Railbird Stakes

The Railbird Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. A Grade III event open to three-year-old fillies, it is contested on Cushion Track synthetic dirt over a distance of a seven furlongs.

Railbird Stakes

Grade III race
Location	Hollywood Park Racetrack Inglewood, California, United States
Inaugurated	1963
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.hollywoodpark.com
Race information
Distance	7 furlongs
Surface	Cushion Track synthetic dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-old fillies
Weight	Assigned
Purse	$100,000

Inaugurated in 1963 as a race for three-year-olds of either sex, it was changed to a race for fillies only in 1964. For the only time in its history, in 1965 the race was run in two divisions.

The race is named in honor of railbirds, the nickname for the fans who line the racetrack's rail early in the morning to watch the workouts.[1]

The Railbird Stakes is a prep for Grade II Hollywood Oaks.

Records

Speed record:

• 1:20.60 - Eloquent (1979)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 5 - Richard Mandella (1992, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2009)

Winners since 1986

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2013	Iotapa	Joe Talamo	John W. Sadler	Hronis Racing	1:23.40
2012	Via Villaggio	Martin A. Pedroza	Jerry Hollendorfer	Steve Beneto	1:23.03
2011	May Day Rose	Joel Rosario	Bob Baffert	Kaleem Shah	1:22.26
2010	Tanda	Alex Solis	Dan Hendricks	Tommy Hutton	1:21.93
2009	Witty	Victor Espinoza	Richard E. Mandella	R. Bass/Claiborne/A. Dilschneider	1:21.74
2008	Million Dollar Run	Joel Rosario	Marcelo Polanco	Everest Stables Inc.	1:20.66
2007	Ashley's Kitty	Joe Talamo	Ted H. West	Oak West Farm	1:22.80
2006	Bettarun Fast	Aaron Gryder	Vladimir Cerin	Patricia & Stephen Fitzpatrick	1:23.29
2005	Short Route	Pat Valenzuela	Joe Herrick	Donna & Bill Herrick	1:22.99
2004	Elusive Diva	Pat Valenzuela	Mark Glatt	J. & D. Konecny / A. & S. Branch	1:21.36
2003	Buffythecenterfold	Victor Espinoza	Melvin F. Stute	Frank Stronach & Brian Allen	1:22.54
2002	September Secret	Pat Valenzuela	Mike Machowsky	Lo Hi Stable	1:22.95
2001	Golden Ballet	Chris McCarron	Jenine Sahadi	Bill Heiligbrodt & Team Valor	1:21.57
2000	Abby Girl	Corey Nakatani	Craig Dollase	Stephen Herold	1:22.57
1999	Olympic Charmer	Chris McCarron	Richard E. Mandella	Deborah McAnally	1:21.18
1998	Brulay	Gary Stevens	Richard E. Mandella	Ann & Jerry Moss	1:20.84
1997	I Ain't Bluffing	Eddie Delahoussaye	Ronald W. Ellis	Siegel family	1:22.77
1996	Supercilious	Corey Nakatani	Richard E. Mandella	Herman Sarkowsky	1:22.55
1995	Sleep Easy	Corey Nakatani	Robert J. Frankel	Juddmonte Farms	1:22.41
1994	Sportful Snob	Pat Valenzuela	John W. Sadler	Jack & Barbara Walter, et al.	1:21.94
1993	Afto	Paul Atkinson	Willard L. Proctor	Leonard H. Lavin	1:22.48
1992	She's Tops	Kent Desormeaux	Richard E. Mandella	Herman Sarkowsky	1:22.78
1991	Suziqcute	Chris McCarron	Ron McAnally	not found	1:21.80
1990	Forest Fealty	Julio Garcia	Brian A. Mayberry	Siegel Family	1:21.60
1989	Imaginary Lady	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	L. R. French, Jr. & D. W. Lukas	1:21.40
1988	Sheesham	Laffit Pincay, Jr.	Henry Moreno	Jack L. Finley	1:22.60
1987	Very Subtle	Bill Shoemaker	Melvin F. Stute	Ben Rochelle & Carl Grinstead	1:22.60
1986	Melair	Pat Valenzuela	John W. Sadler	Marianne Millard & Bea Rous	1:22.40

Earlier winners

• 1985 - Reigning Countess
• 1984 - Mitterrand
• 1983 - Ski Goggle
• 1982 - Faneuil Lass
• 1981 - Cherokee Frolic
• 1980 - Cinegita
• 1979 - Eloquent
• 1978 - Eximious
• 1977 - Talsez Vous
• 1976 - Hail Hilarious
• 1975 - Raise Your Skirts
• 1974 - Modus Vivendi
• 1973 - Sandy Blue
• 1972 - Impressive Style
• 1971 - Turkish Trousers
• 1970 - Bold Jil
• 1969 - Tipping Time
• 1968 - Morgaise
• 1967 - Forgiving
• 1966 - Fleet Treat
• 1965 - Gala Host
• 1965 - Mine Lovely
• 1964 - Fran La Femme
• 1963 - Well Ordered

Notes

1. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/469042972.html?dids=469042972:469042972&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+22%2C+1963&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Record+Stakes+Program+Set+for+Hollypark&pqatl=google

References

• The 2009 Railbird stakes at Bloodhorse.com