Top Flight Stakes

Last updated
Top Flight Stakes
ClassListed
Location Aqueduct Racetrack
Queens, New York,
United States
Inaugurated1940
Race type ThoroughbredFlat racing
WebsiteNYRA [1]
Race information
Distance1-1/8 miles
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
Qualification Fillies & Mares, 4-years-old & up
Weight123 lbs. with allowances
Purse$150,000 (2025)

The Top Flight Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A Listed race, it is open to fillies and mares, age three and older. The event is contested over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on dirt and currently offers a purse of $150,000.

Contents

The Top Flight Handicap was run at Belmont Park prior to 1961 and again in 1993. [1]

The race is named for Top Flight, ranked in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century at #66. Top Flight was never beaten by a member of her own sex. [2]

Historical note

Poker Night, the lone three-year-old in a field of seven, won the 1973 race by four lengths and bettered the stakes record time stakes two‐fifths of a second while running on a wet track officially rated only as good. [3]

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1 mile)

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwner
Dist.
(Miles)
TimeWin $ Grade
2025Headline Numbers4Dylan Davis Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables 1-1/8 m1:51.20$82,500 Listed
2024Tizzy in the Sky5Kendrick Carmouche Todd A. Pletcher KimDon Racing1-1/8 m1:49.56$82,500 Listed
2023Falconet4 Jose Lezcano Todd A. Pletcher China Horse Club & WinStar Farm 1-1/8 m1:51.42$55,000 Listed
2022Exotic West4 Javier Castellano Gary SciaccaLouis Lazzinnaro1-1/8 m1:50.13$55,000 Listed
2021Horologist5 Junior Alvarado William I. Mott There's a Chance Stable, Medallion Racing, Abbondanza Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Paradise Farm Corp. & David Staudacher1-1/8 m1:52.14$55,000 Listed
2020Race not held due to COVID-19
2019Another Broad4 Manuel Franco Todd A. Pletcher Madaket Stables LLC, Elayne Stables, Brian Martin1-1/8 m1:52.99$110,000Listed
2018 Blue Prize 4 José Ortiz Ignacio Correas IVMerriebelle Stable1-1/8 m1:51.48$120,000Listed
2017Mo' Green4 Irad Ortiz Jr. John Servis Leonard C. Green1-1/8 m1:51.79$120,000G3
2016Carrumba4 José Ortiz Claude R. McGaughey III Phipps Stable 1-1/8 m1:50.26$120,000G3
2015House Rules4 Junior Alvarado James A. Jerkens Joseph V. Shields Jr.1-1/8 m1:52.41$120,000G3
2014Teen Pauline4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd A. Pletcher Stonestreet Stables 1-1/16 m1:45.04$120,000G2
2013Summer Applause4 John R. Velazquez Chad C. Brown Gillian S.Campbell, Greenwood Lodge Farm, Dan Clark, Greg Skoda1-1/16 m1:44.10$120,000G2
2012 It's Tricky 4 Ramon Domínguez Kiaran McLaughlin Godolphin Racing 1-1/16 m1:45.30$90,000G2
2011Race not held
2010Spacy Tracy5 Jeremy Rose Anthony W. Dutrow Mercedes Stable 1 m1:35.28$90,000G2
2008 Leah's Secret 5 Eibar Coa Todd A. Pletcher WinStar Farm 1 m1:36.40$90,000G2
2007Mini Sermon3 Eibar Coa Todd A. Pletcher Edward P. Evans 1 m1:37.29$90,000G2
2006Rahy's Appeal4 Alan Garcia James K. ChapmanJohn & Martha Mullholland1 m1:36.15$90,000G2
2005Stellar Jayne4 Jerry Bailey Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1 m1:35.94$90,000G2
2004Daydreaming3 Jerry Bailey Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps 1 m1:35.29$90,000G2
2003Randaroo3 Heberto Castillo Jr. Kiaran McLaughlin H. Joseph Allen 1 m1:36.49$90,000G2
2002 Sightseek 3 Jerry Bailey Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1 m1:35.46$90,000G2
2001Cat Cay4 John R. Velazquez Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps 1 m1:35.45$90,000G2
2000Reciclada5 Jerry Bailey Richard Mandella Diamond A Stable1 m1:35.54$90,000G2
1999Belle Cherie3 John R. Velazquez Philip G. Johnson Belle Meadows Farm1 m1:35.46$90,000G2
1998Catinca3 Richard Migliore John C. Kimmel Robert K. Waxman1 m1:35.81$90,000G2
1997Dixie Flag3 Mike Luzzi H. Allen Jerkens Bohemia Stable 1 m1:35.34$90,000G2
1996Flat Fleet Feet3 Mike E. Smith John C. Kimmel Caesar P. Kimmel & Phillip J. & L. I. Solondz1 m1:37.00$90,000G1
1995Twist Afleet4 Mike E. Smith John C. Kimmel Lucille Conover1 m1:35.26$90,000G1
1994Educated Risk4 Mike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps 1 m1:34.96$90,000G1
1993You'd Be Surprised4 Jerry Bailey MacKenzie Miller Rokeby Stable 1-1/8 m1:48.82$90,000G1
1992Firm Stance4 Pat Day Mitch Shirota Gainesway Stable 1-1/8 m1:50.55$120,000G1
1991Buy the Firm5 Julie Krone Carlos F. Martin Morven Stud Farms1-1/8 m1:52.20$120,000G1
1990Dreamy Mimi4 Jerry Bailey George R. Arnold II Alex G. Campbell Jr.1-1/8 m1:50.40$136,800G1
1989Banker's Lady4 Ángel Cordero Jr. Philip M. Hauswald Edward A. Cox Jr. 1-1/8 m1:51.20$133,680G1
1988Clabber Girl4 José A. Santos D. Wayne Lukas John A. Nerud 1-1/8 m1:49.40$141,840G1
1987Ms. Eloise4 Robbie Davis Philip G. Johnson Margaret Grimm1-1/8 m1:50.20$138,480G1
1986Ride Sally4 Walter Guerra Nick Zito Manhasset Stable 1-1/8 m1:49.20$134,640G1
1985Flip's Pleasure5 Jean-Luc Samyn H. Allen Jerkens Hobeau Farm 1-1/8 m1:51.00$101,160G1
1984Sweet Missus4Robert ThibeauMichael C. SedlacekGlenn E. Lane1-1/8 m1:50.20$104,040G1
1983Adept4Karen Rogers Frank I. Wright Nelson Bunker Hunt 1-1/8 m1:50.00$65,160G1
1982Andover Way4 Jorge Velásquez Howard M. Tesher H. Joseph Allen 1-1/8 m1:50.00$66,360G1
1981Chain Bracelet4 Ruben Hernandez James W. Maloney Shirley H. Taylor1-1/8 m1:49.60$64,680G1
1980 Glorious Song 4 Jorge Velásquez Gerry Belanger Nelson Bunker Hunt 1-1/8 m1:49.60$66,360G1
1979 Waya 5 Ángel Cordero Jr. David A. Whiteley Peter M. Brant 1-1/8 m1:50.80$64,680G1
1978 Northernette 4 Jeffrey Fell David A. Whiteley Peter M. Brant 1-1/8 m1:49.40$48,330G1
1977Shawi4 Michael Venezia Jose A. Martin Mrs. Randolph Weinsier1-1/8 m1:49.80$48,285G1
1976Proud Delta4 Jorge Velásquez Peter M. Howe Montpelier 1-1/8 m1:49.00$49,455G1
1975Twixt6 William Passmore Katherine M. Voss Mrs. John M. Franklin1-1/8 m1:50.60$33,240G1
1974Lady Love4 Eddie Maple Frank Catrone Ada L. Rice 1-1/8 m1:48.60$33,120G1
1973Poker Night3 Robert Woodhouse H. Allen Jerkens Hobeau Farm 1-1/8 m1:48.20$33,420G1
1972Inca Queen4 Garth Patterson George T. Poole Cornelius V. Whitney 1-1/8 m1:50.00$33,900
1971 Shuvee 5 Ron Turcotte Willard C. Freeman Anne Minor Stone 1-1/8 m1:49.60$32,340
1970 Shuvee 4 Braulio Baeza Willard C. Freeman Anne Minor Stone 1-1/8 m1:48.60$37,375
1969Amerigo Lady5 Manuel Ycaza J. Elliott Burch Rokeby Stable 1-1/8 m1:50.40$35,620
1968Amerigo Lady4 Jorge Velásquez J. Elliott Burch Rokeby Stable 1-1/8 m1:49.00$37,830
1967Straight Deal5 Ángel Cordero Jr. Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 1-1/8 m1:49.60$36,075
1966 Summer Scandal 4 Garth Patterson Woods Garth Harborvale Stable (David O. Volkert)1-1/8 m1:49.40$35,945
1965 Affectionately 5 Walter Blum Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 1-1/8 m1:49.80$37,180
1964Oil Royalty6 Howard Grant Charles Whittingham John R. Gaines 1-1/8 m1:50.80$37,180
1963Firm Policy4 Manuel Ycaza E. Barry RyanE. Barry Ryan1-1/8 m1:48.60$35,800
1962Pepper Patch5 Donald Pierce Sol Rutchick Nicholas A. Martini1-1/8 m1:50.20$37,050
1961Make Sail4 Manuel Ycaza Woody Stephens Cain Hoy Stable 1-1/8 m1:51.00$35,945
1960Royal Native4 Bill Hartack Peter F. GaciciaWilliam B. MacDonald Jr.1-1/16 m1:43.00$36,385
1959Big Effort4 Bill Shoemaker J. Elliott Burch Brookmeade Stable 1-1/16 m1:42.80$17,575
1958Plucky Roman4 Howard Grant Clyde Troutt Ada L. Rice 1-1/16 m1:43.00$17,672
1957Plotter4 Pete D. Anderson William Post Harry La Montagne 1-1/16 m1:42.60$19,950
1956 Searching 4 Conn McCreary Hirsch Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs 1-1/16 m1:42.80$19,400
1955Parlo4 Eric Guerin Richard Handlen Foxcatcher Farm 1-1/16 m1:41.80$21,700
1954Sunshine Nell6 Eddie Arcaro Robert GreenMeyer J. Kaplan1-1/16 m1:43.40$24,750
1953Marta6 Conn McCreary Woody Stephens Woodvale Farm 1-1/16 m1:42.80$22,350
1952Renew5 William Boland Max Hirsch King Ranch 1-1/16 m1:43.80$16,850
1951 Busanda 4 Eric Guerin Bartholomew Sweeny Ogden Phipps 1-1/16 m1:42.40$12,650
1950Nell K.4 George Hettinger John B. Partridge Spring Hill Farm 1-1/16 m1:43.80$12,200
1949 But Why Not 5 Dave Gorman Max Hirsch King Ranch 1-1/16 m1:43.60$11,450
1948Honeymoon5 Douglas Dodson Wayne Stucki W-L Ranch Co. 1-1/16 m1:43.60$16,950
1947Rytina4 Ted Atkinson George P. "Maj" Odom Carol Averell Harriman Stewart1-1/16 m1:43.60$18,550
1946Sicily4 Eddie Arcaro William Post Harry La Montagne 1-1/16 m1:43.20$17,400
1945Miss Keeneland4 Albert Snider Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1-1/16 m1:45.00$7,585
1944Boojiana3 Ted Atkinson Andy Schuttinger C. V. Whitney 1-1/16 m1:43.40$8,165
1943 Mar-Kell 4Bill Thompson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1-1/16 m1:44.80$4,700
1942Level Best4 Don Meade John Porter JonesCrispin Oglebay1-1/16 m1:42.80$5,325
1941Tangled3 Conn McCreary John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1-1/16 m1:44.60$4,800
1940True Call3 Don Meade Dion K. Kerr Mrs. Dion K. Kerr1-1/16 m1:43.60$6,200

References

  1. 1 2 "Top Flight Invitational Handicap". NYRA. 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2021-05-11.
  2. "Singing Rain 6-5 To Win Top Flight". Singing Rain 6-5 To Win Top Flight. 1970-05-23. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  3. "9-2 Shot Shatters Record for Stakes". New York Times, page 231. 1973-04-29. Retrieved 2021-05-13.