Fantasy Stakes

Last updated
Fantasy Stakes
Grade II race
Location Oaklawn Park Race Track
Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States
Inaugurated1973
Race type ThoroughbredFlat racing
Website www.oaklawn.com
Race information
Distance1+116 miles
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-old fillies
Weight121 lbs. with allowances
PurseUS$750,000 (since 2024)

The Fantasy Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually usually in early April at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The event currently offers a purse of $750,000.

Contents

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 6 April 1973 and was won by Robert E. Lehmann's Knitted Gloves coming from behind by 1+12 lengths in a time of 1:4235. [1]

After three runnings the event was upgraded to Grade II status in 1976 [2] and in 1978 was once again upgraded to a Grade I, signifying that the race was a major event for the three-year-old fillies. [3] Between 1978 and 1989 the event held this classification and in that time some impressive winners include Davona Dale in 1979 who captured the U.S. Filly Triple Crown becoming the U.S. Champion three-year-old filly, the 1980 winner and US Hall of Fame inductee Bold 'n Determined. The 1980 US Champion two-year-old filly Heavenly Cause won this event in her sophomore season. Other champions to win this event were Tiffany Lass, the 1986 U.S. Champion three-year-old filly and the 1987 winner Very Subtle who later that year would win the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Hollywood Park Racetrack.

In 1990, the event was downgraded to Grade II status [3] and held this status until the 2012 running and the next year it was reclassified as Grade III [3]

The 2008 winner Eight Belles won the event as a short 1/2 odds-on favorite in a four-horse field. [4] Later that spring Eight Belles would be tragically euthanized after finishing second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby.

Two winners of this event have gone on to defeat their male counterparts in Triple Crown events. Rachel Alexandra, the winner in 2009 by the stakes record of 8+34 lengths went on to win the Preakness Stakes. She would later be crowned the US Horse of the Year. Also Swiss Skydiver, the 2020 winner would go on and win the Preakness Stakes defeating the Kentucky Derby winner Authentic.

The event is a prep race to the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, including the Kentucky Oaks, Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and Mother Goose Stakes.

In 2024 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association back to Grade II. [5]

Records

Speed record:

Margins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

YearWinnerJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRef
2024Thorpedo Anna Brian Hernandez Jr. Kenneth G. McPeek Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks & Magdalena Racing1+116 miles1:44.24$750,000II [6]
2023Wet Paint Flavien Prat Brad H. Cox Godolphin 1+116 miles1:44.08$600,000III [7]
2022Yuugiri Florent Geroux Rodolphe BrissetSekie Yoshihara & Tsunebumi Yoshihara1+116 miles1:43.65$600,000III [8]
2021Pauline's Pearl Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Stonestreet Stables 1+116 miles1:43.64$600,000III [9]
2020 Swiss Skydiver Brian Hernandez Jr. Kenneth G. McPeek Peter Callahan1+116 miles1:42.00$400,000III [10]
2019Lady Apple Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Phoenix Thoroughbred III & Katierich Stables1+116 miles1:43.88$500,000III [11]
2018Sassy Sienna Gary L. Stevens Brad H. Cox Medallion Racing & Jerry McClanahan1+116 miles1:45.63$400,000III [12]
2017Ever So Clever Luis Contreras Steven M. Asmussen Clearview Stable1+116 miles1:43.40$400,000III [13]
2016Terra Promessa Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Stonestreet Stables 1+116 miles1:45.06$400,000III [14]
2015Include Betty Rosemary Homeister Jr. Thomas F. Proctor Brereton C. Jones & Timothy Thornton1+116 miles1:44.16$400,000III [15]
2014Sugar Shock Channing Hill Doug L. AndersonOn Cloud Nine1+116 miles1:43.87$400,000III [16]
2013Rose to Gold Calvin H. Borel Sal SantoroKathleen Amaya & Raffaele Centofanti1+116 miles1:45.80$400,000III [17]
2012Mamma Kimbo Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Peachtree Stable1+116 miles1:43.64$300,000II [18]
2011 Joyful Victory Mike E. Smith J. Larry Jones Fox Hill Farms1+116 miles1:44.74$285,000II [19]
2010 Blind Luck Rafael Bejarano Jerry Hollendorfer Mark Dedomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo & Jerry Hollendorfer 1+116 miles1:42.56$285,000II [20]
2009 Rachel Alexandra Calvin H. Borel Hal R. WigginsL & M Partners1+116 miles1:43.35$245,000II [21]
2008 Eight Belles Ramon A. Dominguez J. Larry Jones Fox Hill Farms1+116 miles1:43.06$237,500II [4]
2007High HeelsJoe M. JohnsonGary G. HartlageAnita A. Ebert1+116 miles1:44.43$250,000II [22]
2006Ready to Please Stewart Elliott Todd A. Pletcher James T. Scatuorchio1+116 miles1:45.63$250,000II [23]
2005 Round Pond Stewart Elliott John C. Servis Fox Hill Farms1+116 miles1:43.49$250,000II [24]
2004House of Fortune Alex O. Solis Ron McAnally Arnold Zetcher1+116 miles1:42.62$200,000II [25]
2003Ruby's Reception Terry J. Thompson J. Larry Jones Oasis Racing Stable1+116 miles1:44.61$200,000II [26]
2002See How She Runs Donald R. Pettinger Donnie K. Von Hemel Pin Oak Stable1+116 miles1:43.80$200,000II [27]
2001Mystic Lady Eibar Coa Mark A. Hennig R. Lee Lewis1+116 miles1:43.52$200,000II [28]
2000Classy CaraIgnacio Puglisi Doug F. O'Neill John J. Zamora1+116 miles1:43.95$200,000II [29]
1999Excellent Meeting Kent J. Desormeaux Bob Baffert Golden Eagle Farm 1+116 miles1:42.73$250,000II [30]
1998Silent EskimoCarlos GonzalezBobby C. Barnett John A. Franks 1+116 miles1:43.84$250,000II [31]
1997Blushing K. D.Lonnie MecheSam B. David Jr.James & Sue Burns1+116 miles1:42.61$250,000II [32]
1996 Escena Pat Day William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson 1+116 miles1:43.93$250,000II [33]
1995Cat's Cradle Chris Antley David E. Hofmans Ridder Thoroughbred Stable 1+116 miles1:44.29$250,000II [34]
1994Two AltazanoKirk Paul LeBlancMichael StidhamHarold Goodman1+116 miles1:43.64$250,000II [35]
1993 Aztec Hill Mike E. Smith Thomas K. Bohannan Loblolly Stable 1+116 miles1:44.33$250,000II [36]
1992Race the Wild Wind Chris McCarron Ron McAnally Marianne & Brandon Chase1+116 miles1:43.74$250,000II [37]
1991 Lite Light Corey Nakatani Jerry Hollendorfer Oaktown Stable 1+116 miles1:41.93$250,000II [38]
1990SilveredDonald Lee HowardDewey Smith Arthur B. Hancock III & Roy L. Bowen1+116 miles1:44.20$250,000II [39]
1989Fantastic Look Chris McCarron Gary F. Jones Mr. & Mrs. John C. Mabee 1+116 miles1:43.20$250,000I [40]
1988Jeanne Jones Bill Shoemaker Charles E. Whittingham Mr. & Mrs. John C. Mabee 1+116 miles1:42.20$250,000I [41]
1987Very Subtle Chris McCarron Melvin F. Stute Ben Rochelle & Estate of Carl Grinstead1+116 miles1:42.40$271,300I [42]
1986Tiffany Lass Gary L. Stevens Laz Barrera Aaron U. Jones1+116 miles1:42.00$274,400I [43]
1985Rascal Lass Ray Sibille Lin WheelerVista Stable1+116 miles1:43.20$282,700I [44]
1984My Darling One Chris McCarron Laz Barrera Dolly Green 1+116 miles1:41.20$267,400I [45]
1983Brindy BrindyKenneth Jones Jack Van Berg Jane M. Martin1+116 miles1:44.60$283,300I [46]
1982Flying Partner Ray Sibille Charles E. Whittingham Buckland Farm 1+116 miles1:47.00$271,700I [47]
1981 Heavenly Cause Laffit Pincay Jr. Woodford C. Stephens Ryehill Farm1+116 miles1:43.80$223,150I [48]
1980 Bold 'n Determined Eddie Delahoussaye Neil D. Drysdale Saron Stable 1+116 miles1:45.20$169,900I [49]
1979 Davona Dale Jorge Velasquez John M. Veitch Calumet Farm 1+116 miles1:44.40$169,350I [50]
1978EquanimityHank E. MorenoHenry MorenoPine Tree Stable1+116 miles1:44.60$129,750I [51]
1977 Our Mims Don Brumfield John M. Veitch Calumet Farm 1+116 miles1:45.00$139,850II [52]
1976T. V. VixenBernie WaltPeter W. Salmen Jr.Crimson King Farm1+116 miles1:43.40$121,950II [53]
1975HosoMickey SolomoneFrank H. Merrill Jr.Roxie Gian1+116 miles1:46.00$118,250 [54]
1974Miss Musket Bill Shoemaker Charles E. Whittingham Aaron U. Jones1+116 miles1:44.40$122,900 [55]
1973Knitted GlovesJulio C. EspinozaIke MourarRobert E. Lehmann1+116 miles1:42.60$61,600 [1]

Notes:
† In the 1987 running, Up The Apalachee, was first past the post but was disqualified and placed second. Very Subtle was declared the winner.

See also

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References

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  5. "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2024". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
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  33. "1996 Fantasy Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 5 April 1996. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  34. "1995 Fantasy Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 April 1995. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  35. "1994 Fantasy Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 17 April 1994. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
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  43. "Unbeaten Tiffany Lass wins Fantasy – (race 9: held 12 April 1986)". The Courier-Journal . The Associated Press. 13 April 1986. p. 25. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  44. "Rascal Lass victorious; ... – (race 9: held 13 April 1985)". The Courier-Journal . The Associated Press. 14 April 1985. p. 58. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  45. "My Darling One wins Fantasy – (race 9: held 14 April 1984)". Shreveport Times . The Associated Press. 15 April 1984. p. 54. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  46. "Brindy Brindy wins Fantasy at Oaklawn – (race 9: held 9 April 1983)". Shreveport Times . The Associated Press. 10 April 1983. p. 54. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  47. "Flying Partner wins Fantasy at Oaklawn – (race 9: held 3 April 1982)". Shreveport Times . The Associated Press. 4 April 1982. p. 54. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
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  49. "Bold 'n Determined Wins Fantasy Stakes – (race 9: held 5 April 1980)". The Courier-Journal . The Associated Press. 6 April 1980. p. 45. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
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  51. "Moreno Rides Equanimity to Fantasy Stakes Victory – (race 9: held 25 March 1978)". Lexington Herald-Leader . The Associated Press. 26 March 1978. p. 34. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  52. "Our Mims is Fantasy Best Victory – (race 9: held 26 March 1977)". Shreveport Times . The Associated Press. 27 March 1977. p. 58. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
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  54. "Huso has little trouble with mud in Fantasy Stakes – (race 9: held 29 March 1975)". The Courier-Journal . The Associated Press. 30 March 1975. p. 36. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  55. "'Shoe' gets 100th 'biggie' on Miss Musket – (race 9: held 30 March 1974)". The Courier-Journal . The Associated Press. 31 March 1974. p. 48. Retrieved 23 March 2021.