W. L. McKnight Stakes

Last updated
W. L. McKnight Stakes
Grade 3 race
Location Gulfstream Park
(2014–present)
Calder Race Course (1973–2013)
Inaugurated1973
Race type ThoroughbredFlat racing
Website www.gulfstreampark.com
Race information
Distance1½ miles (12 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour years & older
PurseUS$200,000

The W. L. McKnight Stakes is an American Grade 3 Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. [1] Inaugurated in 1973 at Calder Race Course it remained there through 2013 when the track closed. In 2017 a race condition was changed from being open to horses age three and older to those who were four and older. A race on turf at a distance of a mile and one-half, due to safety concerns it was shifted from the turf course to the main dirt track in 1993, 2005, and 2013.

Contents

The race was named for William L. McKnight, the founder of Tartan Farms. [2] Prior to 2019, it was run as the W. L. McKnight Handicap.

Historical notes

Twilight Eclipse has the distinction of winning the McKnight Handicap back-to-back on two different racing surfaces. At Calder Race Course, the gelding won the race on grass in 2012 and in 2013 on dirt after it was switched from a soggy grass course to the dirt track. It was only the second time in his career that Twilight Eclipse had run on dirt. [3] [4]

In 1995, Flag Down set the race record that still stood when the Calder track closed. Flag Down was bred by Windfields Farm and raced by Allen Paulson who at the time was also racing the great future U. S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Cigar. [5]

Of its fifty-three runnings, no female horse has won the McKnight.

Records

Speed record:

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time
Win$
Gr.
2023Red Knight9 Irad Ortiz Jr. Michael J. Maker Trinity Farm1122:25.11$116,500G3
2022Abaan5 Luis Saez Todd Pletcher Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Alex Daigneault1122:29.53$115,320G3
2021Tide Of The Sea5 Tyler Gaffalione Michael J. Maker Three Diamonds Farm1122:24.57$87,420G3
2020Spooky Channel5 Julien Leparoux Brian A. Lynch Terry Hamilton1122:26.16$116,560G3
2019 Zulu Alpha 6 Irad Ortiz Jr. Michael J. Maker Michael M. Hui1122:36.80$114,080G3
2018Oscar Nominated5 José Ortiz Michael J. Maker Ken & Sarah Ramsey 1122:30.08$119,040G3
2017Taghleeb6Tyler Gaffalione Michael J. Maker Michael M. Hui1122:25.90$115,320G3
2016Race not held
2015 Charming Kitten 5 John R. Velazquez Todd Pletcher Ken & Sarah Ramsey 1122:27.76$59,520G3
2014Divine Oath3 Javier Castellano Todd Pletcher Let's Go Stable (Kevin Scatuorchio & Bryan Sullivan)1122:34.25$57,040G3
2013 Twilight Eclipse 4 Jose Lezcano Thomas Albertrani West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. (Terry Finley CEO)1122:23.66$75,175G3
2012 Twilight Eclipse 3 Manoel Cruz Thomas Albertrani West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. (Terry Finley CEO)1122:26.71$90,210G2
2011Musketier9 Luis Saez Roger L. Attfield Stella Perdomo1122:28.25$90,520G2
2010Prince Will I Am3 Javier Castellano Michelle K. NiheiCasa Farms I (Susan A. Atkins)1122:38.40$93,000G2
2009 Cloudy's Knight 9 Rosemary Homeister Jr. Jonathan E. Sheppard S J Stables LLC (Shirley & Jarrold Schwartz)1122:27.63$88,350G2
2008 Presious Passion 5 Elvis Trujillo Mary E. HartmannPatricia A. Generazio1122:25.64$86,490G2
2007 Presious Passion 4 Elvis Trujillo Mary E. HartmannPatricia A. Generazio1122:26.13$115,320G2
2006Devil's Preacher3 Rafael Bejarano George R. WeaverR. A. Hill Stable (Randy Hill)1122:38.28$120,000G2
2005Meteor Storm6 Javier Castellano Wallace A. Dollase The Horizon Stable (M. Jarvis, G. Margolis, K. Smole, J. Conway)1122:25.91$120,000G2
2004Dreadnaught4 Jean-Luc Samyn Thomas H. Voss Trillium Stable (Douglas Joyce)1122:26.60$120,000G2
2003 Balto Star 5 John R. Velazquez Todd Pletcher Anstu Stables, Inc. 1122:24.87$120,000G2
2002Man From Wicklow5 Jerry D. Bailey Richard A. Violette Jr. Richard A. Violette Jr.1122:28.05$120,000G2
2001Profit Option6 Mark Guidry Kenneth E. HoffmanMark Conway, K. E. Hoffman, Team Canonie, Inc.1122:27.95$90,000G2
2000A Little Luck6 Mike E. Smith Barclay Tagg Kathleen Crompton1122:29.01$90,000G2
1999Wicapi7 Cornelio Velásquez Joseph G. CalascibettaAcclaimed Racing Stable (Michael R. Berry)1122:26.28$90,000G2
1998Wild Event5 Shane Sellers Louis M. Goldfine Arthur I. Appleton 1122:26.93$90,000G2
1997Panama City3 Pat Day Patrick B. Byrne Robert Sangster & Joseph Lacombe1122:27.00$90,000G2
1996Diplomatic Jet4 Jorge F. Chavez James E. Picou Fred W. Hooper 1122:24.20$90,000G2
1995Flag Down5 José Santos Christophe Clement Allen E. Paulson 1122:24.00$90,000G2
1994-1Star of Manila3 Craig Perret Burk Kessenger Jr.New Phoenix Stable (Gary Drake)1122:28.40$90,000G2
1994-2Cobblestone Road5 José Ferrer Oliver E. EdwardsBruce Watkins & Stanley Stahl1122:27.80$90,000G2
1993Antartic Wings5 Rene Douglas Michael LermanSandy Price1122:32.40$60,000G2
1992Bye Union Avenue6 Rene Douglas Reynaldo H. Nobles Due Process Stable 1122:27.20$90,000G2
1991Stolen Rolls5Pedro A. Rodriguez Lawrence W. Jennings Esquire Farms1122:27.00$60,000G2
1990 Drum Taps 5 José Santos Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III 1122:29.80$60,000G2
1989Mataji4Douglas Valiente Happy Alter Alters Racing Stable1122:25.60$90,000G2
1988All Sincerity4Constantino HernandezAngel M. MedinaAlmost Heaven Stable, Inc.1122:25.40$120,000G2
1987 Creme Fraiche 6 Eddie Maple Woody Stephens Brushwood Stable (Elizabeth Moran)1122:27.00$120,000G2
1986 Flying Pidgeon 5 José Santos Luis Olivares Constance Daparma & Marjan Stable, Inc.1122:39.60$120,000G2
1985-1Jack Slade4Gerland GalitanoDavid C. KassenAndrew Adams1122:26.20$69,900G2
1985-2 Flying Pidgeon 5 José Santos Luis Olivares Constance Daparma & Marjan Stable, Inc.1122:25.80$70,800G2
1984-1Open Call6 Jorge Velásquez Robert J. Reinacher Jr. Greentree Stable 1122:30.20$63,755G2
1984-2 Nijinsky's Secret 5 José Vélez Jr. Kent H. Stirling Hedley McDougald 1122:31.20$63,675G2
1983Current Blade6 Jerry D. Bailey John P. Campo Buckland Farm 112 ±2:29.20$70,020G2
1982-1Ghazwan6Constantino HernandezLeonard ImperioBuckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok)1122:28.80$61,920G2
1982-2Russian George5 Miguel A. Rivera Jean Cruguet Sea Salt Farm, Inc.1122:29.80$61,320G2
1981-1El Barril5 Jacinto Vásquez Angel A. Penna Jr. Walnut Hill Farm1122:28.40$51,630G3
1981-2Buckpoint5 Jerry D. Bailey J. Bert Sonnier Owen Helman1122:28.00$52,230G3
1980-1Old Crony5 Don Brumfield Edward I. Kelly Sr. Bwamazon Farm (Millard A. Waldheim)118 ±1:48.40$35,565G3
1980-2Drum's Captain5 Jeffrey Fell Leonard ImperioBuckram Oak Farm (Mahmoud Fustok)118 ±1:48.00$34,875G3
1979Bob's Dusty5Richard DePass William E. Adams Robert N. Lehmann118 ±1:48.00$55,800G3
1978Practitioner5Jesus S. RodriguezLeo Sierra Dogwood Stable 118 ±1:48.00$56,520G3
1977Hall of Reason5 Mickey Solomone Dukas "Duke" DavisMalcolm Woldenberg118 ±1:47.20$52,200G3
1976Toonerville3 Gene St. Leon Norman St. LeonFrank & Mike Ryan & Norman St. Leon118 ±1:44.60$55,800G3
1975Snurb5 Gene St. Leon Reed M. Combest B.L.T. Stable (Art Bruns, et al.)118 ±1:46.00$37,800 LR
1974Shane's Prince5 Eddie Maple Frank J. McManusRed Hand Stable118 ±1:46.00$35,700
1973Getajetholme4Joseph E. Imparato J. Bert Sonnier Ralph Sessa118 ±1:47.20$38,700

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References

  1. "Stakes Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  2. "Virginia McKnight Binger of Tartan Farms Dead". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  3. "Twilight Eclipse takes McKnight". ESPN. 2012-11-24. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  4. "Calder: Twilight Eclipse unfazed by McKnight's switch to main track". Daily Racing Form. 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  5. "Horse Racing Notes". Los Angeles Times . 1995-12-17. Retrieved 2020-06-14.