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.

Quick Facts Location, Inaugurated ...
American Pharoah Stakes
Grade I race
LocationSanta Anita Park
Arcadia, California, United States
Inaugurated1970
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Websitewww.oaktreeracing.com
Race information
Distance1+116 miles (8.5 furlongs)
Surfacedirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationTwo-year-olds
Weight122 pounds (55 kg)
Purse$300,000 (since 2014)[1]
Close

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 1116 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:

  • 12 - Bob Baffert (1997, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

More information Year, Winner ...
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Win$
Gr.
2023 Muth 2 Juan Hernandez Bob Baffert Zedan Racing 1116 M 1:42.45 $180,000 G1
2022 Cave Rock 2 Juan Hernandez Bob Baffert Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, Paul Weitman 1116 M 1:43.05 $180,000 G1
2021 Corniche 2 Mike E. Smith Bob Baffert Speedway Stables 1116 M 1:44.75 $180,000 G1
2020 Get Her Number 2 Flavien Prat Peter Miller Gary Barber 1116 M 1:44.92 $180,000 G1
2019 Eight Rings 2 John Velazquez Bob Baffert SF Racing LLC et al. 1116 M 1:45.41 $180,000 G1
2018 Game Winner 2 Joel Rosario Bob Baffert Gary & Mary West 1116 M 1:43.77 $180,000 G1
FrontRunner Stakes (2011-2017)
2017 Bolt d'Oro 2 Corey Nakatani Mick Ruis Ruis Racing 1116 M 1:43.54 $180,000 G1
2016 Gormley 2 Victor Espinoza John Shirreffs Jerry & Ann Moss 1116 M 1:43.57 $180,000 G1
2015 Nyquist 2 Mario Gutierrez Doug F. O'Neill Reddam Racing 1116 M 1:44.89 $180,000 G1
2014 American Pharoah 2 Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Zayat Stables 1116 M 1:41.95 $180,000 G1
2013 Bond Holder 2 Mario Gutierrez Doug F. O'Neill Reddam Racing 1116 M 1:45.02 $150,000 G1
2012 Power Broker 2 Rafael Bejarano Bob Baffert Gary & Mary West 1116 M 1:44.44 $150,000 G1
Norfolk Stakes (1970-2011)
2011 Creative Cause 2 Joel Rosario Mike Harrington Heinz Steinman 1116 M 1:42.66 $150,000 G1
2010‡ Jaycito 2 Mike E. Smith Mike Mitchell Zayat Stables 1116 M 1:44.17 $150,000 G1
2009 Lookin at Lucky 2 Garrett Gomez Bob Baffert Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, Paul Weitman 1116 M 1:43.11 $180,000 G1
2008 Street Hero 2 Alex Solis Myung Kwon Cho Myung Kwon Cho 1116 M 1:42.12 $150,000 G1
2007 Dixie Chatter 2 Richard Migliore Richard E. Mandella Herman Sarkowsky 1116 M 1:42.64 $150,000 G1
2006 Stormello 2 Kent Desormeaux William L. Currin William L. Currin & Al Eisman 1116 M 1:43.10 $150,000 G2
2005 Brother Derek 2 Alex Solis Dan L. Hendricks Cecil N. Peacock 1116 M 1:44.38 $120,000 G2
2004 Roman Ruler 2 Corey Nakatani Bob Baffert Fog City Stable 1116 M 1:44.27 $120,000 G2
2003 Ruler's Court 2 Alex Solis Eoin G. Harty Darley Stable 1116 M 1:41.27 $150,000 G2
2002 Kafwain 2 Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert The Thoroughbred Corp. 1116 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 1116 M 1:43.54 $120,000 G2
1995 Future Quest 2 Kent Desormeaux Ron McAnally VHW Stables 1116 M 1:43.31 $120,000 G2
1994 Supremo 2 Gary Stevens Richard W. Mulhall The Thoroughbred Corp. 1116 M 1:43.48 $120,000 G2
1993 Shepherd's Field 2 Chris McCarron Brad MacDonald Camptown Stable 1116 M 1:43.11 $120,000 G2
1992 River Special 2 Kent Desormeaux Robert B. Hess Jr. Golden Eagle Farm 1116 M 1:43.58 $120,000 G1
1991 Bertrando 2 Alex Solis Bruce Headley 505 Farms 1116 M 1:42.87 $164,820 G1
1990 Best Pal 2 Pat Valenzuela Ian P. D. Jory Golden Eagle Farm 1116 M 1:42.80 $178,620 G1
1989 Grand Canyon 2 Chris McCarron D. Wayne Lukas D. Wayne Lukas & Overbrook Farm 1116 M 1:43.20 $166,440 G1
1988 Hawkster 2 Pat Valenzuela Ron McAnally J. Shelton Meredith 1116 M 1:43.40 $187,740 G1
1987 Saratoga Passage 2 Joe Steiner Robert W. Leonard Saratoga I Stable 1116 M 1:45.00 $181,140 G1
1986 Capote 2 Laffit Pincay Jr. D. Wayne Lukas Barry Beal, L. R. French, Jr. & Gene Klein 1116 M 1:45.20 $193,680 G1
1985 Snow Chief 2 Alex Solis Melvin F. Stute Grinstead & Rochelle 1116 M 1:44.60 $167,340 G1
1984 Chief's Crown 2 Don MacBeth Roger Laurin Star Crown Stable 1116 M 1:42.40 $201,960 G1
1983 Fali Time 2 Sandy Hawley Gary F. Jones James L. Mamakos & Marc Stubrin 1116 M 1:44.20 $168,930 G1
1982 Roving Boy 2 Eddie Delahoussaye Joseph Manzi Robert E. Hibbert 1116 M 1:41.60 $181,110 G1
1981 Stalwart 2 Chris McCarron D. Wayne Lukas Marvin L. Warner 1116 M 1:42.20 $140,790 G1
1980-1 Sir Dancer 2 Frank Olivares Charles M. Marikian George Arakelian Farms 1116 M 1:43.80 $100,980 G1
1980-2 High Counsel 2 Larry Gilligan Charles Whittingham Nelson Bunker Hunt 1116 M 1:42.80 $99,780 G1
1979 The Carpenter 2 Chris McCarron Willard L. Proctor Cardiff Stud Farm 1116 M 1:41.80 $119,280 G2
1978 Flying Paster 2 Don Pierce Gordon C. Campbell Bernard J. Ridder 1116 M 1:42.20 $118,860 G2
1977 Balzac 2 Bill Shoemaker Charles Whittingham Elizabeth A. Keck 1116 M 1:45.40 $157,230 G2
1976 Habitony 2 Bill Shoemaker Tommy Doyle Anton W. Pejsa 1116 M 1:42.00 $79,290 G2
1975 Telly's Pop 2 Francisco Mena Melvin F. Stute Howard W. Koch & Telly Savalas 1116 M 1:43.60 $74,295 G2
1974 George Navonod 2 Don Pierce Gordon C. Campbell Navonod Stables 1116 M 1:42.20 $77,370 G2
1973 Money Lender 2 Jerry Lambert Johnny Longden Hazel Longden 1116 M 1:42.60 $58,050 G2
1972 Groshawk 2 Bill Shoemaker Charles Whittingham Quinn & Muffett Martin 1116 M 1:42.20 $59,025
1971 MacArthur Park 2 Bill Shoemaker Tommy Doyle Mark Three Stable 1116 M 1:41.80 $59,445
1970 June Darling 2 William Mahorney Warren Stute Clement L. Hirsch 1116 M 1:43.00 $45,765
Close
‡ In 2010 run at Hollywood Park.

See also

References

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