Coaching Club American Oaks

The Coaching Club American Oaks is a race for thoroughbred three-year-old fillies and the second leg of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. Originally run at Belmont Park, the Grade I $500,000 stakes race was moved to Saratoga Race Course in 2010.

Coaching Club American Oaks

Grade I race
Location	Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, New York, United States
Inaugurated	1917
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website	www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/stakes-schedule/coaching-club-american-oaks
Race information
Distance	1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs)
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-old fillies
Weight	121 lb (54.9 kg)
Purse	$500,000

Run as a handicap prior to 1928, the race is named in honor of the Coaching Club of New York. One of the requirements for membership in this club was the ability to handle a coach and four horses with a single group of reins. August Belmont Jr. set the original conditions in order to emulate The Oaks in England.

From 1963 to 1967 the Coaching Club American Oaks was run at Aqueduct Racetrack. Over the years, it has been raced at various distances:

• 1917, 2010–present: 9 furlongs
• 1990–1997, 2003–2009: 10 furlongs
• 1919–1941, 1944–1958: 11 furlongs
• 1942–1943, 1971–1989, 1998–2003: 12 furlongs

Historical notes

Future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Mom's Command won the 1985 Oaks under jockey Abigail Fuller, daughter of the horse's owner, Peter Fuller.

Records

Speed record:
(at distance of 12f)

• 2:27.80 – Ruffian (1975); Magazine (1973)

(at distance of 10f)

• 2:00.40 – Ajina (1997)

(at distance of 9f)

• 1:49.15 – It's Tricky (2011)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 – Mike E. Smith (1993, 1997, 2000, 2016, 2017)
• 5 – John R. Velazquez (2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2015)
• 4 – Jorge Velásquez (1974, 1977, 1979, 1988)
• 4 – Jerry D. Bailey (1996, 1998, 1999, 2003)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 8 – Todd Pletcher (2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022)

Most wins by an owner:

• 6 – Calumet Farm (1944, 1949, 1952, 1958, 1977, 1979)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2024	Thorpedo Anna	3	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Kenneth G. McPeek	Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks & Magdalena Racing	1:50.95
2023	Wet Paint	3	Flavien Prat	Brad H. Cox	Godolphin LLC	1:50.68
2022	Nest	3	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Todd Pletcher	Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, & Michael House	1:51.04
2021	Maracuja	3	Ricardo Santana Jr.	Rob Atras	Beach Haven Thoroughbreds LLC	1:49.29
2020	Paris Lights	3	Tyler Gaffalione	William I. Mott	WinStar Farm	1:50.81
2019	Guarana	3	José Ortiz	Chad C. Brown	Three Chimneys Farm	1:49.65
2018	Monomoy Girl	3	Florent Geroux	Brad H. Cox	Michael Dubb & Monomoy Stables	1:50.46
2017	Abel Tasman	3	Mike E. Smith	Bob Baffert	China Horse Club	1:51.74
2016	Songbird	3	Mike E. Smith	Jerry Hollendorfer	Fox Hill Farms	1:49.56
2015	Curalina[a]	3	John R. Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners	1:49.74
2014	Stopchargingmaria	3	Javier Castellano	Todd Pletcher	Repole Stable	1:49.80
2013	Princess of Sylmar	3	Javier Castellano	Todd Pletcher	Michael Dubb	1:51.07
2012	Questing	3	Irad Ortiz, Jr	Kiaran McLaughlin	Godolphin	1:50.30
2011	It's Tricky	3	Eddie Castro	Kiaran McLaughlin	Godolphin	1:49.15
2010	Devil May Care	3	John R. Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	Glencrest Farm	1:49.42
2009	Funny Moon	3	Alan Garcia	Christophe Clement	Mrs. C. Wilson McNeely III	2:02.44
2008	Music Note	3	Javier Castellano	Saeed bin Suroor	Godolphin	2:01.66
2007	Octave	3	John R. Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	Starlight Stables/Lucarell	2:02.17
2006	Wonder Lady Anne L	3	Edgar Prado	Richard E. Dutrow Jr.	IEAH Stables	2:04.63
2005	Smuggler	3	Edgar Prado	C. R. McGaughey III	Phipps Stable	2:04.39
2004	Ashado	3	John R. Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	Starlight/Saylor/Martin	2:02.43
2003	Spoken Fur	3	Jerry D. Bailey	Robert J. Frankel	Amerman Racing Stable	2:31.02
2002	Jilbab	3	Mike Luzzi	Saeed bin Suroor	Godolphin	2:31.48
2001	Tweedside	3	John R. Velazquez	Todd Pletcher	Eugene Melnyk	2:30.70
2000	Jostle	3	Mike E. Smith	John Servis	Fox Hill Farms	2:29.99
1999	On a Soapbox	3	Jerry D. Bailey	Niall M. O'Callaghan	Grimm & Voss	2:29.31
1998	Banshee Breeze	3	Jerry D. Bailey	Carl Nafzger	James B. Tafel	2:31.56
1997	Ajina	3	Mike E. Smith	William I. Mott	Allen E. Paulson	2:00.40
1996	My Flag	3	Jerry D. Bailey	C. R. McGaughey III	Ogden Phipps	2:04.64
1995	Golden Bri	3	José A. Santos	John C. Kimmel	Hilmer C.Schmidt	2:03.86
1994	Two Altazano	3	José A. Santos	Michael Stidham	Harold V. Goodman	2:02.88
1993	Sky Beauty	3	Mike E. Smith	H. Allen Jerkens	Georgia E. Hofmann	2:01.56
1992	Turnback the Alarm	3	Chris Antley	William V. Terrill	Valley View Farm	2:03.53
1991	Lite Light	3	Corey Nakatani	Jerry Hollendorfer	Oaktown Stable	2:00.54
1990	Charon	3	Craig Perret	Eugene Navarro	Stanley M. Ersoff	2:02.60
1989	Open Mind	3	Ángel Cordero Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	Eugene V. Klein	2:32.40
1988	Goodbye Halo	3	Jorge Velásquez	Charles Whittingham	Arthur B. Hancock III	2:32.80
1987	Fiesta Gal	3	Ángel Cordero Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	Eugene V. Klein	2:31.00
1986	Valley Victory	3	Randy Romero	Leo O'Brien	Richard N. Dick	2:28.00
1985	Mom's Command	3	Abigail Fuller	Edward T. Allard	Peter D. Fuller	2:32.00
1984	Class Play	3	Jean Cruguet	LeRoy Jolley	Peter M. Brant	2:29.80
1983	High Schemes	3	Jean-Luc Samyn	Philip G. Johnson	Joseph Morrisey Jr.	2:30.20
1982	Christmas Past	3	Jacinto Vásquez	Angel Penna Jr.	Cynthia Phipps	2:28.60
1981	Wayward Lass	3	Cash Asmussen	Jose A. Martin	Flying Zee Stable	2:28.20
1980	Bold 'n Determined	3	Ed Delahoussaye	Neil Drysdale	Saron Stable	2:31.80
1979	Davona Dale	3	Jorge Velásquez	John M. Veitch	Calumet Farm	2:30.00
1978	Lakeville Miss	3	Ruben Hernandez	Jose A. Martin	Randolph Weinsier	2:29.40
1977	Our Mims	3	Jorge Velásquez	John M. Veitch	Calumet Farm	2:29.40
1976	Revidere	3	Jacinto Vásquez	David A. Whiteley	William Haggin Perry	2:28.40
1975	Ruffian	3	Jacinto Vásquez	Frank Y. Whiteley Jr.	Locust Hill Farm	2:27.80
1974	Chris Evert	3	Jorge Velásquez	Joseph A. Trovato	Carl Rosen	2:28.80
1973	Magazine	3	Ángel Cordero Jr.	Victor J. Nickerson	Elmendorf Farm	2:27.80
1972	Summer Guest	3	Ron Turcotte	J. Elliott Burch	Rokeby Stable	2:29.40
1971	Our Cheri Amour	3	Jack Kurtz	Joseph G. Moos	Helen D. Vizzi	2:29.80
1970	Missile Belle	3	Pete D. Anderson	Woody Stephens	John A. Morris	2:03.80
1969	Shuvee	3	Jesse Davidson	Willard C. Freeman	Anne Minor Stone	2:03.20
1968	Dark Mirage	3	Manuel Ycaza	Everett W. King	Lloyd I. Miller	2:01.80
1967	Quillo Queen	3	Ernest Cardone	James E. Picou	Martin Andersen	2:03.40
1966	Lady Pitt	3	Walter Blum	Stephen A. DiMauro	Golden Triangle Stable	2:05.00
1965	Marshua	3	Ray Broussard	Norman R. McLeod	Mrs. Wallace Gilroy	2:02.60
1964	Miss Cavandish	3	Howard Grant	Roger Laurin	Harry S. Nichols	2:04.00
1963	Lamb Chop	3	Heliodoro Gustines	James W. Maloney	William Haggin Perry	2:02.80
1962	Bramalea	3	Bobby Ussery	James P. Conway	Darby Dan Farm	2:02.60
1961	Bowl of Flowers	3	Eddie Arcaro	J. Elliott Burch	Brookmeade Stable	2:03.20
1960	Berlo	3	Eric Guerin	Richard E. Handlen	Foxcatcher Farm	2:04.20
1959	Resaca	3	Manuel Ycaza	Buddy Hirsch	King Ranch	2:02.40
1958	A Glitter	3	Ismael Valenzuela	Horace A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:20.00
1957	Williamette	3	John Choquette	Casey Hayes	Christopher Chenery	2:16.60
1956	Levee	3	Hedley Woodhouse	Norman R. McLeod	Vernon G. Cardy	2:16.60
1955	High Voltage	3	Ted Atkinson	James E. Fitzsimmons	Wheatley Stable	2:17.60
1954	Cherokee Rose	3	Henry Moreno	Eddie Hayward	Cain Hoy Stable	2:19.60
1953	Grecian Queen	3	Eric Guerin	James P. Conway	Florence Whitaker	2:18.60
1952	Real Delight	3	Eddie Arcaro	Horace A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:17.80
1951	How	3	Eddie Arcaro	Horatio Luro	Herman B. Delman	2:16.60
1950	Next Move	3	Eric Guerin	William C. Winfrey	Alfred G. Vanderbilt II	2:15.80
1949	Wistful III	3	Steve Brooks	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:19.60
1948	Scattered	3	Warren Mehrtens	Max Hirsch	King Ranch	2:18.80
1947	Harmonica	3	John Adams	Max Hirsch	John J. Watts	2:18.20
1946	Hypnotic	3	Paul Miller	James E. Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:18.80
1945	Elpis	3	John Adams	Frank J. Kearns	William G. Helis	2:18.40
1944	Twilight Tear	3	Conn McCreary	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm	2:21.00
1943	Too Timely	3	George Woolf	Max Hirsch	King Ranch	2:35.00
1942	Vagrancy	3	Tommy Malley	James E. Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud	2:31.60
1941	Level Best	3	Alfred Robertson	John P. (Doc) Jones	Crispin Oglebay	2:17.60
1940	Damaged Goods	3	John Gilbert	J. M. Milburn	Starmount Stable	2:19.00
1939	War Plumage	3	Nick Wall	Howard Oots	James Cox Brady Jr.	2:16.80
1938	Creole Maid	3	Harry Richards	Preston M. Burch	Sarah F. Jeffords	2:20.80
1937	Dawn Play	3	Lester Balaski	Max Hirsch	King Ranch	2:18.60
1936	High Fleet	3	John Gilbert	Bert Mulholland	George D. Widener Jr.	2:19.60
1935	Black Helen	3	Don Meade	Bill Hurley	Edward R. Bradley	2:18.80
1934	Lady Reigh	3	Don Meade	James E. Fitzsimmons	Elsie Cassatt Stewart	2:18.80
1933	Edelweiss	3	John Gilbert	James E. Fitzsimmons	Wheatley Stable	2:20.60
1932	Top Flight	3	Raymond Workman	Thomas J. Healey	C. V. Whitney	2:20.20
1931	Tambour	3	Frank Coltiletti	Preston M. Burch	Preston M. Burch	2:20.40
1930	Snowflake	3	Louis Schaefer	Jack R. Pryce	Walter J. Salmon Sr.	2:18.40
1929	Sweet Verbena	3	John Maiben	John Sims Wallace	Lone Star Stable	2:18.00
1928	Bateau	3	Earl Sande	Scott P. Harlan	Walter M. Jeffords	2:24.00
1927	Nimba	3	Harold Thurber	George M. Odom	Marshall Field III	2:19.80
1926	Edith Cavell	3	Frank Coltiletti	Scott P. Harlan	Walter M. Jeffords	2:20.60
1925	Florence Nightingale	3	Lawrence McDermott	Robert A. Smith	Walter M. Jeffords	2:17.80
1924	Princess Doreen	3	Harry Stutts	Kay Spence	Audley Farm	2:19.20
1923	How Fair	3	Albert Johnson	Louis Feustel	August Belmont Jr.	2:18.40
1922	Prudish	3	L. Morris	James G. Rowe Sr.	Harry Payne Whitney	2:18.40
1921	Flambette	3	Earl Sande	John H. McCormack	P. A. Clark	2:17.40
1920	Cleopatra	3	Linus McAtee	William H. Karrick	William R. Coe	2:18.80
1919	Polka Dot	3	Lavelle Ensor	W. Hogan	P. A. Clark	2:20.20
1918	Rose d'Or	3	Lavelle Ensor	A. Jack Joyner	George D. Widener Jr.	2:06.60
1917	Wistful I	3	W. O'Brien	James H. McCormick	James Butler	1:53.60

1. In the 2015 race, I'm a Chatterbox crossed the finish line first, but was disqualified for interference.

See also

• Acorn Stakes

References

• June 17, 1917 New York Times article on the inaugural running of the Coaching Club Handicap
• The 2009 Coaching Club American Oaks at the NTRA