Pilgrim Stakes

Pilgrim Stakes

Grade III race
Location	Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated	1979
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	Belmont Park
Race information
Distance	1 ^1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs)
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Two-year-olds
Weight	Assigned
Purse	$200,000

The Pilgrim Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1979 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. A Grade III event raced in late September, it is open to horses two-year-old horses and is contested at a distance of 1 ¹⁄₈ miles (9 furlongs) on turf. In 1983, it was run on dirt. From 2001-2007 the race was not graded.

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

The Pilgrim Stakes was hosted by Aqueduct Racetrack in 2001. It has been contested at two different distances:

• 1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles : 1991-1994, 1996
• 1 ¹⁄₈ miles : 1979-1990, 1995, 1997 to present

It was run in two divisions in 1979 and again in 1983.

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1 ¹⁄₈ miles)

• 1:41.36 - Imperia (2014)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Live Oak Racing (1981, 2001)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 - John Velazquez (1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2007)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 3 - David G. Donk (1992, 1998, 2004)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2015	Isotherm (AUS)	Jose Lezcano	George Weaver	Matthew Schera	1:41.98
2014	Imperia	Javier Castellano	Kiaran McLaughlin	Godolphin Racing	1:41.36
2013	Bobby's Kitten	Javier Castellano	Chad C. Brown	Ken & Sarah Ramsey	1:42.37
2012	Noble Tune	Ramon Dominguez	Chad Brown	Martin S. Schwartz and Dell Ridge Farm	1:47.81
2011	Shkspeare Shaliyah	Alex Solis	Doodnauth Shivmangal	Shivmangal Racing Stable	1:51.59
2010	Air Support	Rajiv Maragh	Shug McGaughey	Stuart Janney III	1:47.87
2009‡	Eskendereya	Javier Castellano	Todd Pletcher	Zayata Stables	1:37.85
2008	Elusive Bluff	Michael Baze	Eric Guillot	Southern Equine Stable	1:47.91
2007	The Leopard	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	Smith/Magnier/Tabor	1:41.61
2006	Pickapocket	Eibar Coa	Frank A. Alexander	Martin Cherry	1:52.62
2005	Fagan's Legacy	Joe Bravo	Kelly Breen	George & Lori Hall	1:52.11
2004	Crown Point	Jose Espinoza	David G. Donk	Drumlanrig Farm	1:50.31
2003	Timo	John Velazquez	William Badgett, Jr.	C. K. Woods Stable	1:57.46
2002	One Colony	Aaron Gryder	Mark Hennig	Edward P. Evans	1:51.00
2001	Miesque's Approval	Jerry Bailey	William I. Mott	Live Oak Racing	1:50.80
2000	Volponi	John Velazquez	Philip G. Johnson	Amherst & Spruce Pond	1:48.00
1999	Kachemak Bay	John Velazquez	John P. Campo, Jr.	Evelyn M. Pollard	1:54.60
1998	Incurable Optimist	John Velazquez	David G. Donk	T. & J. Behrendt	1:48.00
1997‡	Cryptic Rascal	Mike E. Smith	William Badgett, Jr.	C. Landon Knight	1:50.80
1996‡	Accelerator	Mike E. Smith	C. R. McGaughey III	Ogden Mills Phipps	1:41.80
1995‡	Play It Again Stan	Herb McCauley	Frank Generazio, Jr.	Sybil Lauren	1:50.20
1994	Diplomatic Jet	Jerry Bailey	Philip M. Serpe	Fred W. Hooper	1:46.60
1993	Dove Hunt	Jerry Bailey	Neil J. Howard	William S. Farish III	1:44.60
1992	Awad	Julie Krone	David G. Donk	Ryehill Stable	1:42.60
1991	Smiling And Dancin	Richard Migliore	Stephen L. DiMauro	Robert J. Sullivan	1:41.20
1990	Fourstars Allstar	Mike E. Smith	Leo O'Brien	Richard Bromze	1:51.60
1989	Super Mario	Richard Migliore	D. Wayne Lukas	H. Joseph Allen	1:56.00
1988	Tuneful Tip	Carl Gambardella	Ronald Dandy	Frank Generazio	1:59.00
1987	Blew by Em	Chris Antley	Michael Daggett	Joseph B. Singer	1:53.60
1986	David's Bird	Jean Luc Samyn	Philip G. Johnson	Sugar Maple Farm	1:53.00
1985	Pillaster	Angel Cordero, Jr.	LeRoy Jolley, Jr.	Peter M. Brant	1:54.40
1984	Tent Up	Vince Bracciale, Jr.	Howard M. Tesher	Geoffrey A. Huguely	1:53.20
1983	Pied a Tierre	Larry Saumell	Ronald L. Benshoff	Blanche P. Levy	1:51.40
1983	Vision	Eddie Maple	Woody Stephens	Claiborne Farm	1:50.20
1982	Fortnightly	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Edward I. Kelly, Jr.	Bwamazon Farm	1:57.60
1981	Gnome's Gold	Jean Luc Samyn	Patrick J. Kelly	Live Oak Racing	1:57.20
1980	Akureyri	Eddie Maple	Woody Stephens	Hickory Tree Stable	1:54.80
1979	Freeo	Sam Maple	Joseph B. Cantey	Loblolly Stable	1:53.00
1979	ITake All	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Edward I. Kelly	Brookfield Farm	1:52.40

• ‡ In 2009, the race was run off the turf and lost its graded status as a result.
• ‡ In 1997, the race was run at Aqueduct.
• ‡ In 1996, the race was run off the turf, but retained its GIII status.
• ‡ In 1995, the race was run at Aqueduct.

External links

• Belmont Park race history and details at the NYRA
• The 2008 Pilgrim Stakes at Thoroughbred Times