Sword Dancer Stakes

Last updated
Sword Dancer Stakes
Grade 1 race
Location Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Springs, New York, United States
Inaugurated1975
Race type ThoroughbredFlat racing
Website www.nyra.com
Race information
Distance1+12 miles (12 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds & up
WeightAssigned
PurseUS$1,000,000 (since 2015) [1]

The Sword Dancer Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses, aged three and up, run annually in mid August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. A prep for the Breeders' Cup Turf, it is set at a distance of one and one-half miles (12 furlongs) on the turf. A Grade I event, the race currently offers a purse of $1,000,000.

Contents

The Sword Dancer is named for the best three-year-old colt or gelding of 1959, best three-year-old, best handicap horse, and the American Horse of the Year. Sword Dancer was elected to the United States Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1977.

The event was inaugurated at Aqueduct Racetrack in 1975 as a six furlong sprint on dirt for three-year-old horses. Beginning in 1977, it was hosted by Belmont Park then in 1992 was moved to the Saratoga Race Course. Since inception, the Sword Dancer has been contested at various distances:

The race was run as an Invitational Handicap from 1994 to 2014.

In 2000, nine-year-old John's Call became the oldest horse to win this race.

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1+12 miles)

Most wins:

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners of the Sword Dancer since 1975

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
(Miles)
Time
Grade
2023Bolshoi Ballet (IRE)5 John R. Velazquez Aidan O'Brien Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor & Derrick Smith1-1/22:29.29I
2022 Gufo 5 Joel Rosario Christophe Clement Otter Bend Stables1-1/22:28.92I
2021 Gufo 4 Joel Rosario Christophe Clement Otter Bend Stables1-1/22.28.30I
2020Channel Maker6 Manuel Franco William Mott Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber Et Al1-1/22:34.86I
2019Annals of Time6 Javier Castellano Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables, Inc. & William H. Lawrence1-1/22:27.50I
2018Glorious Empire7 Julien Leparoux James L. Lawrence, IIMatthew Schera1-1/22:24.41I
2017Sadler's Joy4 Julien Leparoux Thomas Albertrani Woodslane Farm1-1/22:24.58I
2016 Flintshire (GB)6 Javier Castellano Chad C. Brown Juddmonte Farms 1-1/22:23.45I
2015 Flintshire (GB)5 Vincent Cheminaud André Fabre Juddmonte Farms 1-1/22:23.77I
2014 Main Sequence 5 Rajiv Maragh H. Graham Motion Flaxman Holdings 1-1/22:24.72I
2013 Big Blue Kitten 5 Joe Bravo Chad C. Brown Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 1-1/22:26.46I
2012 Point of Entry 4 John Velazquez Claude R. McGaughey III Phipps Stable 1-1/22:26.40I
2011 Winchester 6 Cornelio Velásquez Christophe Clement Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone 1-1/22:26.74I
2010Telling6 Garrett Gomez Steve Hobby Alex & JoAnn Lieblong1-1/22:25.29I
2009Telling5 Javier Castellano Steve Hobby Alex & JoAnn Lieblong1-1/22:25.43I
2008Grand Couturier5 Alan Garcia Robert Ribaudo Marc Keller1-1/22:32.21I
2007Grand Couturier4 Calvin Borel Robert Ribaudo Marc Keller1-1/22:26.59I
2006Go Deputy6 Eibar Coa Todd Pletcher Wertheimer et Frère 1-1/22:26.78I
2005King's Drama5 Jorge Chavez Robert J. Frankel Gary A. Tanaka 1-1/22:27.38I
2004 Better Talk Now 5 Ramon Domínguez H. Graham Motion Bushwood Stables1-1/22:28.49I
2003Whitmore's Conn5 Jean-Luc Samyn Randy Schulhofer Michael & Lynn Shanley1-1/22:28.14I
2002With Anticipation7 Pat Day Jonathan Sheppard Augustin Stable 1-1/22:24.06I
2001With Anticipation6 Pat Day Jonathan Sheppard Augustin Stable 1-1/22:26.41I
2000John's Call9 Jean-Luc Samyn Thomas H. Voss Trillium Stable1-1/22:32.17I
1999 Honor Glide 5 José A. Santos Christophe Clement Robert G. Schaedle1-1/22:28.23I
1998Cetewayo4 John Velazquez Michael Dickinson John A. Chandler1-1/22:29.56I
1997Awad7 Pat Day David G. Donk Ryehill Farm1-1/22:23.20I
1996Broadway Flyer5 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Sultan & Bienstock1-1/22:32.08I
1995Kiri's Clown6 Mike Luzzi Philip G. Johnson Cobble View Stable1-1/22:25.08I
1994Alex The Great5 Pat Valenzuela Rodney Rash Vistas Stables1-1/22:28.66I
1993Spectacular Tide4 Julie Krone Stanley M. Hough Royal Lines Stable1-1/22:30.39I
1992 Fraise 4 Jerry Bailey William I. Mott Madeleine Paulson 1-1/22:25.88I
1991Dr. Root4 Jean-Luc Samyn Vincent L. Blengs Barry K. Schwartz 1-1/22:25.43I
1990El Senor6 Ángel Cordero Jr. William W. Wright William W. Wright1-1/22:28.00I
1989El Senor5 Herb McCauley William W. Wright Frances W. Luro1-1/22:27.00I
1988Anka Germania6 Craig Perret Tom Skiffington Fernwood Stable1-1/22:32.20I
1987 Theatrical 5 Pat Day William I. Mott Bertram R. Firestone 1-1/22:26.00I
1986Southern Sultan5 Robbie Davis Ross Pearce Buckland Farm 1-1/22:39.60I
1985Tri For Size4 Robert Thibeau Jr. Michael Sedlacek Rory Green Stable1-1/22:33.20I
1984 Majesty's Prince 5 Eddie Maple Joseph B. Cantey John DeWitt Marsh1-1/22:31.00I
1983 Majesty's Prince 4 Eddie Maple Joseph B. Cantey John DeWitt Marsh1-1/22:34.40II
1982 Lemhi Gold 4 Chris McCarron Lazaro S. Barrera Aaron U. Jones 1-1/22:26.00II
1981 John Henry 6 Bill Shoemaker Lefty Nickerson Dotsam Stable1-1/22:26.80III
1980 Tiller 6 Ruben Hernandez David A. Whiteley William Haggin Perry 1-1/22:25.20
1979Darby Creek Road4 Ángel Cordero Jr. Howard M. Tesher H. Joseph Allen 1-1/161:41.60
1978True Colors4 Michael Venezia Willard C. Freeman Robert Billips1-1/161:41.00
1977 Effervescing 4 Ángel Cordero Jr. John W. Russell Ogden Phipps 1-1/161:39.60
1976Arabian Law3 Jacinto Vásquez David A. Whiteley Lazy F Ranch 6 fur.1:10.60
1975Gallant Bob3 Gerard Gallitano Joseph Marquette Robert Horton6 fur.1:09.60

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References

  1. "Sword Dancer Stakes Profile". Equibase. Retrieved 27 August 2016.