Just a Game Stakes

Last updated
Just A Game Stakes
ClassGrade I
Location Belmont Park
Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated1992
Race type Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website NYRA
Race information
Distance1 mile (8 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
Qualification Fillies & Mares, four-years-old and older
Weight124lbs with allowances
PurseUS$500,000 (2021)

The Just A Game Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age four and up run over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) on the turf held annually in June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event offers a purse of $500,000.

Contents

History

The race is named in honor of Peter Brant's filly, Just A Game, who was voted 1980 American Champion Female Turf Horse honors.

The event was inaugurated on Independence Day in 1992 and run over a distance of 1+3⁄8 miles on a muddy dirt track, won by Lady Lear who defeated the Irish Bred favorite by a length in a time of 2:159⁄10. [1]

The event was not held in 1993 but the next year the event was moved to the turf and run over a mile. [2]

The event was classified as a Grade III in 1997, upgraded to Grade II in 2004 and a Grade I in 2008. [2]

The event carried Breeders' Cup incentives between 1996 and 2005 which were reflected in the name of the event. [2]

Several mares have won this event who later became champions. The 2000 winner Perfect Sting later that year won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and was crowned US Champion Female Turf Horse. The 2004 British bred winner Intercontinental returned the following year only to get defeated into second place by Sand Springs but by the end of the season she made amends by winning Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and also becoming the 2005 US Champion Female Turf Horse. The 2015 winner Tepin continued en route to a Breeders' Cup Mile win and honored as 2015 US Champion Female Turf Horse.

In 2024 the event was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park. [3]

Records

Speed record:

Margins:

Most wins:

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRef
At Saratoga – Just a Game Stakes
2025Dynamic Pricing (IRE)4Dylan Davis Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables 1 mile1:38.77$500,000I [4]
2024Chili Flag (FR) 5 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad C. Brown Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb & Michael E. Kisber1 mile1:35.01$500,000I [5]
At Belmont Park
2023 In Italian (GB) 5 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad C. Brown Peter M. Brant 1 mile1:34.00$485,000I [6]
2022 Regal Glory 6 José Ortiz Chad C. Brown Peter M. Brant 1 mile1:32.00$480,000I [7]
2021Althiqa (GB) 4 Mike E. Smith Charlie Appleby Godolphin 1 mile1:33.90$500,000I [8]
2020Newspaperofrecord (IRE) 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables 1 mile1:35.62$250,000I [9]
2019Rushing Fall4 Javier Castellano Chad C. Brown e Five Racing Thoroughbreds1 mile1:31.67$671,000I [10]
2018A Raving Beauty (GER) 5 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad C. Brown Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Bethlehem Stables1 mile1:32.14$700,000I [11]
2017Antonoe4 Javier Castellano Chad C. Brown Juddmonte Farms 1 mile1:32.12$687,000I [12]
2016Celestine4 Junior Alvarado William I. Mott James Bryan, Jr1 mile1:31.64$700,000I [13]
2015 Tepin 4 Julien R. Leparoux Mark E. Casse Robert E. Masterson1 mile1:35.65$700,000I [14]
2014Coffee Clique4 Javier Castellano Brian A. Lynch Amerman Racing (Jerry & Joan Amerman)1 mile1:32.52$750,000I [15]
2013 Stephanie's Kitten 4 John R. Velazquez Wayne M. Catalano Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 1 mile1:36.27$500,000I [16]
2012 Tapitsfly 5 Ramon A. Dominguez Dale L. Romans Frank Jones Jr.1 mile1:32.34$500,000I [17]
2011C. S. Silk5 Javier Castellano Dale L. Romans William Pacella, Fred Barbara & George Bonomo1 mile1:40.53$400,000I [18]
2010Proviso (GB) 5 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Juddmonte Farms 1 mile1:34.09$400,000I [19]
2009Diamondrella (GB) 5 Rajiv Maragh Angel A. Penna Jr.Castletop Stable1 mile1:36.49$400,000I [20]
2008 Ventura 4 Garrett K. Gomez Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1 mile1:32.75$400,000I [21] [22]
2007 My Typhoon (IRE) 5 Eddie Castro William I. Mott Live Oak Plantation 1 mile1:34.92$294,000II [23]
Just a Game Handicap
2006Gorella (FR) 4 Julien R. Leparoux Patrick L. Biancone Martin S. Schwartz 1 mile1:37.14$285,000II [24]
2005Sand Springs5 John R. Velazquez William I. Mott Sangster Family Stable 1 mile1:33.05$300,000II [25]
2004§ Intercontinental (GB) 4 Jerry D. Bailey Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1 mile1:33.33$226,333II [26]
2003§ Mariensky4 José A. Santos Christophe Clement Waterville Lake Stable1 mile1:43.28$214,500III [27]
2002Babae (CHI) 6 Jorge F. Chavez Frank A. Alexander Joseph P. Platt Jr.1 mile1:34.57$147,200III [28]
2001 License Fee 6 Pat Day W. Elliott Walden Winstar Farm 1 mile1:32.62$189,050III [29]
2000 Perfect Sting 4 Jerry D. Bailey Joe Orseno Stronach Stables 1 mile1:34.48$165,800III [30]
1999Cozy Blues5 Jorge F. Chavez H. James BondSandy & Joanne Dew1 mile1:33.33$157,700III [31]
1998Witchful Thinking4 Chris McCarron Niall M. O'CallaghanLeslie R. Grimm1 mile1:33.45$157,325III [32]
1997Memories of Silver4 Jerry D. Bailey James J. Toner Joan & John Phillips 1 mile1:32.90$158,950III [33]
1996† Caress5 Robbie Davis H. Allen Jerkens Harbor View Farm 1 mile1:33.30$158,150Listed [34]
Just a Game Stakes
1995Caress4 Robbie Davis H. Allen Jerkens Harbor View Farm 1 mile1:32.53$82,000Listed [35]
1994Elizabeth Bay4 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Mohammed Al Maktoum 1 mile1:32.85$55,550Listed [36]
1993Race not held
1992Lady Lear5Gerry Brocklebank Linda L. Rice Mark Weiss1+3⁄8 miles2:15.90$78,900Listed [1]

Legend:
  Turf  Dirt
Notes:
† In 1996, Class Kris finished first but was disqualified and set back to second
§ Ran as part of an entry

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

  1. 1 2 "1992 Just a Game Stakes Listed – (race 7)". Equibase. 4 July 1992. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Equibase.com (2020). "Just a Game Stakes (Gr. 1)". Equibase. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  3. ↑ "NYRA sets 2024 calendar, with Belmont Stakes at Saratoga". nyra.com. New York Racing Association. January 24, 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  4. ↑ "2025 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 - (race 13)". Equibase. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  5. ↑ "2024 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 - (race 10)". Equibase. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "2023 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 - (race 4)". Equibase. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "2022 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 - (race 4)". Equibase. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  8. ↑ "2021 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "2020 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 10)" (PDF). Equibase. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "2019 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 4)". Equibase. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "2018 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "2017 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "2016 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "2015 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  15. ↑ "2014 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  16. ↑ "2013 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  17. ↑ "2012 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  18. ↑ "2011 Foxwoods Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  19. ↑ "2010 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  20. ↑ "2009 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  21. ↑ "2008 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  22. ↑ "The 2008 Just A Game Handicap". Bloodhorse.com.
  23. ↑ "2007 Just a Game Stakes Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 9 June 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  24. ↑ "2006 Just a Game Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 10 June 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  25. ↑ "2005 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 11 June 2005. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  26. ↑ "2004 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 5 June 2004. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  27. ↑ "2003 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 7 June 2003. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  28. ↑ "2002 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 7)". Equibase. 8 June 2002. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  29. ↑ "2001 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 7)". Equibase. 9 June 2001. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  30. ↑ "2000 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 10 June 2000. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  31. ↑ "1999 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 5 June 1999. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  32. ↑ "1998 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 6)". Equibase. 6 June 1998. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  33. ↑ "1997 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 8 June 1997. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  34. ↑ "1996 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Listed – (race 9)". Equibase. 9 June 1996. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  35. ↑ "1995 Just a Game Stakes Listed – (race 9)". Equibase. 11 June 1995. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  36. ↑ "1994 Just a Game Stakes Listed – (race 8)". Equibase. 15 June 1994. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
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