Excelsior Stakes

Last updated
Excelsior Stakes
ClassListed
Location Aqueduct Racetrack
Queens, New York, United States
Inaugurated1903
Race type ThoroughbredFlat racing
Race information
Distance1+18 miles
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old & up
WeightAssigned
PurseUS$150,000 (2018)

The Excelsior Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. A Listed event for three-year-olds and up, it is contested over a distance of one-and-one-eighth miles 9 furlong. [1]

Contents

"Excelsior" is Latin for "Upward, ever upward", and is the motto of the state of New York.

In 1928, when Hall of Famer Grey Lag was ten years old, he came in third. He'd won this race as a five-year-old in 1923.

The race was run at the old Jamaica Race Course from 1903 to 1910, and then again from 1915 to 1959. In 1913, it was run at Belmont Park. It wasn't run at all in 1909, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1933, 1967, and 2020.

Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances and as initially a handicap as the race was known as the Excelsior Handicap:

The event was downgraded from Grade III to Listed in 2022.

Records

Speed record: (at distance of 1+18 miles)

Most wins:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time
Win$
Gr.
2023Law Professor5 Manuel Franco Rob AtrasTwin Creeks Racing Stables118 m1:50.34$82,500Listed
2022Forewarned7Dexter HaddockUriah St. LewisUriah St. Lewis118 m1:50.76$82,500Listed
2021Modernist4 Junior Alvarado William I. Mott Pam Wygod and Martin Wygod118 m1:54.38$82,500G3
2019Life's a Parlay4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable118 m1:51.54$82,500G3
2018Discreet Lover5 Manuel Franco Uriah St. LewisUriah St. Lewis118 m1:50.45$90,000G3
2017Send it in5 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Paul P. Pompa Jr.114 m2:02.07$90,000G3
2016 Kid Cruz 5 José Ortiz Linda L. Rice Viña del Mar TBs & Black Swan Stable114 m2:04.52$120,000G3
2015Effinex4 Angel S. Arroyo James A. Jerkens Tri-Bone Stables (Bernice Cohen)114 m2:02.16$120,000G3
2014Romansh4 José Ortiz Thomas Albertrani Godolphin Racing 118 m1:49.07$90,000G3
2013Last Gunfighter4 Rajiv Maragh Chad Brown John D. Gunther118 m1:50.78$90,000G3
2012Marilyn's Guy6 Chuck C. Lopez Tony Dutrow Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, Gary Aisquith118 m1:52.54$90,000G3
2011Inherit the Gold5 Eddie Castro James HooperGlas-Tipp Stable (Mary Murray) & Susanne Hooper118 m1:50.34$60,000G3
2010Goldsville5 Ramon A. Dominguez Michael E. Hushion Marc C. Ferrell118 m1:51.43$120,000G3
2009Giant Moon4 Edgar Prado Richard E. Schosberg Albert Fried Jr.118 m1:50.90$120,000G3
2008Temporary Saint5 Chuck C. Lopez Bruce N. Levine Maggi Moss 118 m1:51.13$66,720G3
2007Magna Graduate5 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Elisabeth Alexander 118 m1:48.10$125,460G3
2006West Virginia5 Norberto Arroyo Jr. Todd A. Pletcher Donald & Roberta Zuckerman118 m1:48.28$67,140G3
2005 Offlee Wild 5 Rafael Bejarano Richard E. Dutrow Jr. AZ Azalea Stables LLC118 m1:50.41$120,000G3
2004 Funny Cide 4 José A. Santos Barclay Tagg Sackatoga Stable 118 m1:49.57$120,000G3
2003Classic Endeavor5 Chuck C. Lopez Scott Schwartz Herbert T. Schwartz & Scott Schwartz118 m1:48.10$90,000G3
2002John Little4 Norberto Arroyo Jr. Deborah Bodner Deborah Bodner118 m1:49.25$120,000G3
2001Cat's At Home4 Filberto Leon Mark A. Hennig Edward P. Evans 118 m1:48.92$120,000G3
2000Lager6 Heberto Castillo Jr. James A. Jerkens Susan & John Moore118 m1:49.76$120,000G3
1999Smart Coupons6 René Douglas Deborah Bodner Louis J. Porreco118 m1:49.71$120,000G3
1998 Sir Bear 5 Enrique Jurado Ralph Ziade Barbara Smollin118 m1:49.24$120,000G3
1997Ormsby5 Chuck C. Lopez Sue Alpers Woodside Stud118 m1:47.69$120,000G2
1996May I Inquire5 Joe Bravo Gasper Moschera Barbara J. Davis118 m1:50.67$120,000G2
1995Iron Gavel5 José Martínez Jr. Gasper Moschera Joques Farm118 m1:49.28$90,000G2
1994 Colonial Affair 4 José A. Santos Flint S. Schulhofer Centennial Farm (Donald Little)118 m1:49.82$90,000G2
1993 Devil His Due 4 Mike E. Smith H. Allen Jerkens Lion Crest Stable (Edith Libutti)114 m2:03.05$72,120G2
1992Defensive Play5 David Flores Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farm 118 m2:01.95$102,780G2
1991Chief Honcho4 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Bertram R. Firestone 118 m2:02.60$102,060G2
1990Lay Down6 Chris Antley C. R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps 118 m2:02.20$100,980G2
1989Forever Silver5 Julie Krone Stanley R. Shapoff Chevalier Stable118 m2:02.60$99,720G2
1988Lac Ouimet5 Jerry Bailey Richard J. Lundy Virginia Kraft Payson 118 m2:00.20$140,880G2
1987Lac Ouimet4 Eddie Maple Richard J. Lundy Virginia Kraft Payson 118 m2:02.00$106,380G2
1986Garthorn6 Rafael Meza Robert J. Frankel Jerome S. Moss 118 m2:02.40$101,340G2
1985Morning Bob4 Jacinto Vásquez Nick Zito Mike Rich Stable118 m2:04.20$87,750G2
1984Canadian Factor4 Jorge Velásquez Melvin W. Gross Frank Stronach 118 m2:03.00$88,650G2
1983Fast Gold4 Jean-Luc Samyn Sally A. Bailie Aisco Stable 118 m2:04.00$67,200G2
1982Globe5 Michael Venezia Victor J. Nickerson Nelson Bunker Hunt 118 m2:03.40$66,480G2
1981Irish Tower4 Jeffrey Fell Stanley M. Hough Malcolm H. Winfield118 m2:00.80$66,680G2
1980Ring of Light5 Cash Asmussen Pancho Martin Viola Sommer 118 m2:01.40$67,560G2
1979Special Tiger4 George Martens William F. Schmitt Albert Fried Jr.114 m2:03.80$63,600G2
1978 Cox's Ridge 4 Eddie Maple Joseph B. Cantey Loblolly Stable 118 m1:50.60$49,005G2
1977Turn And Count4 Steve Cauthen Pancho Martin Sigmund Sommer 118 m1:51.00$48,150G2
1976Double Edge Sword6 Ángel Cordero Jr. Richard Dutrow Sr. Aisquith Stable118 m1:48.00$51,120G2
1975Step Nicely5 Ángel Cordero Jr. H. Allen Jerkens Hobeau Farm 118 m1:48.40$33,990G2
1974Everton II5 Marco Castaneda Laz Barrera Enrique Ubarri118 m1:49.00$33,840G2
1973 Key To The Mint 4 Ron Turcotte J. Elliott Burch Rokeby Stable 118 m1:47.80$32,640G2
1972Autobiography4 Ángel Cordero Jr. Pancho Martin Sigmund Sommer 118 m1:49.00$34,860
1971Loud4 Jacinto Vásquez James W. Maloney William Haggin Perry 118 m1:50.80$34,200
1970Hydrologist4 Chuck Baltazar Roger Laurin Meadow Stable 118 m1:48.80$37,570
1969San Roque4 Heliodoro Gustines Sherrill W. Ward Lazy F Ranch 118 m1:49.60$37,310
1968Peter Piper5 Jorge Velásquez Paul HealyJoseph R. Daly118 m1:48.00$35,945
1966Choker6 Bobby Ussery H. Allen Jerkens Hobeau Farm 118 m1:49.20$36,010
1965Tenacle5 William Mayorga Homer C. Pardue Joseph R. Straus118 m1:49.40$35,750
1964Uppercut5 Johnny Sellers Willard C. Freeman William L. Harmonay118 m1:50.00$17,875
1963 Greek Money 4 John L. Rotz Virgil W. Raines Brandywine Stable 118 m1:48.60$18,265
1962Hitting Away4 Bobby Ussery James E. Fitzsimmons Ogden Phipps 118 m1:50.00$18,558
1961Mail Order5 Larry Adams Larry Thompson Alamode Farm118 m1:49.20$19,110
1960Talent Show5 Ray Broussard Clyde Troutt Ada L. Rice 1 m1:34.80$18,745
1959Whitley4 Sam Boulmetis Sr. Max Hirsch W. Arnold Hanger 1116 m1:43.80$18,485
1958Kingmaker5 Bobby Ussery Frank I. Wright Happy Hill Farm1116 m1:43.60$18,615
1957 Midafternoon 5 Eddie Arcaro Thomas M. Waller Mrs. Edward E. Robbins1116 m1:43.60$19,750
1956Find6 Eric Guerin William C. Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1116 m1:43.20$19,800
1955 Fisherman 4 Hedley Woodhouse Sylvester Veitch Cornelius V. Whitney 1116 m1:45.00$20,450
1954Find4 Eric Guerin William C. Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1116 m1:44.00$21,250
1953First Glance6 Eric Guerin William C. Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1116 m1:44.00$20,500
1952Spartan Valor4 James Stout Frank Catrone William G. Helis Jr. 1116 m1:44.60$18,950
1951Lotowhite4 Eddie Arcaro Lydell T. Ruff Thomas G. Benson1116 m1:44.20$20,750
1950 Arise 4 Douglas Dodson James C. Bentley Addison Stable1116 m1:43.80$17,200
1949 My Request 4 Claude Erickson James P. Conway Florence Whitaker 1116 m1:44.80$16,700
1948Knockdown5 Ferril Zufelt James W. Smith Maine Chance Farm 1116 m1:46.00$20,750
1947Coincidence5 Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1116 m1:44.00$15,900
1946Fighting Step4 Johnny Adams Charles C. Norman Murlogg Farm (Helen W. Kellogg)1116 m1:45.00$12,750
1945Saguaro4 Mike Caffarella Woody Stephens Jule Fink1116 m1:44.60$7,070
1944Alex Barth4 Nick Jemas James R. Hastie Milbrook Stable1116 m1:46.40$7,375
1943Riverland5 Steve Brooks Moody Jolley Louisiana Farm1116 m1:44.40$9,300
1942Waller4 Charles Wahler A. G. Robertson John C. Clark1116 m1:46.80$8,775
1941Robert Morris3 Nick Wall Thomas H. McCreery J. Frederic Byers1116 m1:43.60$8,275
1940The Chief5 Irving Anderson Earl Sande Maxwell Howard1116 m1:44.20$6,200
1939 Thanksgiving 4 Raymond Workman Mary Hirsch Anne C. Corning 1116 m1:44.20$6,950
1938Caballero II6 Wayne D. Wright Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 1116 m1:45.40$6,650
1937Thorson5 William Ray Thomas H. McCreeryBuckley M. Byers1116 m1:43.80$6,950
1936 King Saxon 5 Charles Landolt Charles H. Knebelkamp Charles H. Knebelkamp 1116 m1:45.20$5,400
1935 King Saxon 4 Cal Rainey Charles H. Knebelkamp Charles H. Knebelkamp 1116 m1:43.60$5,430
1934Watch Him5 Earl Steffen Willie Knapp Fannie Hertz 1116 m1:46.00$2,450
1932Pompeius3 Joe Knapp J. P. "Sammy" Smith William R. Coe 1116 m1:45.20$4,850
1931Mokatam4 Willie Kelsay Frank M. Taylor Rancocas Stable 1116 m1:46.00$5,700
1930Minotaur4 Charles Kurtsinger Charles Graffagnini John R. Thompson Jr.1116 m1:45.80$5,950
1929Mowlee4 Laverne Fator Sam Hildreth Rancocas Stable 1116 m1:45.20$7,200
1928Brown Flash4 Virgil Peterson Jack S. MiddletonFrederick Johnson1116 m1:46.40$6,200
1927Amberjack4 James McCoy James E. Fitzsimmons Belair Stud 1116 m1:44.00$6,200
1926Turf Idol4 Sidney Hebert Jimmy Johnson James Butler 1116 m1:45.60$6,400
1925 Sting 4 Benjamin Breuning Jimmy Johnson James Butler 1116 m1:42.60$5,850
1924Rialto4 Johnny Corcoran James G. Rowe Sr. Greentree Stable 1116 m1:46.00$5,850
1923 Grey Lag 5 Laverne Fator Sam Hildreth Rancocas Stable 1116 m1:45.00$5,850
1922Sennings Park6 Charles Fairbrother A. Jack Joyner Westmont Stable1116 m1:44.80$5,850
1921Blazes4 Ted Rice William M. Garth Joshua S. Cosden 1116 m1:47.20$8,550
1920Boniface5 Earl Sande H. Guy Bedwell J. K. L. Ross 1116 m1:45.20$4,850
1919 Naturalist 5 Charles Fairbrother Thomas Welsh Joseph E. Widener 1116 m1:45.40$3,850
1918 George Smith 5 Willie Kelsay Hollie Hughes John Sanford 1116 m1:45.40$3,850
1917 Roamer 6 Andy Schuttinger A. J. Goldsborough Andrew Miller 1116 m1:45.40$2,825
1916Sand Marsh4 James Butwell Richard O. Miller Fred E. Rose1116 m1:46.00$2,425
1915 Addie M. 4 Joe McCahey George W. LangdonJohn W. Messervy1116 m1:45.80$1,925
1913 Meridian 5 Buddy Glass Albert Ewing Richard F. Carman 1116 m1:44.60
1906Merry Lark4 Walter Miller Thomas Welsh Newcastle Stable 1116 m1:47.20$7,350
1905Santa Catalina †3 Walter Miller R. Wyndham Walden Albermale Stable1116 m1:46.40$6,450
1904Rostand4Herman PhillipsGeorge CornellF. R. Docter1116 m1:45.60$6,600
1903Blackstock4 Grover Fuller John W. Rogers William C. Whitney 1116 m1:46.60$6,730

References

  1. "the Excelsior Stakes history at the NYRA". Archived from the original on 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2013-07-23.