Bertram F. Bongard Stakes
The Bertram F. Bongard Stakes is a listed stakes race for Thoroughbred two-year-olds run in the fall at Belmont Park, New York.
At a distance of 7 furlongs, it will be in its 39th running in 2016. The Bongard is a major prep race for up-and-coming young horses and offers a purse of $150,000. Though not restricted to New York bred horses, this is not an open race: it is considered an event on the New York bred schedule.
This race was run at a mile and an eighth prior to 1983 and also from 1984 to 1988. It went at seven furlongs in 1983, and from 1996 to the present. It was set at a mile and a sixteenth from 1989 to 1993 and at six furlongs in 1994 and 1995. Run for three-year-olds and up prior to 1984, now it is run for two-year-olds only.
Named for Bertram F. Bongard who was a founding director of Eastern New York Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, it was for three-year-olds and up prior to 1984, but is now strictly for two-year-olds. Before 1984, it was called the Bertram F. Bongard Handicap.
Winner of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, Funny Cide, won this race in 2003.
Past winners
- 2016 - Mirai (Jose Ortiz)
- 2015 - Sudden Surprise (John R. Velazquez)
- 2014 - Saratoga Heater (Joel Rosario)
- 2013 - Wired Bryan (John Velazquez)
- 2012 - Weekend Hideaway
- 2011 - RACE NOT RUN?
- 2010 - RACE NOT RUN
- 2009 - Make Note
- 2008 - Trinity Magic (Shaun Bridgmohan)
- 2007 - Big Truck (Ramon Dominguez)
- 2006 - I'm A Numbers Guy (Stewart Elliott)
- 2005 - Sharp Humor (Edgar Prado)
- 2004 - Up Like Thunder (Javier Castellano)
- 2003 - Flagshipenterprise (Mark Guidry)
- 2002 - Funny Cide (José A. Santos)
- 2001 - White Ibis (Robbie Davis)
- 2000 - Le Grande Danseur (Jorge Chavez)
- 1999 - Image Maker (Jorge Chavez)
- 1998 - David (Aaron Gryder)
- 1997 - Ruby Hill (José A. Santos)
- 1996 - Patent Pending (Robbie Davis)
- 1995 - Out To Win (Julie Krone)
- 1994 - Cyrano (Mike E. Smith)
- 1993 - Bit of Puddin (Mike E. Smith)
- 1992 - Over the Brink (Aaron Gryder)
- 1991 - Phantom Finn (Eddie Maple)
- 1990 - Well Well Well (Diane Nelson)
- 1989 - Applebred (Jean-Luc Samyn)
- 1988 - Gold Oak (Eddie Maple)
- 1987 - Notebook (José A. Santos)
- 1986 - Sweet Envoy (Jacinto Vasquez)
- 1985 - Wild Wood (Michael Venezia)
- 1984 - Hot Debate (Don MacBeth)
- 1983 - Master Digby (Angel Cordero, Jr.)
- 1982 - Fearless Leader (Don MacBeth)
- 1981 - Accipiter's Hope (Cash Asmussen)
- 1980 - Fio Rito (Leslie Hulet)
- 1979 - International (Jorge Velasquez)
- 1978 - Judging Man (Angel Cordero, Jr.)