Challenger Stakes

The Challenger Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses four years old or older over a distance of ​1 1⁄16 miles on the dirt track in early March at Tampa Bay Downs, Oldsmar, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

Challenger Stakes
Grade III race
LocationTampa Bay Downs
Oldsmar, Florida
Inaugurated1987
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
Race information
Distance​1 1⁄16 miles
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour year-olds & older
Weight123lbs with allowances
Purse$100,000 (2020)

History

The race was inaugurated in 1987[1] as a late season two-year-old event in the last week of December.[2] For five years between 1992 and 1996 the event was not held.[1]

In 1997 the event was renewed as a three year old event and scheduled in February over the shorter distance of 7 furlongs[1] and in 1998 the event received sponsorship from Budweiser[3] which continued until 2007. In 1999 the event was moved to the turf track at a longer distance of one mile.[4]

In 2004 the conditions of the event were changed, in that four year olds and older could enter. The distance was extended to the now ​1 1⁄16 miles and the running was on the dirt track.[5]

In 2020 the event was upgraded to a Grade III event.[5]

Records

Speed record:

  • ​1 1⁄16 miles – 1:41.89 – Flameaway (2019)
  • 1 mile – 1:33.79 – Lucky J J (2000)

Margins:

  • ​6 3⁄4 lengths – General a Rod (2015)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

  • 4 – Todd A. Pletcher (2001, 2011, 2015, 2017)

Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
2020 Trophy Chaser 4 Paco Lopez Juan Carlos Avila JCA Racing Stable ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:42.28 $100,000 III [6]
2019 Flameaway 4 Jose L. Ortiz Mark E. Casse John C. Oxley ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:41.89 $100,000 Listed [7]
2018 War Story 6 Irad Ortiz Jr. Jorge Navarro Imaginary Stables & Glen Ellis ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:43.43 $100,000 [8]
2017 Stanford 5 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Stonestreet Stables, Susan Magnier, Michael B. Tabor & Derrick Smith ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:41.75 $100,000 [9]
2016 Adirondack King 7 Javier Castellano John C. Servis MarchFore Thoroughbreds ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:44.15 $100,000 [10]
2015 General a Rod 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Skychai Racing & Starlight Racing ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:42.89 $60,000 [11]
2014 Tulira Castle 4 Angel Serpa James P. DiVito Curtis C. Green ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:43.68 $58,800 [12]
2013 Flatter This 6 Antonio A. Gallardo Kathleen O'Connell Blackacre Farms ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:44.90 $60,000 [13]
2012 Fort Larned 4 Ronald Dale Allen Jr. Ian R. Wilkes Janis R. Whitham ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:42.93 $60,000 [14]
2011 Colizeo 4 Willie Martinez Todd A. Pletcher Wertheimer & Frere ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:42.94 $60,000 [15]
2010 Bold Start 6 Willie Martinez Kenneth G. McPeek Lawrence E. Carrol ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:42.83 $51,500 [16]
2009 Fierce Wind 4 Daniel Centeno William Phipps Minor Stables ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:45.01 $65,000 [17]
2008 Wayzata Bay 6 Luis Antonio Gonzalez Judi A. Hicklin World Thoroughbreds Racing ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:44.82 $65,000 [18]
2007 Istan 5 Jose C. Ferrer William I. Mott Darpat S.L. Stables ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:43.64 $65,000 [19]
2006 Cherokee Prince 6 Mike Allen Ronald D. Allen Sr. Volar Corporation ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:43.13 $65,000 [20]
2005 Tap Day 4 Jose A. Velez Jr. Mark A. Hennig Edward P. Evans ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:44.58 $65,000 [21]
2004 Attack the Books 5 Derek C. Bell David H. Hinsley Mike Crowe & Judy Crowe ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:44.46 $75,000 Listed [22]
2003 Admiral Lance 3 Pedro A. Rodriguez James H. Little James H. Little 1 mile 1:38.58 $50,000 On Turf[23]
2002 Classic Case 3 T. D. Houghton Mark E. Casse Stonerside Stable 1 mile 1:36.16 $50,000 [24]
2001 First Spear 3 Christopher DeCarlo Todd A. Pletcher Peachtree Stable 1 mile 1:36.56 $50,000 Listed [25]
2000 Lucky JJ 3 Pedro A. Rodriguez Richard Ciardullo Jr. Richard Ciardullo Sr. 1 mile 1:33.79 $45,000 [26]
1999 Marquette 3 Jean-Luc Samyn Richard Violette Jr. J. R. Cavanaugh 1 mile 1:35.15 $33,800 [4]
1998 Sejm Run 3 Luis Gonzalez Julian Canet Harvey Tenenbaum 7 furlongs 1:25.20 $33,000 [3]
1997 Favorable Regard 3 Kevin Whitley Marshall Novak Suzanne Gladden & Marshall Novak 7 furlongs 1:24.80 $28,050 [27]
1992–1996 Race not held
1991 Lee n Otto 2 Willie Martinez Glenn Wismer Tedford M. Randolph ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:49.98 $50,000 Listed [28]
1990 Darian's Reason 2 Eduardo Nunez Robert J. Richards Jr. Schweiger Stables ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:47.00 $50,000 [29]
1989 Slew of Angels 2 Ricardo Lopez James E. Day Sam Son Farm ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:46.00 $50,000 [30]
1988 Storm Predictions 2 Steve Gaffalione Luis A. Olivares Three G Stable ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:46.60 $50,000 [31]
1987 Strike the Knight[lower-alpha 1] 2 Herson A. Sanchez John F. Reading Jerry Cutrona ​1 1⁄16 miles 1:45.40 $50,000 [2]

Notes:

  1. Cannon Dancer was first past the post but was disqualified and placed second and Strike the Knight declared the winner[2]

References
  1. "CHALLENGER STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  2. Henry, Mike (27 December 1987). "Strike the Knight wins Challenger 1987 Challenger Stakes - (race 9: held 26 December 1987)". The Tampa Tribune. p. 37. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  3. "1998 Budweiser Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 31 January 1998. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  4. "1999 Budweiser Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 30 January 1999. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  5. "Challenger Stakes (Gr. 3)". Equibase. 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  6. "2020 Challenger Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  7. "2019 Challenger Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  8. "2018 Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 10 March 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  9. "2017 Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  10. "2016 Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 3)". Equibase. 12 March 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  11. "2015 Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  12. "2014 Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  13. "2013 Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  14. "2012 Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  15. "2011 Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 10)". Equibase. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  16. "2010 Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 7)". Equibase. 6 March 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  17. "2009 Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 7)". Equibase. 7 March 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  18. "2008 Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 10)". Equibase. 8 March 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  19. "2007 Budweiser Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 10 March 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  20. "2006 Budweiser Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 11 March 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  21. "2005 Budweiser Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 7)". Equibase. 12 March 2005. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  22. "2004 Budweiser Challenger Stakes Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 6 March 2004. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  23. "2003 Budweiser Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 10)". Equibase. 22 March 2003. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  24. "2002 Budweiser Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 10)". Equibase. 23 March 2002. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  25. "2001 Budweiser Challenger Stakes Listed - (race 11)". Equibase. 10 February 2001. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  26. "2000 Budweiser Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 10)". Equibase. 12 February 2000. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  27. "1997 Challenger Stakes Black Type - (race 9)". Equibase. 1 February 1997. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  28. "1991 Challenger Stakes - (race 9)". Equibase. 29 December 1991. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  29. Henry, Mike (30 December 1990). "Darian's Reason romps to Challenger win 1990 Challenger Stakes - (race 10: held 29 December 1990)". The Tampa Tribune. p. 51. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  30. "Slew of Angels captures $50,000 race in Oldsmar 1989 Challenger Stakes - (race 10: held 30 December 1989)". Tampa Bay Times. 31 December 1989. p. 34. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  31. Henry, Mike (1 January 1989). "Storm Predictions captures Challenger race by 1 length 1988 Challenger Stakes - (race 10: held 31 December 1988)". The Tampa Tribune. p. 48. Retrieved 20 May 2020.

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

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