Excelsior Stakes
Grade III race | |
Location | Aqueduct Racetrack Queens, New York, United States |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1903 |
Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
Race information | |
Distance | 1+1⁄8 miles |
Surface | Dirt |
Track | left-handed |
Qualification | Three-years-old & up |
Weight | Assigned |
Purse | US$150,000 (2018) |
The Excelsior Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. A Grade III event for three-year-olds and up, it is contested over a distance of one-and-one-eighth miles 9 furlong.[1]
"Excelsior" is Latin for "Upward, ever upward", and is the motto of the state of New York.
In 1928, when Hall of Famer Grey Lag was ten years old, he came in third. He'd won this race as a five-year-old in 1923.
The race was run at the old Jamaica Race Course from 1903 to 1910, and then again from 1915 to 1959. In 1913, it was run at Belmont Park. It wasn't run at all in 1909, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1933, 1967, and 2020.
Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances and as initially a handicap as the race was known as the Excelsior Handicap:
- 1+1⁄16 miles : 1903–1960
- 1 mile : 1960
- 1 mile, 1 furlong : 1961–1978
- 1+1⁄8 miles : 1994–2014, 2018-2019, 2021
- 1+1⁄4 miles : 1979–1993, 2015–2017
Records[]
Speed record: (at distance of 1+1⁄8 miles)
- 1:48.10 – Classic Endeavor (2003)
- 1:48.10 – Magna Graduate (2007)
Most wins:
- 2 – (1935, 1936)
- 2 – Find (1954, 1956)
- 2 – Lac Ouimet (1987, 1988)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 – Eric Guerin (1953, 1954, 1956)
- 3 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1972, 1975, 1976)
- 3 – Bobby Ussery (1958, 1962, 1966)
- 3 – Chuck C. Lopez (1997, 2003, 2008)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 – Rancocas Stable (1923, 1929, 1931)
- 3 – Alfred G. Vanderbilt II (1953, 1954, 1956)
- 3 – Sigmund & Viola Sommer (1972, 1977, 1980)
Winners[]
Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Dist. (Miles) |
Time |
Win$ |
Gr. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Modernist | 4 | Junior Alvarado | William Mott | Pam Wygod and Martin Wygod | 11⁄8 m | 1:54.38 | $82,500 | G3 |
2019 | Life's a Parlay | 4 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:51.54 | $82,500 | G3 |
2018 | Discreet Lover | 5 | Manuel Franco | Uriah St. Lewis | Uriah St. Lewis | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.45 | $90,000 | G3 |
2017 | Send it in | 5 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Paul P. Pompa Jr. | 11⁄4 m | 2:02.07 | $90,000 | G3 |
2016 | 5 | José Ortiz | Linda L. Rice | Viña del Mar TBs & Black Swan Stable | 11⁄4 m | 2:04.52 | $120,000 | G3 | |
2015 | Effinex | 4 | James A. Jerkens | Tri-Bone Stables (Bernice Cohen) | 11⁄4 m | 2:02.16 | $120,000 | G3 | |
2014 | Romansh | 4 | José Ortiz | Thomas Albertrani | Godolphin Racing | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.07 | $90,000 | G3 |
2013 | Last Gunfighter | 4 | Rajiv Maragh | Chad Brown | John D. Gunther | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.78 | $90,000 | G3 |
2012 | Marilyn's Guy | 6 | Chuck C. Lopez | Tony Dutrow | Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, Gary Aisquith | 11⁄8 m | 1:52.54 | $90,000 | G3 |
2011 | Inherit the Gold | 5 | Eddie Castro | James Hooper | Glas-Tipp Stable (Mary Murray) & Susanne Hooper | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.34 | $60,000 | G3 |
2010 | Goldsville | 5 | Ramon A. Dominguez | Marc C. Ferrell | 11⁄8 m | 1:51.43 | $120,000 | G3 | |
2009 | Giant Moon | 4 | Edgar Prado | Albert Fried Jr. | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.90 | $120,000 | G3 | |
2008 | Temporary Saint | 5 | Chuck C. Lopez | Bruce N. Levine | 11⁄8 m | 1:51.13 | $66,720 | G3 | |
2007 | Magna Graduate | 5 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.10 | $125,460 | G3 | |
2006 | West Virginia | 5 | Todd A. Pletcher | Donald & Roberta Zuckerman | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.28 | $67,140 | G3 | |
2005 | Offlee Wild | 5 | Rafael Bejarano | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | AZ Azalea Stables LLC | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.41 | $120,000 | G3 |
2004 | Funny Cide | 4 | José A. Santos | Barclay Tagg | Sackatoga Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.57 | $120,000 | G3 |
2003 | Classic Endeavor | 5 | Chuck C. Lopez | Herbert T. Schwartz & Scott Schwartz | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.10 | $90,000 | G3 | |
2002 | John Little | 4 | Deborah Bodner | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.25 | $120,000 | G3 | ||
2001 | Cat's At Home | 4 | Mark A. Hennig | Edward P. Evans | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.92 | $120,000 | G3 | |
2000 | Lager | 6 | Heberto Castillo Jr. | James A. Jerkens | Susan & John Moore | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.76 | $120,000 | G3 |
1999 | Smart Coupons | 6 | René Douglas | Louis J. Porreco | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.71 | $120,000 | G3 | |
1998 | Sir Bear | 5 | Enrique Jurado | Barbara Smollin | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.24 | $120,000 | G3 | |
1997 | Ormsby | 5 | Chuck C. Lopez | Woodside Stud | 11⁄8 m | 1:47.69 | $120,000 | G2 | |
1996 | May I Inquire | 5 | Joe Bravo | Barbara J. Davis | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.67 | $120,000 | G2 | |
1995 | Iron Gavel | 5 | Joques Farm | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.28 | $90,000 | G2 | ||
1994 | Colonial Affair | 4 | José A. Santos | Flint S. Schulhofer | Centennial Farm (Donald Little) | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.82 | $90,000 | G2 |
1993 | Devil His Due | 4 | Mike E. Smith | H. Allen Jerkens | Lion Crest Stable (Edith Libutti) | 11⁄4 m | 2:03.05 | $72,120 | G2 |
1992 | Defensive Play | 5 | David Flores | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farm | 11⁄8 m | 2:01.95 | $102,780 | G2 |
1991 | Chief Honcho | 4 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Bertram R. Firestone | 11⁄8 m | 2:02.60 | $102,060 | G2 |
1990 | Lay Down | 6 | Chris Antley | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 11⁄8 m | 2:02.20 | $100,980 | G2 |
1989 | Forever Silver | 5 | Julie Krone | Chevalier Stable | 11⁄8 m | 2:02.60 | $99,720 | G2 | |
1988 | Lac Ouimet | 5 | Jerry Bailey | Virginia Kraft Payson | 11⁄8 m | 2:00.20 | $140,880 | G2 | |
1987 | Lac Ouimet | 4 | Eddie Maple | Virginia Kraft Payson | 11⁄8 m | 2:02.00 | $106,380 | G2 | |
1986 | Garthorn | 6 | Rafael Meza | Robert J. Frankel | Jerome S. Moss | 11⁄8 m | 2:02.40 | $101,340 | G2 |
1985 | Morning Bob | 4 | Jacinto Vásquez | Nick Zito | Mike Rich Stable | 11⁄8 m | 2:04.20 | $87,750 | G2 |
1984 | Canadian Factor | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | Frank Stronach | 11⁄8 m | 2:03.00 | $88,650 | G2 | |
1983 | Fast Gold | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Sally A. Bailie | Aisco Stable | 11⁄8 m | 2:04.00 | $67,200 | G2 |
1982 | Globe | 5 | Michael Venezia | Victor J. Nickerson | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 11⁄8 m | 2:03.40 | $66,480 | G2 |
1981 | Irish Tower | 4 | Jeffrey Fell | Stanley M. Hough | Malcolm H. Winfield | 11⁄8 m | 2:00.80 | $66,680 | G2 |
1980 | Ring of Light | 5 | Cash Asmussen | Pancho Martin | Viola Sommer | 11⁄8 m | 2:01.40 | $67,560 | G2 |
1979 | Special Tiger | 4 | George Martens | Albert Fried Jr. | 11⁄4 m | 2:03.80 | $63,600 | G2 | |
1978 | Cox's Ridge | 4 | Eddie Maple | Loblolly Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.60 | $49,005 | G2 | |
1977 | Turn And Count | 4 | Steve Cauthen | Pancho Martin | Sigmund Sommer | 11⁄8 m | 1:51.00 | $48,150 | G2 |
1976 | Double Edge Sword | 6 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Richard Dutrow Sr. | Aisquith Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.00 | $51,120 | G2 |
1975 | Step Nicely | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.40 | $33,990 | G2 |
1974 | Everton II | 5 | Marco Castaneda | Laz Barrera | Enrique Ubarri | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.00 | $33,840 | G2 |
1973 | Key To The Mint | 4 | Ron Turcotte | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:47.80 | $32,640 | G2 |
1972 | Autobiography | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Pancho Martin | Sigmund Sommer | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.00 | $34,860 | |
1971 | Loud | 4 | Jacinto Vásquez | James W. Maloney | William Haggin Perry | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.80 | $34,200 | |
1970 | Hydrologist | 4 | Chuck Baltazar | Roger Laurin | Meadow Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.80 | $37,570 | |
1969 | San Roque | 4 | Heliodoro Gustines | Sherrill W. Ward | Lazy F Ranch | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.60 | $37,310 | |
1968 | Peter Piper | 5 | Jorge Velásquez | not found | Joseph R. Daly | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.00 | $35,945 | |
1966 | Choker | 6 | Bobby Ussery | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.20 | $36,010 | |
1965 | Tenacle | 5 | Homer C. Pardue | Joseph R. Straus | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.40 | $35,750 | ||
1964 | Uppercut | 5 | Johnny Sellers | Willard C. Freeman | William L. Harmonay | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.00 | $17,875 | |
1963 | Greek Money | 4 | John L. Rotz | Virgil W. Raines | Brandywine Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.60 | $18,265 | |
1962 | Hitting Away | 4 | Bobby Ussery | James E. Fitzsimmons | Ogden Phipps | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.00 | $18,558 | |
1961 | Mail Order | 5 | Larry Adams | Alamode Farm | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.20 | $19,110 | ||
1960 | Talent Show | 5 | Ray Broussard | Clyde Troutt | Ada L. Rice | 1 m | 1:34.80 | $18,745 | |
1959 | Whitley | 4 | Sam Boulmetis Sr. | Max Hirsch | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.80 | $18,485 | ||
1958 | Kingmaker | 5 | Bobby Ussery | Frank I. Wright | Happy Hill Farm | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.60 | $18,615 | |
1957 | 5 | Eddie Arcaro | Mrs. Edward E. Robbins | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.60 | $19,750 | |||
1956 | Find | 6 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.20 | $19,800 | |
1955 | Fisherman | 4 | Hedley Woodhouse | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.00 | $20,450 | |
1954 | Find | 4 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.00 | $21,250 | |
1953 | First Glance | 6 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.00 | $20,500 | |
1952 | Spartan Valor | 4 | James Stout | Frank Catrone | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.60 | $18,950 | ||
1951 | Lotowhite | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | Thomas G. Benson | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.20 | $20,750 | ||
1950 | Arise | 4 | Douglas Dodson | James C. Bentley | Addison Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.80 | $17,200 | |
1949 | 4 | James P. Conway | Florence Whitaker | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.80 | $16,700 | |||
1948 | Knockdown | 5 | James W. Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.00 | $20,750 | ||
1947 | Coincidence | 5 | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.00 | $15,900 | |
1946 | Fighting Step | 4 | Johnny Adams | Murlogg Farm (Helen W. Kellogg) | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.00 | $12,750 | ||
1945 | Saguaro | 4 | Woody Stephens | Jule Fink | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.60 | $7,070 | ||
1944 | Alex Barth | 4 | Milbrook Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.40 | $7,375 | |||
1943 | Riverland | 5 | Steve Brooks | Moody Jolley | Louisiana Farm | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.40 | $9,300 | |
1942 | Waller | 4 | John C. Clark | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.80 | $8,775 | |||
1941 | Robert Morris | 3 | Nick Wall | J. Frederic Byers | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.60 | $8,275 | ||
1940 | The Chief | 5 | Earl Sande | Maxwell Howard | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.20 | $6,200 | ||
1939 | 4 | Raymond Workman | Anne C. Corning | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.20 | $6,950 | |||
1938 | Caballero II | 6 | Wayne D. Wright | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.40 | $6,650 | |
1937 | Thorson | 5 | Thomas H. McCreery | Buckley M. Byers | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.80 | $6,950 | ||
1936 | 5 | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.20 | $5,400 | |||||
1935 | 4 | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.60 | $5,430 | |||||
1934 | Watch Him | 5 | Willie Knapp | Fannie Hertz | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.00 | $2,450 | ||
1932 | Pompeius | 3 | William R. Coe | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.20 | $4,850 | |||
1931 | Mokatam | 4 | Willie Kelsay | Frank M. Taylor | Rancocas Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.00 | $5,700 | |
1930 | Minotaur | 4 | Charles Kurtsinger | John R. Thompson Jr. | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.80 | $5,950 | ||
1929 | Mowlee | 4 | Laverne Fator | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.20 | $7,200 | |
1928 | Brown Flash | 4 | Jack S. Middleton | Frederick Johnson | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.40 | $6,200 | ||
1927 | Amberjack | 4 | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.00 | $6,200 | ||
1926 | Turf Idol | 4 | James Butler | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.60 | $6,400 | |||
1925 | Sting | 4 | James Butler | 11⁄16 m | 1:42.60 | $5,850 | |||
1924 | Rialto | 4 | James G. Rowe Sr. | Greentree Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.00 | $5,850 | ||
1923 | Grey Lag | 5 | Laverne Fator | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.00 | $5,850 | |
1922 | Sennings Park | 6 | A. Jack Joyner | Westmont Stable (Lawrence Waterbury II/J. Leonard Replogie) | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.80 | $5,850 | ||
1921 | Blazes | 4 | Ted Rice | William M. Garth | 11⁄16 m | 1:47.20 | $8,550 | ||
1920 | Boniface | 5 | Earl Sande | H. Guy Bedwell | J. K. L. Ross | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.20 | $4,850 | |
1919 | 5 | Joseph E. Widener | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.40 | $3,850 | ||||
1918 | George Smith | 5 | Willie Kelsay | Hollie Hughes | John Sanford | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.40 | $3,850 | |
1917 | Roamer | 6 | Andy Schuttinger | Andrew Miller | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.40 | $2,825 | ||
1916 | Sand Marsh | 4 | James Butwell | Richard O. Miller | Fred E. Rose | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.00 | $2,425 | |
1915 | 4 | Joe McCahey | George W. Langdon | John W. Messervy | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.80 | $1,925 | ||
1913 | Meridian | 5 | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.60 | |||||
1906 | Merry Lark | 4 | Walter Miller | Newcastle Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:47.20 | $7,350 | ||
1905 | Santa Catalina † | 3 | Walter Miller | R. Wyndham Walden | Albermale Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.40 | $6,450 | |
1904 | Rostand | 4 | Herman Phillips | George Cornell | F. R. Docter | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.60 | $6,600 | |
1903 | Blackstock | 4 | Grover Fuller | William C. Whitney | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.60 | $6,730 |
- † In 1905 Preen finished first but was disqualified.
References[]
- ^ "the Excelsior Stakes history at the NYRA". Archived from the original on 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
- Graded stakes races in the United States
- Open mile category horse races
- Horse races in New York City
- Recurring sporting events established in 1903
- Aqueduct Racetrack
- Jamaica Race Course
- 1903 establishments in New York City
- Grade 3 stakes races in the United States