American Pharoah Stakes

The American Pharoah Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of September during the fall meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade I event, it is open to two-year-old horses and is held at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt.

American Pharoah Stakes

Grade I race
Location	Santa Anita Park Arcadia, California, United States
Inaugurated	1970
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.oaktreeracing.com
Race information
Distance	​1 ^1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs)
Surface	dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Two-year-olds
Weight	122 pounds (55 kg)
Purse	$300,000 (since 2014)[1]

The American Pharoah Stakes was run as the Norfolk Stakes through 2011. In 2012, it was renamed to the FrontRunner Stakes after the lease with Oak Tree, the organization that formerly operated Santa Anita's fall meet, ended in 2010.[2] It was renamed again in 2018 in honor of its 2014 winner, American Pharoah, who went on to win the U.S. Triple Crown in 2015.[3]

This race is a Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season qualifying race. The winner receives 10 points toward qualifying for the Kentucky Derby.[4] It is also currently part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. The winner automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

First run in 1970, it became a Grade I event in 1980 but was downgraded to Grade II status in 1993. However, the American Graded Stakes Committee announced its return to Grade I status for 2007.[1]

The race was run over a distance of 1 mile from 1997 through 2001. It was run in two divisions in 1980.[5]

Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1​¹⁄₁₆ miles)

• 1:41.27 - Ruler's Court (2003)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 7 - Alex Solis (1985, 1991, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 9 - Bob Baffert (1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 - Golden Eagle Farm (1990, 1992, 1997)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Dist. (Miles)	Time	Win$	Gr.
2019	Eight Rings	2	John Velazquez	Bob Baffert	SF Racing LLC et al.	1​^1⁄16 M	1:45.41	$180,000	G1
2018	Game Winner	2	Joel Rosario	Bob Baffert	Gary & Mary West	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.77	$180,000	G1
FrontRunner Stakes (2011-2017)
2017	Bolt d'Oro	2	Corey Nakatani	Mick Ruis	Ruis Racing	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.54	$180,000	G1
2016	Gormley	2	Victor Espinoza	John Shirreffs	Jerry & Ann Moss	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.57	$180,000	G1
2015	Nyquist	2	Mario Gutierrez	Doug F. O'Neill	Reddam Racing	1​^1⁄16 M	1:44.89	$180,000	G1
2014	American Pharoah	2	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	Zayat Stables	1​^1⁄16 M	1:41.95	$180,000	G1
2013	Bond Holder	2	Mario Gutierrez	Doug F. O'Neill	Reddam Racing	1​^1⁄16 M	1:45.02	$150,000	G1
2012	Power Broker	2	Rafael Bejarano	Bob Baffert	Gary & Mary West	1​^1⁄16 M	1:44.44	$150,000	G1
Norfolk Stakes (1970-2011)
2011	Creative Cause	2	Joel Rosario	Mike Harrington	Heinz Steinman	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.66	$150,000	G1
2010‡	Jaycito	2	Mike E. Smith	Mike Mitchell	Zayat Stables	1​^1⁄16 M	1:44.17	$150,000	G1
2009	Lookin at Lucky	2	Garrett Gomez	Bob Baffert	Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, Paul Weitman	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.11	$180,000	G1
2008	Street Hero	2	Alex Solis	Myung Kwon Cho	Myung Kwon Cho	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.12	$150,000	G1
2007	Dixie Chatter	2	Richard Migliore	Richard E. Mandella	Herman Sarkowsky	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.64	$150,000	G1
2006	Stormello	2	Kent Desormeaux	William L. Currin	William L. Currin & Al Eisman	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.10	$150,000	G2
2005	Brother Derek	2	Alex Solis	Dan L. Hendricks	Cecil N. Peacock	1​^1⁄16 M	1:44.38	$120,000	G2
2004	Roman Ruler	2	Corey Nakatani	Bob Baffert	Fog City Stable	1​^1⁄16 M	1:44.27	$120,000	G2
2003	Ruler's Court	2	Alex Solis	Eoin G. Harty	Darley Stable	1​^1⁄16 M	1:41.27	$150,000	G2
2002	Kafwain	2	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	The Thoroughbred Corp.	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.75	$120,000	G2
2001	Essence of Dubai	2	Alex Solis	Eoin G. Harty	Godolphin Racing	1 M	1:37.16	$150,000	G2
2000	Flame Thrower	2	Victor Espinoza	Bob Baffert	Gary M. Garber	1 M	1:34.86	$120,000	G2
1999	Dixie Union	2	Alex Solis	Richard E. Mandella	Diamond A Racing & Herman Sarkowsky	1 M	1:35.79	$120,000	G2
1998	Buck Trout	2	Eddie Delahoussaye	Mike Harrington	Heinz Steinmann	1 M	1:37.55	$120,000	G2
1997	Souvenir Copy	2	Gary Stevens	Bob Baffert	Golden Eagle Farm	1 M	1:36.00	$120,000	G2
1996	Free House	2	Kent Desormeaux	J. Paco Gonzalez	Trudy McCaffery & John Toffan	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.54	$120,000	G2
1995	Future Quest	2	Kent Desormeaux	Ron McAnally	VHW Stables	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.31	$120,000	G2
1994	Supremo	2	Gary Stevens	Richard W. Mulhall	The Thoroughbred Corp.	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.48	$120,000	G2
1993	Shepherd's Field	2	Chris McCarron	Brad MacDonald	Camptown Stable	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.11	$120,000	G2
1992	River Special	2	Kent Desormeaux	Robert B. Hess Jr.	Golden Eagle Farm	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.58	$120,000	G1
1991	Bertrando	2	Alex Solis	Bruce Headley	505 Farms	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.87	$164,820	G1
1990	Best Pal	2	Pat Valenzuela	Ian P. D. Jory	Golden Eagle Farm	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.80	$178,620	G1
1989	Grand Canyon	2	Chris McCarron	D. Wayne Lukas	D. Wayne Lukas & Overbrook Farm	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.20	$166,440	G1
1988	Hawkster	2	Pat Valenzuela	Ron McAnally	J. Shelton Meredith	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.40	$187,740	G1
1987	Saratoga Passage	2	Joe Steiner	Robert W. Leonard	Saratoga I Stable	1​^1⁄16 M	1:45.00	$181,140	G1
1986	Capote	2	Laffit Pincay Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	Barry Beal, L. R. French, Jr. & Gene Klein	1​^1⁄16 M	1:45.20	$193,680	G1
1985	Snow Chief	2	Alex Solis	Melvin F. Stute	Grinstead & Rochelle	1​^1⁄16 M	1:44.60	$167,340	G1
1984	Chief's Crown	2	Don MacBeth	Roger Laurin	Star Crown Stable	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.40	$201,960	G1
1983	Fali Time	2	Sandy Hawley	Gary F. Jones	James L. Mamakos & Marc Stubrin	1​^1⁄16 M	1:44.20	$168,930	G1
1982	Roving Boy	2	Eddie Delahoussaye	Joseph Manzi	Robert E. Hibbert	1​^1⁄16 M	1:41.60	$181,110	G1
1981	Stalwart	2	Chris McCarron	D. Wayne Lukas	Marvin L. Warner	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.20	$140,790	G1
1980-1	Sir Dancer	2	Frank Olivares	Charles M. Marikian	George Arakelian Farms	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.80	$100,980	G1
1980-2	High Counsel	2	Larry Gilligan	Charles Whittingham	Nelson Bunker Hunt	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.80	$99,780	G1
1979	The Carpenter	2	Chris McCarron	Willard L. Proctor	Cardiff Stud Farm	1​^1⁄16 M	1:41.80	$119,280	G2
1978	Flying Paster	2	Don Pierce	Gordon C. Campbell	Bernard J. Ridder	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.20	$118,860	G2
1977	Balzac	2	Bill Shoemaker	Charles Whittingham	Elizabeth A. Keck	1​^1⁄16 M	1:45.40	$157,230	G2
1976	Habitony	2	Bill Shoemaker	Tommy Doyle	Anton W. Pejsa	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.00	$79,290	G2
1975	Telly's Pop	2	Francisco Mena	Melvin F. Stute	Howard W. Koch & Telly Savalas	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.60	$74,295	G2
1974	George Navonod	2	Don Pierce	Gordon C. Campbell	Navonod Stables	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.20	$77,370	G2
1973	Money Lender	2	Jerry Lambert	Johnny Longden	Hazel Longden	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.60	$58,050	G2
1972	Groshawk	2	Bill Shoemaker	Charles Whittingham	Quinn & Muffett Martin	1​^1⁄16 M	1:42.20	$59,025
1971	MacArthur Park	2	Bill Shoemaker	Tommy Doyle	Mark Three Stable	1​^1⁄16 M	1:41.80	$59,445
1970	June Darling	2	William Mahorney	Warren Stute	Clement L. Hirsch	1​^1⁄16 M	1:43.00	$45,765

‡ In 2010 run at Hollywood Park.

See also

• Road to the Kentucky Derby

References

1. "American Pharoah Stakes Profile". equibase.com. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
2. "Older horses take spotlight in new-look Santa Anita stakes". kentucky. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
3. "Santa Anita Names Stakes After American Pharoah". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
4. "Road to the Kentucky Derby". kentuckyderbyinfographic.com. Churchill Downs Inc. Archived from the original on 2018-08-06. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
5. "Dancer Captures Share of Norfolk Stakes". New York Times, Section Sports, page 13. 1980-11-16. Retrieved 2020-01-11.