True North Stakes

American horse race From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The True North Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years old and older held over a distance of six and half furlongs on dirt scheduled annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $400,000.[1]

ClassGrade III
LocationBelmont Park
Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated1979
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
Quick facts Class, Location ...
True North Stakes
ClassGrade III
LocationBelmont Park
Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated1979
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
Websitewww.nyra.com
Race information
Distance6+1⁄2 furlongs
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and older
Weight124lbs with allowances
PurseUS$400,000 (2025)
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History

The True North is named for the winner of the 1945 Fall Highweight Handicap, W. Deering Howe's, True North.

The event was inaugurated on 9 July 1979 as the True North Handicap and was won by the longshot Moleolus in a time of 1:104⁄5.[2]

The event was classified as Grade III in 1982 and upgraded to Grade II in 1985.[1] The only mare to win the event was Gold Beauty in 1993.[3]

In winning the 1987 edition of the True North Handicap, Groovy earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 134.[4]

In 2014 the conditions of the race changed to a stakes race. In 2017 the distance of the race was changed from 6 furlongs to 6+1⁄2 furlongs.[1]

In 2024 the event was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.[5]

In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade III status.[6]

Records

Speed record:

  • 6+1⁄2 furlongs – 1:14.85 – Catalina Cruiser (2019)
  • 6 furlongs – 1:07.80 – Groovy (1987)

Most wins:

  • 2 - Firenze Fire (2020, 2021)

Most wins by a trainer:

Margin:

  • 8+1⁄2 lengths – Trappe Shot (2011)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by an owner:

  • 2 – Seymour Cohn (1985, 1999)
  • 2 – Mr. Amore Stables (2020, 2021)

Winners

More information Year, Winner ...
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
At Saratoga – True North Stakes
2025 Book’em Danno 4 Paco Lopez Derek S. Ryan Atlantic Six Racing 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:14.64 $400,000 III [7]
2024 Baby Yoda 6 Eric Cancel William I. Mott Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber & Jerold L. Zaro 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:14.62 $350,000 II [8]
At Belmont Park
2023 Elite Power 5 Irad Ortiz Jr. William I. Mott Juddmonte 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:15.65 $250,000 II [9]
2022 Jackie's Warrior 4 Joel Rosario Steven M. Asmussen Judy & J.Kirk Robison 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:15.09 $300,000 II [10]
2021 Firenze Fire 6 Jose Ortiz Kelly Breen Mr Amore Stables 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:15.52 $300,000 II [11]
2020 Firenze Fire 5 Irad Ortiz Jr. Kelly Breen Mr Amore Stables 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:15.53 $150,000 II [12]
2019 Catalina Cruiser 5 Joel Rosario John W. Sadler Hronis Racing 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:14.85 $250,000 II [13]
2018 Imperial Hint 5 Javier Castellano Luis Carvajal Jr. Raymond Mamone 6+1⁄2 furlongs 1:15.02 $240,000 II [14]
2017 Roy H 5 Paco Lopez Peter L. Miller Rockingham Ranch 6 furlongs 1:08.59 $250,000 II [15]
2016 Joking 7 Manuel Franco Charlton Baker Charlton Baker 6 furlongs 1:08.04 $240,000 II [16]
2015 Rock Fall 4 Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher Stonestreet Stables 6 furlongs 1:08.37 $250,000 II [17]
2014 Palace 5 José L. Ortiz Linda L. Rice Antonino Miuccio 6 furlongs 1:08.29 $250,000 II [18]
True North Handicap
2013 Fast Bullet 5 Joel Rosario Bob Baffert Zayat Stables 6 furlongs 1:08.27 $400,000 II [19]
2012 Caixa Eletronica 7 Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stables 6 furlongs 1:09.52 $400,000 II [20]
2011 Trappe Shot 4 John R. Velazquez Kiaran P. McLaughlin Mill House 6 furlongs 1:08.86 $250,000 II [21]
2010 Bribon (FR) 7 Garrett K. Gomez Todd A. Pletcher Derrick Smith 6 furlongs 1:09.63 $250,000 II [22]
2009 Fabulous Strike 6 Ramon A. Dominguez Todd M. Beattie Walter Downey 6 furlongs 1:07.85 $250,000 II [23]
2008 Benny the Bull 5 Edgar S. Prado Richard E. Dutrow Jr. IEAH Stables, James Cohen, Pegasus Holdings Group & Sanford H. Robbins 6 furlongs 1:09.06 $250,000 II [24]
2007 Will He Shine 5 Edgar S. Prado Dale L. Romans Saviaro Pugliese & Marc Wexler 6 furlongs 1:08.70 $200,000 II [25]
2006 Anew 5 Alan Garcia Steven M. Asmussen Chrome Cowboy Racing & Raymond Vitolo 6 furlongs 1:08.10 $200,000 II [26]
2005 Woke Up Dreamin 5 Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram 6 furlongs 1:08.38 $212,900 II [27]
2004 Speightstown 6 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Eugene Melnyk 6 furlongs 1:08.04 $206,400 II [28]
2003 Shake You Down 5 Michael J. Luzzi Scott A. Lake Robert L. Cole Jr. 6 furlongs 1:09.40 $190,000 II [29]
2002 Explicit 5 Lonnie Meche Ian P. D. Jory Marvin Malmuth 6 furlongs 1:09.80 $250,000 II [30]
2001 Say Florida Sandy 7 Aaron Gryder Juan Serey John Rotella 6 furlongs 1:08.60 $150,000 II [31]
2000 Intidab 7 Robbie Davis Kiaran P. McLaughlin Shadwell Stable 6 furlongs 1:10.00 $150,000 II [32]
1999 Kashatreya 5 Jean-Luc Samyn John O. Hertler Seymour Cohn 6 furlongs 1:09.60 $150,000 II [33]
1998 Richter Scale 4 Jerry D. Bailey William I. Mott Nancy & Richard Kaster 6 furlongs 1:08.80 $138,600 II [34]
1997 Punch Line 7 Robbie Davis William H. Turner Jr. Althea Richards 6 furlongs 1:08.80 $110,300 II [35]
1996 Not Surprising 6 Robbie Davis Judson Van Worp Robert Van Worp 6 furlongs 1:09.00 $111,200 II [36]
1995 Waldoboro 4 Eddie Maple Claude R. McGaughey III Emory A. Hamilton 6 furlongs 1:09.60 $110,500 II [37]
1994 Friendly Lover 6 Rick Wilson Joseph H. Pierce Jr. Pastime Stable 6 furlongs 1:09.60 $112,300 II [38]
1993 Lion Cavern 4 Julie Krone William I. Mott Sheikh Mohammed 6 furlongs 1:10.20 $115,200 II [39]
1992 Shining Bid 4 Eddie Maple Jack B. Morgan Deborah A. Matz 6 furlongs 1:08.20 $119,800 II [40]
1991 Diablo 4 Julie Krone William I. Mott Bertram R. Firestone 6 furlongs 1:08.20 $116,200 II [41]
1990 Mr. Nickerson 4 Chris Antley Mark J. Reid Robert H. A. Nixon 6 furlongs 1:10.40 $85,600 II [42]
1989 Dancing Spree 4 Ángel Cordero Jr. Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps 6 furlongs 1:09.40 $113,600 II [43]
1988 § High Brite 4 Ángel Cordero Jr. D. Wayne Lukas H. Joseph Allen 6 furlongs 1:10.00 $113,000 II [44]
1987 Groovy 4 Ángel Cordero Jr. José Martín Lone Star Stable 6 furlongs 1:07.80 $108,800 II [45]
1986 Phone Trick 4 Jorge Velásquez Richard E. Mandella Howell Wynne 6 furlongs 1:09.00 $110,800 II [46]
1985 Cannon Shell 6 D. J. Murphy Chester Ross Seymour Cohn 6 furlongs 1:10.80 $87,000 II [47]
1984 Believe The Queen 4 Jorge Velásquez H. Allen Jerkens Bohemia Stable 6 furlongs 1:09.80 $86,850 III [48]
1983 ‡ Gold Beauty 4 Don Brumfield William Curtis Jr. Mrs. Philip Hofmann 6 furlongs 1:10.40 $84,600 III [49]
1982 Shimatoree 3 Mario G. Pinoclaud Richard E. Dutrow Sr. Rif'at Hussain 6 furlongs 1:08.60 $82,650 [50]
1981 Joanie's Chief 4 Jean-Luc Samyn Eugene Jacobs Peter Barberino 6 furlongs 1:09.00 $58,800 [51]
1980 Syncopate 5 Laffit Pincay Jr. Ron McAnally Elmendorf Farm 6 furlongs 1:09.20 $55,000 [52]
1979 Moleolus 4 Jean-Luc Samyn Patrick J. Kelly Live Oak Plantation Racing 6 furlongs 1:10.40 $42,225 [2]
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Notes:
‡ Filly or Mare
§ Ran as part of an entry

See also

References

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