Acorn Stakes

Last updated
Acorn Stakes
ClassGrade I
Location Belmont Park
Elmont, New York
Inaugurated1931
Race type ThoroughbredFlat racing
Race information
Distance1+116 miles (8.5 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-old fillies
WeightAssigned
Purse$500,000 (2023)

The Acorn Stakes is an American Grade I race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies. It is raced on dirt over a distance of one mile and a sixteenth with a current purse of $500,000. It is the first leg of the US Triple Tiara and is followed by the Coaching Club American Oaks then the Alabama Stakes. The filly must win all three races to win the Triple Tiara, as well as the third leg of the "National" Triple Tiara (Kentucky Oaks and George E. Mitchell Stakes are the others). [1]

Contents

The Acorn Stakes was run at Aqueduct Racetrack from 1960 to 1967 and 1969 to 1975. There were two divisions in 1951, 1970 and 1974. There was a dead heat for first place in 1954 and again in 1956. The race was run at one mile from its inception until 2022. In 2023, the New York Racing Association lengthened the race to 1+116 miles. [1] The 2024 Acorn was held at Saratoga Race Course at 1+18 miles due to construction at Belmont Park. [2]

Historic notes

The inaugural running of the Acorn Stakes took place on May 16, 1931 and was won by Baba Kenney. The filly was owned by Edward R. Bradley and trained by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Herbert J. Thompson. [3]

Gallorette won the 1945 running of the Acorn and went on to earn American Champion Older Female Horse honors in 1946 and a career that would see her induction into the U. S. Racing Hall of Fame in 1962. [4]

Ruffian, the ill-fated future Hall of Fame inductee, got her eighth straight career win in the 1975 edition of the Acorn. She did it in a new stakes record time, continuing her streak of either beating or equaling the record in every one of her major race victories, those being the Fashion, Astoria, Sorority and the Spinaway Stakes. [5]

Riding her father's filly Mom's Command, in 1985 Abigail Fuller became the first female jockey to win the Acorn Stakes. [6] It would be another 28 years before a female rider accomplished the feat when Rosie Napravnik won the 2013 edition aboard Midnight Lucky . [7]

Records

Speed record (at previous one mile distance):

Most wins by an owner:

*Two horses owned by Calumet Farm finished in a dead heat for first in 1956

Most wins by a jockey:

Winners

Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time
Win$
Gr.
2025La CaraDylan Davis Mark E. Casse Tracy Farmer1+18 m1:49.20$275,000G1
2024 Thorpedo Anna Brian Hernandez Jr. Kenneth G. McPeek Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks & Magdalena Racing1+18 m1:49.02$275,000G1
2023 Pretty Mischievous Tyler Gaffalione Brendan Walsh Godolphin 1+116 m1:43.33$275,000G1
2022Matareya Flavien Prat Brad H. Cox Godolphin 1 m1:35.77$275,000G1
2021Search Results Javier Castellano Chad Brown Klaravich Stables1 m1:35.50$275,000G1
2020 Gamine John Velazquez Bob Baffert Michael Lund Petersen1 m1:32.55$165,000G1
2019Guarana José Ortiz Chad C. Brown Three Chimneys Farm 1 m1:33.58$375,000G1
2018 Monomoy Girl Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Stuart Grant, Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, LLC1 m1:34.10$375,000G1
2017 Abel Tasman Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert China Horse Club International Ltd./Clearsky Farms1 m1:35.37$375,000G1
2016 Carina Mia Julien Leparoux William Mott Three Chimneys Farm 1 m1:34.97$375,000G1
2015 Curalina John Velazquez Todd Pletcher Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (Aron Wellman et al.)1 m1:35.13$375,000G1
2014Sweet Reason Irad Ortiz Jr Leah Gyarmati Treadway Racing Stable1 m1:34.98$400,000G1
2013Midnight Lucky Rosie Napravnik Bob Baffert Mike Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman1 m1:35.11$180,000G1
2012Contested Javier Castellano Bob Baffert Natalie J. Baffert1 m1:34.61$180,000G1
2011 It's Tricky Eddie Castro Kiaran McLaughlin Darley Stable 1 m1:35.48$180,000G1
2010Champagne d'Oro Martin Garcia Eric Guillot Southern Equine Stables (Eric Guillot & Mike Moreno)1 m1:37.44$180,000G1
2009Gabby's Golden Gal Javier Castellano Bob Baffert Arnold Zetcher1 m1:34.79$180,000G1
2008Zaftig John Velazquez James A. Jerkens Susan Moore et al.1 m1:34.50$150,000G1
2007Cotton Blossom John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Dogwood Stable 1 m1:34.70$150,000G1
2006Bushfire Alex Solis Eddie KenneallyRon & Ricki Rashinski1 m1:35.89$150,000G1
2005 Round Pond Stewart Elliott John Servis Fox Hill Farms, Inc. (Rick Porter)1 m1:35.20$150,000G1
2004Island Sand Terry J. Thompson J. Larry Jones James Osbrone1 m1:34.80$150,000G1
2003Bird Town Edgar Prado Nick Zito Marylou Whitney Stable 1 m1:35.20$150,000G1
2002You Jerry Bailey Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann 1 m1:34.00$150,000G1
2001Forest Secrets Chris McCarron John Ward Jr.Debby M. Oxley1 m1:34.80$150,000G1
2000Finder's Fee John Velazquez C. R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps 1 m1:37.20$120,000G1
1999Three Ring Jerry Bailey Edward Plesa Jr. Barry K. Schwartz 1 m1:36.00$150,000G1
1998Jersey Girl Mike E. Smith Todd A. Pletcher Ackerley Bros. Farm1 m1:36.20$90,000G1
1997 Sharp Cat Gary Stevens D. Wayne Lukas The Thoroughbred Corp. 1 m1:34.40$90,000G1
1996Star de Lady Ann Mike E. Smith William W. PerryJohn D. Murphy1 m1:34.60$90,000G1
1995Cat's Cradle Chris Antley David Hofmans Georgia B. Ridder 1 m1:37.40$90,000G1
1994 Inside Information Mike E. Smith C. R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps 1 m1:34.26$90,000G1
1993 Sky Beauty Mike E. Smith H. Allen Jerkens Georgia E. Hofmann1 m1:35.40$90,000G1
1992Prospectors Delite Pat Day Neil J. Howard James Elkins, W. S. Farish III & W. Temple Webber1 m1:35.00$113,400G1
1991 Meadow Star Jerry Bailey LeRoy Jolley Carl Icahn 1 m1:37.40$103,680G1
1990Stella Madrid Ángel Cordero Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Peter M. Brant 1 m1:36.00$104,580G1
1989 Open Mind Ángel Cordero Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein 1 m1:35.40$111,960G1
1988Aptostar Robbie Davis H. Allen Jerkens Centennial Farms (Donald Little)1 m1:34.80$109,980G1
1987Grecian Flight Craig Perret Joseph H. Pierce Jr. Henry C. Lindh1 m1:35.20$113,580G1
1986Lotka Jerry Bailey Woody Stephens Henryk de Kwiatkowski 1 m1:35.20$109,080G1
1985 Mom's Command Abigail Fuller Edward T. Allard Peter D. Fuller 1 m1:35.80$113,040G1
1984 Miss Oceana Eddie Maple Woody Stephens Newstead Farm 1 m1:35.80$108,720G1
1983Ski Goggle Chris McCarron A. Thomas Doyle Zenya Yoshida 1 m1:35.00$69,360G1
1982Cupecoy's Joy Angel Santiago Alfredo Callejas Ri-Ma-Ro Stables (Robert DeFilippis) & Robert Perez1 m1:34.20$51,750G1
1981 Heavenly Cause Laffit Pincay Jr. Woody Stephens Ryehill Farm (Jim & Eleanor Ryan)1 m1:35.20$50,850G1
1980 Bold 'n Determined Ed Delahoussaye Neil Drysdale Saron Stable 1 m1:36.80$50,400G1
1979 Davona Dale Jorge Velásquez John M. Veitch Calumet Farm 1 m1:36.00$50,130G1
1978Tempest Queen Jorge Velásquez Lou Rondinello Darby Dan Farm 1 m1:35.40$31,920G1
1977Bring Out The Band Don Brumfield James W. Murphy Hickory Tree Stable 1 m1:36.80$33,690G1
1976 Dearly Precious Jorge Velásquez Stephen A. DiMauro Richard E. Bailey1 m1:35.80$33,390G1
1975 Ruffian Jacinto Vásquez Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. Locust Hill Farm 1 m1:34.40$33,660G1
1974-1 Chris Evert Jorge Velásquez Joseph A. Trovato Carl Rosen1 m1:36.00$33,960G1
1974-2Special Team Miguel A. Rivera James E. Picou Fred W. Hooper 1 m1:35.40$33,960G1
1973Windy's Daughter Braulio Baeza Laz Barrera Bernice Blackman1 m1:35.40$36,540G1
1972 Susan's Girl Victor Tejada John W. Russell Fred W. Hooper 1 m1:34.60$33,720
1971 Deceit John L. Rotz Del W. Carroll Windfields Farm 1 m1:36.60$38,970
1970-1Royal Signal Garth Patterson Stephen A. DiMauro Mary Louise Knapp Jr.1 m1:36.20$36,967
1970-2Cathy Honey Laffit Pincay Jr. Evan S. Jackson Hastings Harcourt1 m1:36.00$36,967
1969 Shuvee Jesse Davidson Willard C. Freeman Anne Minor Stone 1 m1:35.60$38,707
1968 Dark Mirage Manuel Ycaza Everett W. King Lloyd I. Miller1 m1:34.80$39,065
1967Furl Sail Jacinto Vásquez John L. Winans Emma Louise Thomas1 m1:35.60$44,330
1966Marking Time Bill Shoemaker Edward A. Neloy Ogden Phipps 1 m1:36.00$38,642
1965Ground Control Donald Pierce Edward A. Neloy Jules D. Michaels1 m1:37.20$38,220
1964 Castle Forbes John L. Rotz Edward A. Neloy Wheatley Stable 1 m1:37.00$39,098
1963Spicy Living Jimmy Combest Jimmy Rowe Eleonora Sears 1 m1:37.20$39,098
1962 Cicada Bill Shoemaker Casey Hayes Meadow Stable 1 m1:35.60$37,992
1961 Bowl of Flowers Eddie Arcaro J. Elliott Burch Brookmeade Stable 1 m1:37.40$37,537
1960Irish Jay Hedley Woodhouse James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 1 m1:35.80$38,292
1959 Quill Bobby Ussery Lucien Laurin Reginald N. Webster 1 m1:37.40$38,075
1958Big Effort Pete D. Anderson J. Elliott Burch Brookmeade Stable 1 m1:37.40$22,952
1957 Bayou Bobby Ussery Moody Jolley Claiborne Farm 1 m1:37.00$26,000
1956Beyond (DH) Conn McCreary Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm 1 m1:37.80$12,650
1956Princess Turia (DH) Henry Moreno Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm 1 m1:37.80$12,650
1955 High Voltage Eddie Arcaro James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 1 m1:38.80$22,900
1954Happy Mood (DH) Pete Moreno Monte S. Parke Fannie Hertz 1 m1:38.80$10,925
1954Riverina (DH) William Boland Max Hirsch King Ranch 1 m1:38.80$10,925
1953Secret Meeting James Nichols Robert L. Dotter James Cox Brady Jr.1 m1:39.40$18,450
1952Parading Lady James Hardinbrook John B. Theall Joe W. Brown 1 m1:38.80$18,650
1951-1 Kiss Me Kate Warren Mehrtens Oscar White Walter M. Jeffords 1 m1:36.40$16,750
1951-2NothirdchanceBennie Green Hirsch Jacobs Isidor Bieber 1 m1:38.80$16,550
1950Siama Ted Atkinson Moody Jolley Cain Hoy Stable 1 m1:37.20$12,600
1949Nell K Douglas Dodson John B. Partridge Spring Hill Farm 1 m1:38.00$13,725
1948Watermill Eddie Arcaro Bert Mulholland George D. Widener Jr. 1 m1:37.00$12,525
1947 But Why Not Warren Mehrtens Max Hirsch King Ranch 1 m1:38.00$14,300
1946Earshot Eddie Arcaro Willie Booth William G. Helis Sr. 1 m1:37.20$9,840
1945 Gallorette Eddie Arcaro Edward A. Christmas William L. Brann 1 m1:37.20$9,480
1944 Twilight Tear Conn McCreary Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1 m1:37.00$10,815
1943Nellie L Wendell Eads Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1 m1:38.60$10,650
1942Zaca RosaCharles Wahler Frank J. Baker William W. Crenshaw1 m1:38.20$11,300
1941Proud One Wendell Eads Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1 m1:37.60$7,275
1940Damaged Goods John Gilbert John M. MilburnStarmount Stable (Edward Benjamin)1 m1:37.00$12,025
1939Hostility Leon Haas James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 1 m1:39.80$12,100
1938 Handcuff Charley Kurtsinger Hugh L. Fontaine Brookmeade Stable 1 m1:39.80$10,325
1937 Dawn Play Lester Balaski Max Hirsch King Ranch 1 m1:38.80$10,100
1936Blue Sheen James Stout James E. Fitzsimmons Whitney A. Stone 1 m1:38.80$10,600
1935Good Gamble Sam Renick Bud Stotler Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1 m1:39.00$7,325
1934Fleam James Stout James E. Fitzsimmons Belair Stud 1 m1:38.00$8,575
1933Iseult Hank Mills James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 1 m1:40.60$10,650
1932 Top Flight Raymond Workman Thomas J. Healey C. V. Whitney 1 m1:39.00$12,850
1931Baba KenneyWillie Cannon Herbert J. Thompson Edward R. Bradley 1 m1:41.00$3,375

References

  1. 1 2 "Acorn Stakes". NYRA. 2020-06-20. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  2. Grening, David (1 June 2024). "Thorpedo Anna - Just F Y I rematch likely in Acorn Stakes". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  3. "Baba Kenney Takes Acorn". New York Times. 1931-05-17. Section Sports, page 141. Archived from the original on 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2020-08-12.
  4. "Gallorette Accounts for Belmont's Acorn Stakes". Daily Racing Form. 1945-06-08. Retrieved 2020-08-13 via University of Kentucky Archives.
  5. "Ruffian Wins Acorn for 8th Straight". New York Times. 1975-05-11. Section Sports, page 1. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  6. "Peter Fuller's Mom's Command led all the way". Associated Press News . 1985-05-25. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  7. "Midnight Lucky Dominates Acorn Stakes". The Saratogian. 2013-05-28. Retrieved 2020-08-13.