doublethebetwice | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | William I. Mott | Kevin B. Halter | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.61 | $100,000 | III | [42] |
| 1996 | Winged Victory | 6 | Jerry D. Bailey | William I. Mott | Pin Oak Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.94 | $100,000 | III | [43] |
| 1995 | The Vid | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Martin D. Wolfson | Joseph J. Sullivan | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.12 | $100,000 | III | [44] |
| 1994 | Paradise Creek | 5 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Masayuki Nishiyama | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.30 | $100,000 | Listed | [13] |
| 1993 | Archies Laughter | 5 | Jose A. Santos | Milton W. Wolfson | Stride Rite Racing Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.13 | $100,000 | Listed | Off turf[45] |
| 1992 | Now Listen | 5 | Jose A. Santos | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.44 | $100,000 | Listed | [46] |
| 1991 | ƒ Miss Josh | 5 | Dave Penna | Barclay Tagg | Bonner Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.13 | $100,000 | Listed | [47] |
| 1990 | Wanderkin | 7 | Jose A. Santos | Richard O'Connell | Poma Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.60 | $100,000 | [48] | |
| 1989 | Regal Brek | 7 | Randy Romero | Mark R. Weiss | Selma L. Weiss, Glenda Salyer et al. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.20 | $61,650 | Off turf[49] | |
| 1988 | Lordalik (FR) | 4 | Randy Romero | Robert J. Frankel | Robert J. Frankel & Jerome S. Moss | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.40 | $49,150 | Division 1[50] | |
| Kings River II (IRE) | 6 | Randy Romero | William I. Mott | Bertram R. Firestone | 1:41.00 | $50,150 | Division 2[51] | |||
| 1987 | Skip Trial | 5 | Randy Romero | Sonny Hine | Mrs. Zelda Cohen | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.20 | $59,500 | [52] | |
| 1986 | Midway Circle | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Woodford C. Stephens | Jayeff B Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:23.00 | $59,150 | [53] | |
| 1985 | For Halo | 4 | Bryan Fann | Mary L. Edens | Mrs. Adele W. Paxson | 7 furlongs | 1:22.40 | $56,800 | [54] | |
| 1984 | Uncle Jeff | 5 | Gene St. Leon | Frank Gomez | Locust Lane Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.40 | $44,205 | [55] | |
| 1983 | Distinctive Pro | 4 | Craig Perret | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Aisco Stable & Howard Kaskel | 7 furlongs | 1:22.40 | $42,735 | [56] | |
| 1982 | Hat Room | 4 | Bryan Fann | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Blanche P. Levy | 7 furlongs | 1:22.60 | $30,350 | [57] | |
| 1981 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 1980 | Go With the Times | 4 | Craig Perret | Joseph M. Bollero | Russell L. Reineman Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:22.40 | $29,300 | [58] | |
| 1979 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 1978 | Poor Man's Bluff | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Joseph S. Nash | George A. Cavanaugh Jr. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $29,150 | [59] | |
| 1977 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 1976 | Enchumao (ARG) | 5 | Marco Castaneda | Grover W. Stephens | Miss Christine Mancuso | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.40 | $28,000 | [60] | |
| 1974–1975 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 1973 | Gentle Smoke | 5 | Walter Blum | David Sazer | Forus Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.80 | $20,000 | [61] | |
| 1972 | Race not held | |||||||||
| 1971 | Rouge Chanteur | 5 | Thomas Barrow | Louis Goldfine | Leonard Prussky | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.00 | $20,000 | [62] | |
| 1970 | Al Hattab | 4 | Walter Blum | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Pelican Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $20,000 | [63] | |
| 1969 | Addy Boy | 4 | William Gavidia | George Zateslo | Keystone Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.00 | $15,000 | [64] | |
| 1968 | Swoonaway | 7 | Jacinto Vasquez | S. Bryant Ott | E. Gay Drake | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $15,000 | [65] | |
| 1967 | Cool Reception | 3 | Johnny Sellers | Louis C. Cavalaris Jr. | Mrs. J. W. Sietz & Mrs. V. P. Reid | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.20 | $15,000 | [66] | |
| 1966 | Pollux | 3 | Ray Broussard | Douglas A. Dodson | Charles Parker | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.00 | $15,000 | [67] | |
| Fort Lauderdale Purse | ||||||||||
| 1965 | Babington (ARG) | 6 | Michael Solomone | Arnold N. Winick | John M. Olin | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.80 | $10,000 | [10] | |
| Fort Lauderdale Handicap | ||||||||||
| 1964 | Tumble Turbie | 5 | Larry Gilligan | H. G. Brockman | Tumblewood Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.60 | $15,000 | [68] | |
| 1963 | Valentine (GB) | 5 | Larry Gilligan | Harold O. Simmons | Louis Christopher | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.20 | $15,000 | [8] | |
| 1962 | Cactus Tom | 5 | Johnny Sellers | H. C. Dodson | Natiolee Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.60 | $15,000 | [69] | |
| 1961 | Heroshogala | 5 | Howard Grant | Joe Brady | Mrs. Mary D. Keim | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.60 | $15,000 | [70] | |
| 1960 | Captain Kidd II (GB) | 4 | Michael Solomone | Harris Brown | Mrs. Tilyou Christopher | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.00 | $15,000 | [7] | |
| 1959 | Belleau Chief | 4 | Lois C. Cook | Edward B. Carpenter | Mrs. Lora Birr | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.80 | $15,000 | [71] | |
| 1958 | § Air Pilot | 4 | Frank Smith | Jim Conway | Mrs. Ada L. Rice | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.20 | $15,000 | [72] | |
| 1957 | Needles | 4 | David Erb | Hugh L. Fontaine | D. & H. Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.00 | $28,200 | [6] | |
| 1956 | New Trend | 4 | William Shoemaker | Meshach Tenney | Rex. C. Ellsworth | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.00 | $10,000 | [5] | |
| 1955 | Two Fisted | 4 | Ronnie Baldwin | Elmer Kalensky | Marvin E. Affelds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.40 | $7,500 | [73] | |
| 1954 | Amphiblen | 6 | William Cook | L.J. Keating | Jacnot Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.40 | $10,000 | Division 1[74] | |
| Go A Bit | 7 | Walter B. Williams | Frank I. Wright | Tinkham Veale II | 1:46.00 | $10,000 | Division 2[75] | |||
| 1953 | Elixir | 5 | Charles E. Burr | David J. Schneider | David J. Schneider | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.40 | $15,000 | [76] | |
| 1952 | Thee and Me | 4 | Porter Roberts | Mose Shapoff | Samuel H. Popkin | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.60 | $7,500 | [77] | |
| Fort Lauderdale Purse | ||||||||||
| 1951 | Black George | 4 | Logan Batcheller | Raymond Barnett | William H. Venneman | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.00 | $7,500 | [78] | |
| 1950 | Sallequilo (ARG) | 6 | Fernando Fernandez | Thomas Bonham | Correll Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $5,000 | [3] | |
| Fort Lauderdale Handicap | ||||||||||
| 1949 | Big Dial | 4 | Antonio J. Fernandez | Ernest E. Hart | George B. Jacobson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:48.80 | $7,500 | [79] | |
| 1947‡ | Bug Juice | 4 | Joseph Licausi | Ralph W. McIlvian | Bermil Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.40 | $15,000 | December[2] | |
| 1947 | Eternal Reward | 4 | Jack Richards | Chester J. Hall | Louis Augustus & Charles Nahm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.40 | $9,050 | April[1] | |
Legend:
Dirt
Turf
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
ƒ Filly or Mare
† In 2018 the event was held twice in the calendar year. For the 2017–18 meeting the event was held in January and in the 2018–19 meeting the event was held in December
‡ In 1947 the event was held twice in the calendar year. The inaugural running was held in April and for the 1947–48 season the event was scheduled in December