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Bewitch Stakes

Horse race From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Bewitch Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares four-year-olds and older over a distance of 1+1⁄2 miles on the turf held annually in April at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky during the spring meeting. The event currently offers a purse of $300,000.

Quick Facts Class, Location ...
Bewitch Stakes
ClassGrade III
LocationKeeneland Race Course
Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated1962
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
WebsiteKeeneland
Race information
Distance1+1⁄2 miles (12 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFillies & Mares, four-years-old and older
Weight123 lbs with allowances
Purse$300,000 (since 2022)
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History

Summarize
Perspective

The race is named for Calumet Farm's great Hall of Fame filly, Bewitch. Bewitch won her first two races as a two-year-old at Keeneland. The first event was on 10 April 1947, a maiden, The Dixiana Purse a four furlong race in which Bewitch won easily.[1] The following week Bewitch won the Thoroughbred Club Dinner Purse equaling the track record in 46 seconds flat for the four furlong distance that was held by Odessa Beulah since 27 April 1937.[2] Bewitch would win her first eight races and later would be voted U.S. Champion Two-Year-Old Filly for 1947. Keeneland honored this fine champion with the running of the inaugural Bewitch Stakes, a two-year-old filly event on closing day of the spring meeting on 24 April 1962 with Bonnie's Girl winning by 3+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 481⁄5 seconds for the about four furlong distance.[3] Bonnie's Girl would finish second the following year in the Kentucky Oaks which was won by Sally Ship.[4]

In 1965 the distance of the event was set at 4+1⁄2 furlongs with the extension of the chute which is now known as the Headley Course.[5] The number of two-year-old fillies that would enter the event was high which would enable Keeneland to split the event into divisions. This occurred in 1965, 1966, 1971, 1972 and 1976.[6] The last time the event was held as a two-year-old stakes race was in 1978.

In 1979 the event was held with conditions for fillies and mares that are four years old or older and the distance was set at 1+1⁄16 miles.[7]

In 1982 the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the race to its current Grade III status.[7]

Between 1979 and 1985 when the event was held on the dirt track three winners of the race had earlier had won the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park – Miss Baja scored a major upset at Oaklawn in 1979, confirmed her victory by winning by the Bewitch Stakes by 8+1⁄2 lengths,[8] Bold 'n Determined in 1981 and Heatherten in 1984.

Keeneland installed a new turf track in the fall of 1985 and in the following spring meeting (1986) the event was moved as was the Elkhorn Stakes (for all horses) and scheduled as a 1+1⁄8 miles event.[7]

In 1995 the distance of the event was increased to 1+1⁄2 miles.[7]

The event was not held 2020 during Keeneland's spring meeting which was moved to July and shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[9]

Records

Speed record

  • 1+1⁄2 miles turf: 2:27.54 – Bursting Forth (1999)
  • 1+1⁄8 miles turf: 1:48.37 – La Gueriere (1992)
  • 1+1⁄8 miles dirt: 1:43.00 – Miss Baja (1979), Jolie Dutch (1980)
  • 4+1⁄2 furlongs dirt: 0:51.00 – Royalty Note (1968)

Margins

  • 9 lengths – Shore (1966)

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey

  • 6 – Pat Day (1983, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997)

Most wins by an owner

  • 3 – George Krikorian (2021, 2022, 2023)

Most wins by a trainer

Winners

More information Year, Winner ...
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
2024 Chop Chop 4 Axel Concepcion Brad H. Cox Selective 1+1⁄2 miles 2:27.80 $290,125 III [10]
2023 War Like Goddess 6 Joel Rosario William I. Mott George Krikorian 1+1⁄2 miles 2:32.11 $297,500 III [11]
2022 War Like Goddess 5 Joel Rosario William I. Mott George Krikorian 1+1⁄2 miles 2:31.26 $298,500 III [12]
2021 War Like Goddess 4 Julien R. Leparoux William I. Mott George Krikorian 1+1⁄2 miles 2:29.21 $150,000 III [13]
2020 Race not held
2019 Ickymasho (GB) 7 Jose L. Ortiz Roger L. Attfield Triton Stable 1+1⁄2 miles 2:30.02 $150,000 III [14]
2018 Mom's On Strike 5 Adam Beschizza Joe Sharp Carl R. Moore Management & Brad Grady 1+1⁄2 miles 2:30.02 $150,000 III [15]
2017 Quiet Business 4 Brian Hernandez Jr. George R. Arnold II Calumet Farm 1+1⁄2 miles 2:31.50 $150,000 III [16]
2016 Olorda (GER) 4 Julien R. Leparoux Chad C. Brown Martin S. Schwartz 1+1⁄2 miles 2:30.09 $150,000 III [17]
2015 † Cay Dancer (GB) 4 Joel Rosario Chad C. Brown Highclere America, Barnett 1+1⁄2 miles 2:30.28 $149,667 III [18]
2014 Inimitable Romanee 6 Alan Garcia H. Graham Motion Gallagher's Stud 1+1⁄2 miles 2:32.29 $150,000 III [19]
2013 Strathnaver (GB) 4 Joel Rosario H. Graham Motion Andrew Stone 1+1⁄2 miles 2:30.65 $150,000 III [20]
2012 Upperline 5 James Graham Michael Stidham Michael Stidham, John H. Adger, Stone Farm & Oakcrest Farm 1+1⁄2 miles 2:33.28 $150,000 III [21]
2011 Keertana 5 Jose Lezcano Thomas F. Proctor Barbara Hunter 1+1⁄2 miles 2:33.08 $150,000 III [22]
2010 Lady Shakespeare 4 John R. Velazquez Roger L. Attfield Charles E. Fipke 1+1⁄2 miles 2:31.42 $150,000 III [23]
2009 Winter View 5 Julien R. Leparoux Jonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable 1+1⁄2 miles 2:34.11 $150,000 III [24]
2008 Communique 4 Garrett K. Gomez George R. Arnold II G. Watts Humphrey Jr. 1+1⁄2 miles 2:28.91 $150,000 III [25]
2007 Safari Queen (ARG) 5 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Arindel Farm 1+1⁄2 miles 2:28.75 $150,000 III [26]
2006 Noble Stella (GER) 5 Edgar S. Prado Roger L. Attfield Gary A. Tanaka 1+1⁄2 miles 2:33.15 $107,400 III [27]
2005 Angara (GB) 4 Gary L. Stevens Patrick L. Biancone Martin S. Schwartz 1+1⁄2 miles 2:36.24 $109,300 III [28]
2004 Meridiana (GER) 4 Edgar S. Prado Christophe Clement Sarah & Jon Kelly 1+1⁄2 miles 2:31.05 $113,400 III [29]
2003 Lilac Queen (GER) 5 Jerry D. Bailey Robert J. Frankel Gary A. Tanaka 1+1⁄2 miles 2:29.70 $112,100 III [30]
2002 Sweetest Thing 4 Mark Guidry Roger L. Attfield Roger L. Attfield, Michael Canino & William Werner 1+1⁄2 miles 2:31.97 $110,700 III [31]
2001 Keemoon (FR) 5 Jerry D. Bailey Neil D. Drysdale Henry E. Pabst 1+1⁄2 miles 2:30.28 $200,000 III [32]
2000 The Seven Seas 4 Alex O. Solis Robert J. Frankel Charles Kenis 1+1⁄2 miles 2:29.20 $113,100 III [33]
1999 Bursting Forth 5 Jorge F. Chavez H. Graham Motion Sam Huff 1+1⁄2 miles 2:27.54 $110,900 III [34]
1998 Maxzene 5 Jose A. Santos Thomas J. Skiffington Sekiguchi Fusao 1+1⁄2 miles 2:30.50 $112,300 III [35]
1997 Cymbala (FR) 4 Pat Day Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III, George Bolton & J. S. Reynolds 1+1⁄2 miles 2:28.87 $111,500 III [36]
1996 Memories (IRE) 5 Shane Sellers Burk Kessinger Jr. New Phoenix Stable & Alvin Haynes 1+1⁄2 miles 2:30.14 $106,500 III [37]
1995 Market Booster 6 Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Moyglare Stud 1+1⁄2 miles 2:29.33 $81,825 III [38]
1994 Freewheel 5 Pat Day Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III & E. J. Hudson 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.24 $82,050 III [39]
1993 Miss Lenora 4 Julie Krone William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.60 $82,850 III [40]
1992 La Gueriere 4 Brian Dale Peck A. Peter Perkins Wimborne Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.37 $83,750 III [41]
1991 Miss Unnameable 7 Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Leonard D. Mathis 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.02 $86,500 III [42]
1990 Coolawin 4 Jerry D. Bailey Carl A. Nafzger Jim Tafel 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.20 $83,150 III [43]
1989 Gaily Gaily (IRE) 6 Julie Krone William I. Mott Diana M. Firestone 1+1⁄8 miles 1:50.00 $82,850 III [44]
1988 Beauty Cream 5 Pat Day Patrick C. Clark Warren N. Moore 1+1⁄8 miles 1:51.60 $86,550 III [45]
1987 Gerrie Singer 6 Ricky Frazier Jeff Trosclair John J. Petrie 1+1⁄8 miles 1.52.60 $61,125 III [46]
1986 Devalois (FR) 4 Eddie Maple Woodford C. Stephens Mrs. Alec Head 1+1⁄8 miles 1:54.00 $69,900 III [47]
1985 Sintra 4 K. Keith Allen Steven C. Penrod Cherry Vally Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.40 $63,275 III [48]
1984 Heatherten 5 Sam Maple William I. Mott John A. Franks 1+1⁄16 miles 1:45.80 $58,350 III [49]
1983 Try Something New 4 Pat Day Claude R. McGaughey III John A. Bell III 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.40 $56,925 III [50]
1982 Expressive Dance 4 Don Brumfield Bertram R. Firestone Diana M. Firestone 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.40 $56,025 III [51]
1981 Bold 'n Determined 4 Eddie Delahoussaye Neil D. Drysdale Saron Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.80 $58,825 [52]
1980 Jolie Dutch 4 Randy Romero Anthony J. Lombardi Susan B. Fisher 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.00 $45,875 [53]
1979 Miss Baja 4 Eddie Maple Joseph B. Cantey Lockhart Spears 1+1⁄16 miles 1:43.00 $35,825 [8]
1978 Twenty One Inch 2 Eddie Delahoussaye Anthony Basile Bwamazon Farm (Millard Waldheim) 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:52.60 $18,225 [54]
1977 Crystalan 2 Garth Patterson Glenn L. Hild Raymond Parker 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:53.00 $18,380 [55]
1976 Olden 2 Robert Breen Lloyd P. Tate James H. Stone 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:51.40 $16,970 Division 1[56]
Fun and Tears 2 Larry Melancon Douglas M. Davis Jr. Patricia Blass 0:51.40 $17,370 Division 2[57]
1975 Pink Jade 2 Eddie Delahoussaye John Ngai Jr. Hoi Toi Stable 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:51.60 $18,675 [58]
1974 Dancing Home 2 Alan Patterson Don Breashear J. F. Smith 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:53.60 $18,143 Division 1[59]
Secret's Out 2 Don Brumfield James E. Picou Marcia Lou Schott 0:51.40 $18,042 Division 2[60]
1973 Me and Connie 2 Jimmy Nichols Douglas M. Davis Jr. Patricia Blass 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:52.40 $19,390 [61]
1972 Gallant Davelle 2 Jimmy Nichols Douglas M. Davis Jr. George M. Holtsinger 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:52.40 $20,825 Division 1[62]
Bosuns Strike 2 Anthony DeSpirito Douglas M. Davis Jr. Joan Turner 0:53.20 $21,125 Division 2[63]
1971 Sidle 2 David Kassen Stanley M. Rieser Barbara Hunter 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:52.20 $19,950 Division 1[64]
Cautious Bidder 2 Jimmy Nichols Larry Robideaux Jr. Larry Robideaux Jr. 0:52:00 $20,500 Division 2[65]
1970 Fancy Road 2 Nelson Menard Roy J. Gillem Dreabon Copelan 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:52.20 $21,700 [66]
1969 Little Tudor 2 David E. Whited Carter Thornton Carter Thornton 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:52.80 $23,350 [67]
1968 Royalty Note 2 Michael Manganello Thomas H. Stevens Sr. James O. Alston 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:51.00 $23,250 [68]
1967 Jet To Market 2 Grady Overton David F. Erb Roger W. Wilson[69] & Mrs. Thomas Phillip Hull Jr.[70] 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:51.60 $13,925 [71]
1966 Shore 2 Jimmy Nichols Harry Trotsek Claiborne Farm 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:52:00 $11,850 Division 1[72]
Furl Sail 2 Earlie Fires John L. Winans Mrs. Edwin K. Thomas 0:52.60 $11,950 Division 2[73]
1965 Justakiss 2 Kenny Knapp Stanley M. Rieser Clifford Lussky 4+1⁄2 furlongs 0:53.00 $12,587 Division 1[74]
Ole Liz 2 Bill Shoemaker Henry Forrest Henry Forrest & Elton Gordon 0:52:40 $12,388 Division 2[75]
1964 Mississippi Mama 2 Ronnie Baldwin Douglas M. Davis Jr. Michael & Douglas M. Davis Jr. abt. 4 furlongs 0:48.20 $13,650 [76]
1963 Royal Bund 2 Avelino Gomez Frank E. Cundall Bwamazon Farm (Millard Waldheim) abt. 4 furlongs 0:49.40 $13,150 [77]
1962 Bonnies Girl 2 Clarence Meaux E. Thurston Colglazier J. H. Riedinger abt. 4 furlongs 0:48.20 $15,025 [3]
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Legend:
  Dirt   Turf
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
† In the 2015 running of the event Kitten's Point was first past the post and wagering was paid out as the winner, however the horse returned a positive swab for methocarbamol (Robaxin)[78] and consequently was disqualified from the prizemoney and was placed 14th (last). Cay Dancer (GB) was declared the official winner of the event.

See also

External links

References

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