Pilgrim Stakes

Horse race From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Pilgrim Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on the turf track scheduled annually in late September at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $200,000.

ClassGrade II
LocationBelmont Park
Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated1979 (at Aqueduct Racetrack)
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
Quick facts Class, Location ...
Pilgrim Stakes
ClassGrade II
LocationBelmont Park
Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated1979 (at Aqueduct Racetrack)
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
WebsiteNYRA
Race information
Distance1+1⁄16 miles
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationTwo-year-olds
Weight122 lbs with allowances
Purse$200,000 (2021)
BonusesWinner receives automatic entrance to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf
Close

History

The event was inaugurated on 29 October 1979 at Aqueduct Racetrack and was run over the 1+1⁄8 mile distance in split divisions as the sixth[1] and eighth race[2] on the card that day.

The race is named for Joseph E. Widener's horse, Pilgrim,[3] winner of the 1919 Remsen Stakes.

In 1982 the event was classified as Grade III, upgraded to Grade II in 1988 for two runnings before being downgraded to Grade III.[4] From 2001–2007 the race was not graded as in 2009 when the event was moved off the turf track due to the inclement weather and held over a shorter one mile distance.[5]

The event was run in two divisions in the above mentioned inaugural 1979 and again in 1983.[6]

The distance of the event has been changed several times but since 2010 the event has been run over the current distance of 1+1⁄16 miles.[4]

The race was part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series from 2008 to 2010, when the winner automatically qualified for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

The event was upgraded to a Grade III event in 2020.[7]

In 2022 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.[8]

Records

Speed record:

  • 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:41.04 – Annapolis (2021)
  • 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:48.02 – Volponi (2000)

Margins:

  • 12 lengths – Diplomatic Jet (1994)

Most wins by an owner:

  • 2 – Live Oak Racing (1981, 2001)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners

More information Year, Winner ...
Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
At Aqueduct – Pilgrim Stakes
2025 Bottas Manuel Franco Miguel Clement Dahman 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.63 $200,000 II [9]
2024 Zulu Kingdom (IRE) Joel Rosario Chad C. Brown Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, William Strauss & Michael J. Caruso 1+1⁄16 miles 1:48.67 $200,000 II [10]
2023 Agate Road Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.83 $200,000 II [11]
2022 Major Dude Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd A. Pletcher Spendthrift Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:46.60 $200,000 II [12]
At Belmont Park
2021 Annapolis Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd A. Pletcher Bass Racing 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.04 $186,000 II [13]
2020 Fire At Will Kendrick Carmouche Michael J. Maker Three Diamonds Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.46 $150,000 II [14]
2019 Structor Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad C. Brown Jeff Drown & Don Rachel 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.46 $200,000 III [15]
2018 Forty Under Manuel Franco Jeremiah C. Englehart August Dawn Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.37 $200,000 III [16]
2017 Seabhac Luis Saez Todd A. Pletcher Donegal Racing 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.48 $200,000 III [17]
2016 Oscar Performance José L. Ortiz Brian A. Lynch Amerman Racing (Jerry & Joan Amerman) 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.88 $200,000 III [18]
2015 Isotherm Jose Lezcano George Weaver Matthew Schera 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.98 $200,000 III [19]
2014 Imperia Javier Castellano Kiaran P. McLaughlin Godolphin Racing 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.36 $200,000 III [20]
2013 Bobby's Kitten Javier Castellano Chad C. Brown Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.37 $200,000 III [21]
2012 Noble Tune Ramon A. Dominguez Chad C. Brown Martin S. Schwartz & Dell Ridge Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:47.81 $150,000 III [22]
2011 Shkspeare Shaliyah Alex O. Solis Doodnauth Shivmangal Shivmangal Racing Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:51.59 $100,000 III [23]
2010 Air Support Rajiv Maragh Claude R. McGaughey III Stuart S. Janney III 1+1⁄16 miles 1:47.87 $147,500 III [24]
2009 Eskendereya Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher Zayat Stables 1 mile 1:37.85 $152,500 Listed Off turf[25]
2008 Elusive Bluff Michael C. Baze Eric J. Guillot Southern Equine Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:47.91 $156,800 III [26]
2007 The Leopard John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.61 $81,000 Listed [27]
2006 Pickapocket Eibar Coa Frank A. Alexander Martin Cherry 1+1⁄8 miles 1:52.62 $85,925 Listed [28]
2005 Fagan's Legacy Joe Bravo Kelly J. Breen George & Lori Hall 1+1⁄8 miles 1:52.11 $82,575 Listed Off turf[29]
2004 Crown Point Jose L. Espinoza David G. Donk Drumlanrig Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.31 $82,875 Listed [30]
2003 Timo John R. Velazquez William Badgett Jr. C. K. Woods Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:57.46 $82,525 Listed [31]
At Aqueduct
2002 One Colony Aaron Gryder Mark A. Hennig Edward P. Evans 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.00 $82,950 Listed Off turf[32]
2001 Miesque's Approval Jerry D. Bailey William I. Mott Live Oak Racing 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.80 $83,475 Listed [33]
At Belmont Park
2000 Volponi John R. Velazquez Philip G. Johnson Amherst & Spruce Pond 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.02 $113,300 III [34]
1999 Kachemak Bay John R. Velazquez John P. Campo Jr. Evelyn M. Pollard 1+1⁄8 miles 1:54.67 $111,600 III [35]
1998 Incurable Optimist John R. Velazquez David G. Donk John T. & Theresa E. Behrendt 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.05 $108,100 III [36]
At Aqueduct
1997 § Cryptic Rascal Mike E. Smith William Badgett Jr. Landon Knight 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.83 $115,700 III [37]
At Belmont Park
1996 Accelerator Mike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.80 $113,800 III Off turf[38]
At Aqueduct
1995 Play It Again Stan Herb McCauley Frank A. Generazio Jr. Sybil Lauren 1+1⁄16 miles 1:50.20 $115,900 III [39]
At Belmont Park
1994 Diplomatic Jet Jerry D. Bailey Philip M. Serpe Fred W. Hooper 1+1⁄16 miles 1:46.67 $82,076 III [40]
1993 § Dove Hunt Jerry D. Bailey Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.60 $122,600 III [41]
1992 § Awad Julie Krone David G. Donk Ryehill Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.60 $127,000 III [42]
1991 Smiling and Dancin Richard Migliore Stephen L. DiMauro Robert J. Sullivan 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.20 $122,800 III [43]
At Aqueduct
1990 Fourstars Allstar Mike E. Smith Leo O'Brien Richard Bromze 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.60 $90,000 III [44]
1989 Super Mario Richard Migliore D. Wayne Lukas H. Joseph Allen 1+1⁄8 miles 1:56.00 $126,800 II [45]
1988 Tuneful Tip Carl Gambardella Ronald J. Dandy Frank Generazio 1+1⁄8 miles 1:59.00 $132,200 II [46]
1987 Blew by Em Chris Antley Michael H. Daggett Joseph B. Singer 1+1⁄8 miles 1:53.60 $92,850 III [47]
1986 § David's Bird Jean-Luc Samyn Philip G. Johnson Sugar Maple Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:53.00 $97,950 III [48]
1985 Pillaster Ángel Cordero Jr. LeRoy Jolley Peter M. Brant 1+1⁄8 miles 1:54.40 $89,550 III [49]
1984 Tent Up Vincent Bracciale Jr. John W. Hicks Geoffrey A. Huguely 1+1⁄8 miles 1:53.20 $94,500 III [50]
1983 Pied A' Tierre Larry Saumell Ronald L. Benshoff Blanche P. Levy 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.40 $54,700 III †Division 1[51]
Vision Eddie Maple Woodford C. Stephens Claiborne Farm 1:50.20 $54,700 †Division 2[52]
1982 Fortnightly Ángel Cordero Jr. Edward I. Kelly Jr. Bwamazon Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:57.60 $85,800 III [53]
1981 Gnome's Gold Jean-Luc Samyn Patrick J. Kelly Live Oak Racing 1+1⁄8 miles 1:57.20 $84,300 [54]
1980 Akureyri Eddie Maple Woodford C. Stephens Hickory Tree Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:54.80 $58,400 [55]
1979 Freeo Sam Maple Joseph B. Cantey Loblolly Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:53.00 $42,850 Division 1[1]
I Take All Ángel Cordero Jr. Edward I. Kelly Sr. Brookfield Farm 1:52.40 $43,050 Division 2[2]
Close

Legend:
  Dirt   Turf
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
† Both divisions of the event were moved off the turf and onto the main track due to the inclement weather

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

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