Poker Stakes

Poker Stakes

Grade III race
Location	Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated	1985
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	The Poker Stakes at Belmont Park
Race information
Distance	1 mile (8 furlongs)
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Four-year-olds & up
Weight	Assigned
Purse	$300,000 (2014)

The Poker Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. A Grade III event open to horses age four and older, it is raced on turf at a distance of one mile (8 furlongs).

The inaugural running of the 1985 Poker Handicap was contested at a distance of a mile and a sixteenth and at a mile and a quarter the following year.

Records

Speed record:

• 1:31. 63 - Elusive Quality (1998)
  (New stakes and course record for one mile and believed to be a world record at the time.)

Most wins:

• 2 - Fourstardave (1989, 1993)
• 2 - Affirmed Success (2000, 2001)
• 2 - King Kreesa (2013, 2015)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Harbor View Farm (1985, 1995)
• 2 - Richard M. Bomze (1989, 1993)
• 2 - Albert Fried, Jr. (2000, 2001)
• 2 - Juddmonte Farms (2003, 2007)
• 2 - IEAH Stables (2006, 2008)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 3 - Jose Santos (1987, 1988, 1989)
• 3 - Jerry Bailey (1991, 1998, 2001)
• 3 - Jorge Chavez (1994, 1999, 2000)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 2 - Angel Penna, Jr. (1997, 2005)
• 2 - Richard Schosberg (2000, 2001)
• 2 - Robert J. Frankel (2003, 2007)
• 2 - Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. (2006, 2008)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2015	King Kreesa	6	Jose L. Ortiz	David G. Donk	Susan & Gerald Kresa	1:33.48
2014	Jack Milton	4	Javier Castellano	Todd Pletcher	Gary Barber	1:33.09
2013	King Kreesa	4	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	Jeremiah C. Englehart	G & S Kresa	1:33.65
2012	Clear Attempt	4	Jose Lezcano	Bill Mott	Pam & Martin Wygod	1:34.01
2011	Courageous Cat	5	Jose Lezcano	Bill Mott	Pam and Martin Wygod	1:36.69
2010	Not Run
2009	Sailor's Cap	4	Alan Garcia	James J. Toner	Team Valor	1:36.50
2008	Kip Deville	5	Cornelio Velasquez	Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.	IEAH Stables	1:32.94
2007	Art Master	6	Garrett Gomez	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms	1:33.21
2006	Rebel Rebel	4	Edgar Prado	Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.	IEAH Stables/Resolute Group Stables	1:33.34
2005	Mr. Light	6	Cornelio Velasquez	Angel Penna, Jr.	Earle I. Mack	1:32.18
2004	Christine's Outlaw	4	Shaun Bridgmohan	George Weaver	R.C. Hill Stable	1:32.46
2003	War Zone	4	Javier Castellano	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms	1:32.81
2002	Volponi	4	Shaun Bridgmohan	Philip G. Johnson	Amherst Stable/Spruce Pond Stable	1:32.24
2001	Affirmed Success	7	Jerry Bailey	Richard Schosberg	Albert Fried, Jr.	1:34.60
2000	Affirmed Success	6	Jorge Chavez	Richard Schosberg	Albert Fried, Jr.	1:34.06
1999	Rob 'n Gin	5	Jorge Chavez	Robert Barbara	Sabine Stable	1:32.81
1998	Elusive Quality	5	Jerry Bailey	William I. Mott	Mohammed al Maktoum	1:31.63
1997	Draw Shot	4	Chris Antley	Angel Penna, Jr.	Francis Santangelo	1:33.08
1996	Smooth Runner	5	Julie Krone	Richard C. Mettee	Herbert Allen	1:33.60
1995	Caress	4	Robbie Davis	H. Allen Jerkens	Harbor View Farm	1:34.35
1994	Dominant Prospect	4	Jorge Chavez	Gary Sciacca	Charles A. Coronia	1:32.69
1993	Fourstardave	8	Richard Migliore	Leo O'Brien	Richard M. Bomze	1:33.02
1992	Scott the Great	6	Jean-Luc Samyn	William Hebert	August F. Russo	1:33.27
1991	Who's To Pay	5	Jerry Bailey	MacKenzie Miller	Rokeby Stable	1:33.40
1990	Scottish Monk	7	Angel Cordero Jr.	Steven T. Jerkens	Cedar Valle Stable	1:33.40
1989	Fourstardave	4	Jose Santos	Leo O'Brien	Richard M. Bomze	1:33.20
1988	Wanderkin	5	Jose Santos	Richard O'Connell	Poma Stable	1:35.60
1987	Double Feint	4	Jose Santos	Leroy Jolley, Jr.	Peter M. Brant	1:35.20
1986	Island Sun	4	Richard Migliore	Patrick J. Kelly	Live Oak Plantation Racing	2:02.40
1985	Mr. Chromacopy	4	Jean Cruguet	Pancho Martin	Harbor View Farm	1:42.40

References

• The 2009 Poker Stakes at the NTRA