Hilltop Stakes

Last updated
Hilltop Stakes
ClassListed
Location Pimlico Race Course,
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Inaugurated1973
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website www.pimlico.com
Race information
Distance1 mile
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-old fillies
Weight124 lbs with allowances
Purse $125,000

The Hilltop Stakes is an American ungraded Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of one mile on turf held annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. [1]

Contents

History

The Hilltop Stakes was run on the second Saturday of May each year exactly one week prior to the Preakness Stakes. In 2015 the race was scheduled on the Friday, the day before the Preakness. when the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is held. The race is named in honor of the nickname for Pimlico Race Course. The nickname "Old Hilltop" was given to the venerable track in Baltimore, Maryland because of a large hill in the infield that was very prominent and gave race goers a 360" bird's-eye view of the entire track. In 1938 the hill top was leveled so that movie cameras and patrons in the grandstand could see the race on the backside of the track while the horses were racing.

The race was run on the main track on a dirt surface prior to 1988. It was also run on the main track in 1995 and 2003 due to a yielding turf and poor weather. In 1997, Francine Villeneuve became the first female jockey to win the race.

Records

Speed record:

Most wins by a jockey:

Winners of the Hilltop Stakes

Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time
Purse
2025Play With Fire Flavien Prat Brendan P. WalshFergus Galvin1 mile1:39.11$125,000
2024She Feels Pretty John R. Velazquez Cherie DeVauxLael Stables1 mile1:38.59$100,000
2023Aspray Flavien Prat Chad C. Brown Ran Jan Racing1 mile1:34.10$100,000
2022Pizza Bianca José Ortiz Christophe Clement Bobby Flay 1 mile1:36.54$100,000
2021Alda John R. Velazquez H. Graham Motion Wertheimer and Frere1 mile1:35.06$100,000
2020Evil LynHoracio Karamanos Michael Maker Paradise Farms Corp.1 mile1:42.25$100,000
2019Dogtag Javier Castellano Chad Brown LNJ Foxwoods1 mile1:36.71$100,000
2018Souper Striking Julian Pimetel Michael Trombetta Live Oak Plantation1-1/81:51.72$100,000
2017Happy Mesa Javier Castellano H. Graham Motion Great Point Stables1 mile1:33.61$100,000
2016Gone Away Florent Geroux Michael Matz Augustin Stable 1-1/161:41.68$100,000
2015Miss Temple City John R. Velazquez H. Graham Motion Sagamore Farm 1-1/161:41.94$100,000
2014Our Epiphany Grant Whitacre Dane KobiskiePTK LLC1-1/161:48.07$100,000
2013Emotional Kitten Joel Rosario Wesley Ward Ken & Sarah Ramsey 1-1/161:41.98$100,000
2012Coup John Velazquez H. Graham Motion Augustin Stable 1-1/161:42.71$100,000
2011Excited John Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Michael B. Tabor 1-1/161:49.48$75,000
2010Joharmony Javier Castellano Leigh Delacour Gary L. Chervenell1-1/161:44.17$70,000
2009Blind Date Jeremy Rose Hamilton A. Smith William M. Backer1-1/161:42.89$60,000
2008Hartigan Luis Garcia Richard W. Small Robert Meyerhoff1-1/161:46.24$60,000
2007Street Sounds Ramon Dominguez Michael R. Matz Hidden Creek Farm1 mile1:36.60$80,000
2006Ebony Rose Chris Decarlo Todd A. Pletcher Gene Mello1-1/161:49.60$85,000
2005 My Typhoon Jerry Bailey William I. Mott Peter Vegso1-1/161:44.20$75,000
2004Western Ransom Ryan Fogelsonger Michael Dickinson Dr. John A. Chandler1-1/161:43.20$50,000
2003City Fire Jeremy Rose Mark Shuman Michael Gill1-1/161:44.20$50,000
2002Ntombi Mario Pino Michael Dickinson Dr. John A. Chandler1-1/161:42.20$50,000
2001Guillotine Mark T. Johnston Hamilton A. Smith Janis Gerace1-1/161:45.00$75,000
2000Azireprice Sidney Lejeune, Jr. Thomas Amoss On Target Racing Stable1-1/161:43.20$50,000
1999Polish Miss Mario Pino Bruce C. Jackson Mary Kernan1-1/161:44.80$50,000
1998Proud Owner Darci Rice Richard W. Small Thomas Bowman& Small 1-1/161:43.00$57,000
1997Cozy Blues Fran Villeneuve James E. Baker Adam Wachtel1-1/161:44.00$75,000
1997Earth to Jackie Robert Colton J. William Boniface Jacquelyn Schipke1-1/161:44.00$75,000
1996Silent Greeting Larry Reynolds H. Graham Motion Joe L. Allbritton1-1/161:46.40$58,000
1995Jhenais Jewel Raphael Verderosa Josephine Owens Mrs. Jack Jeweler1-1/161:45.60$58,000
1994Irish Forever Jorge Chavez J. William Boniface Roger Schipke1-1/161:43.60$57,000
1993Open Toe Mike Luzzi James W. Murphy Pomerosa Farms1-1/161:42.40$57,000
1992Captive Miss Joe Bravo Philip M. Serpe Live Oak Stud1-1/161:41.40$60,000
1991Grab the Green Edgar Prado Barclay Tagg Samuel H. Rogers Jr.1-1/161:44.60$58,000
1990Valay Maid Marco Castaneda Carlos A. Garcia C. Oliver Goldsmith1-1/161:42.60$58,000
1989Seraglio Gregg McCarron Richard W. Small Robert E. Meyerhoff1-1/161:48.80$68,500
1988Another Paddock Nick Santagata George Pagano George Steinbrenner 1 mile1:36.20$60,000
1987Artic Cloud Mario Pino William T. Fitzgibbons1-1/161:44.40$50,000
1986Country Recital Vincent Bracciale 1-1/161:46.00$36,500
1985A Joyful Spray Philip Grove John A. Manfuso1-1/161:43.60$36,500
1984Squan Song Fernando Hernandez Carlos A. Garcia Mrs. Peter F. Green1-1/161:44.60$36,500
1983Final Chapter Danny Wright Richard W. Small 1-1/161:45.40$36,500
1982Martie's Double Rudy Turcotte 1-1/161:43.60$36,500
1981Anti Phil Danny Wright Anthony E. Verdi1-1/161:46.40$36,500
1980Weber City Miss Vincent Bracciale 1-1/161:45.00$36,500
1979Heavy Sugar Mark Drury 1-1/161:45.20$36,500
1978 Caesar's Wish Gregg McCarron Richard W. Small Sally M. Gibson1-1/161:45.00$35,000
1977Enthused Chris McCarron 1-1/161:45.40$28,000
1976Dance My Love George Cusimano 1-1/161:46.40$30,700
1975Quick Selection George Cusimano 1-1/161:45.00$36,000
1974Four Bells Gregg McCarron 1-1/161:43.20$30,500
1973Maybe Crafty Eldon Nelson 1-1/161:46.60$30,000

See also

References

  1. 2007 Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide, page 44 on March 3, 2007.