Cougar II Handicap

Last updated
Cougar II Handicap
Grade III race
Location Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar, California, United States
Inaugurated1937
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website www.dmtc.com
Race information
Distance1 12 miles (12 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old & up
WeightAssigned
Purse $100,000

The Cougar II Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late July/early August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. A Grade III event open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of a mile and a half (12 furlongs). The winner automatically qualified for a berth in the Breeders' Cup Marathon before that race was discontinued.

Inaugurated in 1937 as the Escondido Handicap, it was renamed in honor of National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee Cougar II.

The race was run as an overnight stakes from 1997 to 2007. Over the years, it has been contested at various distances and occasionally in two divisions.

Three horses have won this race more than once: Dowty (1997, 1998), Big John A (1968, 1969), and Richard's Kid (2012, 2013).

Past winners

From 2008 until the present time, this race has been run at 12 furlongs. From 1989 to 2007, it was run at 11 furlongs.

Called the Escondido Handicap from inception in 1937 to 2006.

Related Research Articles

The Man o' War Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Now raced in mid-May, it is a Grade I event offering a purse of $700,000 and is open to horses four-years-old and up. At one and three-eighths miles on the grass, the race sometimes attracts top European horses such as Fantastic Light and Daylami. The top finishers in the Man o' War Stakes often go on to run in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

The Manhattan Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race raced annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is named for Manhattan, the principal borough of the City of New York. Currently offering a purse of $1,000,000, the Grade I Manhattan Handicap is open to 4-year-olds & up, and is run on turf over the classic distance of ​1 14 miles.

The Long Island Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack, in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. The race is for fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race the one and one-half miles on the turf.

The Red Smith Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A race on turf open to horses age three and older, it is run in the first week of November over a distance of ​1 38 miles.

The Yellow Ribbon Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The Grade II race is run on turf at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles and is open to fillies and mares, age three and up.

The Honeymoon Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf course scheduled annually in late May or early June at Santa Anita Park. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

The San Gabriel Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California at the close of each year. The Grade II race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the turf and offers a current purse of $201,000.

The San Juan Capistrano Stakes is a Grade III American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of about ​1 34 miles run on the turf track held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California in June. The event currently offers a purse of $100,000. It is one of the longest Graded grass race in America.

The San Luis Obispo Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The race is open to horses age four and up, willing to race one and one-half miles on the turf. A Grade II event, it offers a purse of $150,000.

The Santa Barbara Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade III event open to fillies and mares, age four and older, it is contested of turf over a distance of one and a half miles.

The Rancho Bernardo Handicap is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older run over a distance of six and one half furlongs on the dirt held annually in August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

The Silky Sullivan Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run each year at Golden Gate Fields in the San Francisco Bay Area. Named for the "Heart Attack Horse," the great closer Silky Sullivan, the race was a mile and an eighth, or 9 furlong Grade III turf race——run on grass——with a purse of $100,000 which it has retained. It is open to males or females three years of age, and runs at a distance of a mile and a sixteenth.

The Stars and Stripes Stakes was a Grade III horse race in the United States for Thoroughbreds aged three years and up. It was last raced over a distance of 12 furlongs on the turf at Arlington Park near Chicago as a lead up race to the Arlington Million and Breeders' Cup Turf.

The Modesty Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Arlington Park Racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois near Chicago.

The John B. Campbell Handicap is an American thoroughbred horse race run annually at Laurel Park Racecourse, in Laurel, Maryland, United States. Run in mid-February, it is open to horses age three and older and is contested on dirt over a distance of ​1 18 miles. The purse is $100,000.

The Wilshire Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older run over a distance of one mile on turf track scheduled annually in May at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Bromford Bridge Racecourse

Bromford Bridge Racecourse was a racecourse in the Bromford area of Birmingham, England.

The Laurel Dash Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run, held annually at Maryland's Laurel Park Racecourse. Open to horses age three and older and run at 6 furlongs. The race was formerly called the Laurel Turf Cup and it was contested on turf over a distance of one and one eighth miles to a mile and a half.

Malibu Pier is an American Thoroughbred filly. Owned by Spendthrift Farm LLC and trained by Carla Gaines, she won the Santa Ana Stakes, the Santa Barbara Handicap and the Beverly Hills Handicap.

The Osunitas Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week of July at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Open to fillies and mares age three and older, it is raced on turf over a distance of a mile and one sixteenth.

References