Azeri Stakes

Azeri Stakes

Grade II race
Location	Oaklawn Park Race Track Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States
Inaugurated	1987
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.oaklawn.com
Race information
Distance	1 ^1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs)
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Fillies & Mares, four-years-old & up
Weight	Assigned
Purse	$350,000

The Azeri Stakes is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Open to Fillies & Mares age four and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of 1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles (8.5 furlongs).

Inaugurated in 1987, through 2004 it was known as the Oaklawn Breeders' Cup Stakes. It was renamed in 2005 to honor Azeri, the American Horse of the Year of 2002, and the American Champion Older Female Horse three years running: 2002, 2003, and 2004.

This race was upgraded to a Grade II for its 2014 running.^[1]

Records

Speed record:

• 1:42.01 - Sister Act (1999)

Most wins:

• 2 - Halo America (1995, 1997)
• 2 - Heritage of Gold (2000, 2001)
• 2 - Tiz Miz Sue (2012, 2013)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 2 - Jerry Bailey (1988, 1989)
• 2 - Don Pettinger (1996, 2003)
• 2 - Calvin Borel (1997, 1999)
• 2 - Robby Albarado (2001, 2008)
• 3 - Joe Rocco, Jr. (2012, 2013, 2016)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 3 - D. Wayne Lukas (1987, 1991, 1992)
• 3 - Bobby C. Barnett (1994, 1995, 1997)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 - John A. Franks (1994, 1995, 1997)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2016	Call Pat	6	Joseph Rocco, Jr.	Brad H. Cox	Miller Racing	1:44.44
2015	Gold Medal Dancer	5	Luis S. Quinonez	Donnie K. Von Hemel	Pin Oak Stable	1:45.92
2014	Close Hatches	4	Joel Rosario	William I. Mott	Juddmonte Farms	1:44.34
2013	Tiz Miz Sue	6	Joe Rocco, Jr.	Steve Hobby	Cresran	1:45.26
2012	Tiz Miz Sue	5	Joe Rocco, Jr.	Steve Hobby	Cresran	1:43.58
2011	Havre de Grace	4	Ramon Dominguez	J. Larry Jones	Fox Hills Farm	1:42.02
2010	Freedom Star	4	Calvin Borel	Bob Baffert	George Krikorian	1:44.09
2009	Acoma	4	Julien Leparoux	David M. Carroll	Helen Alexander/Helen Groves	1:42.55
2008	Hystericalady	5	Robby Albarado	Jerry Hollendorfer	Rancho San Miguel et al.	1:43.86
2007	India	4	Chris DeCarlo	Todd Pletcher	Lyon Stables	1:44.37
2006	Round Pond	4	Stewart Elliott	John Servis	Fox Hill Farms	1:43.93
2005	Injustice	4	Luis Quinonez	Wayne A. Catalano	Turf Express/D & E Yates	1:43.40
2004	Golden Sonata	5	Carlos Marquez, Jr.	Morris Nicks	James C. Spence	1:44.32
2003	Bien Nicole	5	Don Pettinger	Donnie Von Hemel	John & Kristine Richter	1:44.19
2002	Ask Me No Secrets	4	Mike E. Smith	David Hofmans	Earl H. Shultz	1:44.56
2001	Heritage of Gold	6	Robby Albarado	Thomas M. Amoss	Jack Garey	1:44.20
2000	Heritage of Gold	5	Shane Sellers	Thomas M. Amoss	Jack Garey	1:44.15
1999	Sister Act	4	Calvin Borel	Jeffrey Jacobs	Choctaw Racing/E. Taylor	1:42.01
1998	Turn To The Queen	5	Timothy Doocy	Kenny Smith	K.K. & V. Jayaraman	1:44.76
1997	Halo America	7	Calvin Borel	Bobby C. Barnett	John A. Franks	1:42.18
1996	Belle of Cozzene	4	Don Pettinger	Steve Hobby	John & Barbara Smicklas	1:43.32
1995	Halo America	5	Weldon Cloninger	Bobby C. Barnett	John A. Franks	1:42.59
1994	Morning Meadow	4	Shane Romero	Bobby C. Barnett	John A. Franks	1:44.60
1993	Guiza	6	Corey Nakatani	Robert J. Frankel	Robert Witt	1:44.79
1992	Cuddles	4	David Guillory	D. Wayne Lukas	Overbrook Farm	1:43.82
1991	A Wild Ride	4	Pat Day	D. Wayne Lukas	Zenya Yoshida	1:42.31
1990	A Penny Is A Penny	5	Aaron Gryder	Steven Morguelan	David L. Levitch	1:43.60
1989	Savannah's Honor	4	Jerry Bailey	Richard J. Lundy	Allen E. Paulson	1:45.00
1988	Ms. Margi	4	Jerry Bailey	Philip M. Hauswald	Edward A. Cox, Jr.	1:42.20
1987	North Sider	5	Angel Cordero, Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	Lukas & Paul Paternostro	1:42.20

References

1. Eight Stakes Elevated in Status for 2014 | BloodHorse.com

External links

• 2008 Azeri Stakes at Thoroughbred Times
• Oaklawn Park's official site