Hilltop Stakes

The Hilltop Stakes is an American ungraded Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of one mile on turf held annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. [1]

Hilltop Stakes

Ungraded Stakes race
Location	Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Inaugurated	1973
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.pimlico.com
Race information
Distance	1 mile
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-old fillies
Weight	Assigned
Purse	$100,000

History

The Hilltop Stakes was run on the second Saturday of May each year exactly one week prior to the Preakness Stakes. In 2015 the race was scheduled on the Friday, the day before the Preakness. when the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is held. The race is named in honor of the nickname for Pimlico Race Course. The nickname "Old Hilltop" was given to the venerable track in Baltimore, Maryland because of a large hill in the infield that was very prominent and gave race goers a 360" bird's-eye view of the entire track. In 1938 the hill top was leveled so that movie cameras and patrons in the grandstand could see the race on the backside of the track while the horses were racing.

The race was run on the main track on a dirt surface prior to 1988. It was also run on the main track in 1995 and 2003 due to a yielding turf and poor weather. In 1997, Francine Villeneuve became the first female jockey to win the race.

Records

Speed record:

• ​1 ¹⁄₁₆ miles - 1:41.40 - Captive Miss (1992)
• 1 mile - 1:36.20 - Another Paddock (1988)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 3 - Greg McCarron (1974, 1978, 1989)
• 3 - Mario Pino (1987, 1999, 2002)
• 3 - John R. Velazquez (2011, 2012, 2015)

Winners of the "Hilltop Stakes" since 1966

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance (Miles)	Time	Purse	Grd
2019	Dogtag	3	Javier Castellano	Chad Brown	LNJ Foxwoods	1 mile	1:36.71	$100,000
2018	Souper Striking	3	Julian Pimetel	Michael Trombetta	Live Oak Plantation	​1 ^1⁄8 miles	1:51.72	$100,000
2017	Happy Mesa	3	Javier Castellano	H. Graham Motion	Great Point Stables	1 mile	1:33.61	$100,000
2016	Gone Away	3	Florent Geroux	Michael Matz	Augustin Stable	1-1/16	1:41.68	$100,000
2015	Miss Temple City	3	John R. Velazquez	H. Graham Motion	Sagamore Farm	1-1/16	1:41.94	$100,000
2014	Our Epiphany	3	Grant Whitacre	D Kobiskie	PTK LLC	1-1/16	1:48.07	$100,000
2013	Emotional Kitten	3	Joel Rosario	Wesley Ward	Kenneth Ramsey	1-1/16	1:41.98	$100,000
2012	Coup	3	John Velazquez	H. Graham Motion	Augustin Stable	1-1/16	1:42.71	$100,000
2011	Excited	3	John Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	Michael B. Tabor	1-1/16	1:49.48	$75,000
2010	Joharmony	3	Javier Castellano	Leigh Delacour	Gary L. Chervenell	1-1/16	1:44.17	$70,000
2009	Blind Date	3	Jeremy Rose	Hamilton A. Smith	William M. Backer	1-1/16	1:42.89	$60,000
2008	Hartigan	3	Luis Garcia	Richard W. Small	Robert Meyerhoff	1-1/16	1:46.24	$60,000
2007	Street Sounds	3	Ramon Dominguez	Michael R. Matz	Hidden Creek Farm	1 mile	1:36.60	$80,000
2006	Ebony Rose	3	Chris Decarlo	Todd A. Pletcher	Gene Mello	1-1/16	1:49.60	$85,000
2005	My Typhoon	3	Jerry Bailey	William I. Mott	Peter Vegso	1-1/16	1:44.20	$75,000
2004	Western Ransom	3	Ryan Fogelsonger	Michael Dickinson	Dr. John A. Chandler	1-1/16	1:43.20	$50,000
2003	City Fire	3	Jeremy Rose	Mark Shuman	Michael Gill	1-1/16	1:44.20	$50,000
2002	Ntombi	3	Mario Pino	Michael Dickinson	Dr. John A. Chandler	1-1/16	1:42.20	$50,000
2001	Guillotine	3	Mark T. Johnston	Hamilton A. Smith	Janis Gerace	1-1/16	1:45.00	$75,000
2000	Azireprice	3	Sidney Lejeune, Jr.	Thomas Amoss	On Target Racing Stable	1-1/16	1:43.20	$50,000
1999	Polish Miss	3	Mario Pino	Bruce C. Jackson	Mary Kernan	1-1/16	1:44.80	$50,000
1998	Proud Owner	3	Darci Rice	Richard W. Small	Thomas Bowman& Small	1-1/16	1:43.00	$57,000
1997	Cozy Blues	3	Fran Villeneuve	James E. Baker	Adam Wachtel	1-1/16	1:44.00	$75,000
1997	Earth to Jackie	3	Robert Colton	J. William Boniface	Jacquelyn Schipke	1-1/16	1:44.00	$75,000
1996	Silent Greeting	3	Larry Reynolds	H. Graham Motion	Joe L. Allbritton	1-1/16	1:46.40	$58,000
1995	Jhenais Jewel	3	Raphael Verderosa	Josephine Owens	Mrs. Jack Jeweler	1-1/16	1:45.60	$58,000
1994	Irish Forever	3	Jorge Chavez	J. William Boniface	Roger Schipke	1-1/16	1:43.60	$57,000
1993	Open Toe	3	Mike Luzzi	James W. Murphy	Pomerosa Farms	1-1/16	1:42.40	$57,000
1992	Captive Miss	3	Joe Bravo	Philip M. Serpe	Live Oak Stud	1-1/16	1:41.40	$60,000
1991	Grab the Green	3	Edgar Prado	Barclay Tagg	Samuel H. Rogers Jr.	1-1/16	1:44.60	$58,000
1990	Valay Maid	3	Marco Castaneda	Carlos A. Garcia	C. Oliver Goldsmith	1-1/16	1:42.60	$58,000
1989	Seraglio	3	Greg McCarron	Richard W. Small	Robert E. Meyerhoff	1-1/16	1:48.80	$68,500
1988	Another Paddock	3	Nick Santagata	George Pagano	George Steinbrenner	1 mile	1:36.20	$60,000
1987	Artic Cloud	3	Mario Pino		William T. Fitzgibbons	1-1/16	1:44.40	$50,000
1986	Country Recital	3	Vincent Bracciale			1-1/16	1:46.00	$36,500
1985	A Joyful Spray	3	Philip Grove		John A. Manfuso	1-1/16	1:43.60	$36,500
1984	Squan Song	3	Fernando Hernandez	Carlos A. Garcia	Mrs. Peter F. Green	1-1/16	1:44.60	$36,500
1983	Final Chapter	3	Danny Wright	Richard W. Small		1-1/16	1:45.40	$36,500
1982	Martie's Double	3	Rudy Turcotte			1-1/16	1:43.60	$36,500
1981	Anti Phil	3	Danny Wright		Anthony E. Verdi	1-1/16	1:46.40	$36,500
1980	Weber City Miss	3	Vincent Bracciale			1-1/16	1:45.00	$36,500
1979	Heavy Sugar	3	Mark Drury			1-1/16	1:45.20	$36,500
1978	Caesar's Wish	3	Greg McCarron	Richard W. Small	Sally M. Gibson	1-1/16	1:45.00	$35,000
1977	Enthused	3	Chris McCarron			1-1/16	1:45.40	$28,000
1976	Dance My Love	3	George Cusimano			1-1/16	1:46.40	$30,700
1975	Quick Selection	3	George Cusimano			1-1/16	1:45.00	$36,000
1974	Four Bells	3	Greg McCarron			1-1/16	1:43.20	$30,500
1973	Maybe Crafty	3	Eldon Nelson			1-1/16	1:46.60	$30,000

See also

• Hilltop Stakes top three finishers
• Pimlico Race Course
• List of graded stakes at Pimlico Race Course

References

1. 2007 Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide, page 44 on March 3, 2007.