The Cougar II Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one and one-half miles on the dirt, scheduled annually in late July or early August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

Quick Facts Location, Inaugurated ...
Cougar II Stakes
Grade III race
LocationDel Mar Racetrack
Del Mar, California, United States
Inaugurated1937 (as Escondido Handicap)
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
WebsiteDel Mar
Race information
Distance1+12 miles (12 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-years-old and older
Weight125 lbs with allowances
Purse$100,000 (2024)
Close

History

The event was inaugurated during the first racing season at Del Mar race track on 31 July 1937 as the Escondido Handicap over a distance of six furlongs for horses three-year-old or older. The event was an under card event on Del Mar Handicap day. The winner was Clean Out and the second and third place getters were mares.[1] The event was held once more in 1938 but was interrupted for 11 years and did not resume until 1949 as an event for three-year-old fillies.[2] In 1950 the event was held for two-year-olds as the Escondido Stakes.[3] The event was idle for three years from 1952 and when it was resumed in 1955 the distance was set to 1+116 miles.[4]

In 1956 the Irish-bred Poona set a new track record for the 1+116-mile distance of 1:40.20.[5]

In 1962 the event was moved to the new turf track and run over the mile and one-eighth distance.[4]

Between 1963 and 1984 the event was held in split divisions eight times.[6]

From 1976 to 1988 the event was held over the mile and one-sixteenth distance with the exception of 1984 when it was held over 7+12 furlongs[4] and in 1985 when the event was not held due to a boycott by trainers.[7]

In 2007 the event was renamed in honor of National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee, the Chilean-bred Cougar II as the Cougar II Handicap who had set a course record when winning this event in 1970.[8]

The race from 1988 to 2007 was run as an overnight restricted handicap for horse three-years-old who had not won a sweepstakes during the year over a distance of 1+38 miles.[4]

In 2008 the event was moved to the new Polytrack artificial dirt surface which was installed at the track and the distance of the event was extended to 1+12 miles. The event continued to be held on this surface until 2014.[4]

In 2010 the event was classified by the American Graded Stakes Committee as a Grade III race.[9]

The winner had automatic qualification for a berth in the Breeders' Cup Marathon before that race was discontinued in 2013.

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the event was canceled and not rescheduled.[10]

In 2021 the conditions of the event changed from a handicap to stakes with allowances and hence the name of the race was modified to Cougar II Stakes.[9]

Records

Time record:

  • 1+12 miles (dirt): 2:30.09 – Heywoods Beach (2022)
  • 1+12 miles (polytrack): 2:29.01 – Irish Surf (2014) (Track record)
  • 1+38 miles (turf): 2:12.06 - †Laura's Lucky Boy (2005)
  • 1+18 miles (turf): 1:49.00 - Cougar II (CHI) (1970)
  • 1+116 miles (turf): 1:42.00 - Advocatum (1981)
  • 1+116 miles (dirt): 1:40.20 - Poona II (IRE) (1956) (Track record)
  • 7+12 furlongs (turf): 1:27.40 - Buck Price (1975)

Margins:

  • 10+14 lengths: – Midnight Mammoth (2024)

Most wins:

  • 2 – Big John A (1968, 1969)
  • 2 – Dowty (1997, 1998)
  • 2 – Richard's Kid (2012, 2013)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners

More information Year, Winner ...
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
Cougar II Stakes
2024 Midnight Mammoth 5 Armando Ayuso Craig Dollase Jeffrey Sengara 1+12 miles 2:32.03 $100,000 III [11]
2023 Order and Law 5 Kent J. Desormeaux Robert Hess Jr. Larry S. Buckendorf, Jeffrey Lambert, Lawrence A. Rodriguez, Paul G. Schneider, Peter Stotland & Matthew D. White 1+12 miles 2:32.35 $126,000 III [12]
2022 Heywoods Beach 5 Ramon A. Vazquez John W. Sadler Hronis Racing 1+12 miles 2:30.09 $125,500 III [13]
2021 Tizamagician 4 Flavien Prat Richard E. Mandella MyRacehorse & Spendthrift Farm 1+12 miles 2:31.45 $100,500 III [14]
2020 Race not held
Cougar II Handicap
2019 Campaign 4 Rafael Bejarano John W. Sadler Woodford Racing 1+12 miles 2:32.36 $100,000 III [15]
2018 Beach View 5 Rafael Bejarano Leonard Powell Levy Racing 1+12 miles 2:34.02 $100,690 III [16]
2017 Curlin Road 4 Flavien Prat Doug F. O'Neill R3 Racing, Calara Farms & ERJ Racing 1+12 miles 2:31.74 $100,690 III [17]
2016 Hard Aces 6 Santiago Gonzalez John W. Sadler Hronis Racing 1+12 miles 2:30.55 $98,000 III [18]
2015 Big John B 6 Rafael Bejarano Philip D'Amato Michael House 1+12 miles 2:31.62 $100,000 III [19]
2014 Irish Surf 4 Elvis Trujillo Dan L. Hendricks Gainesway Stable & Thor-Bred Bred Stable 1+12 miles 2:29.01 $100,750 III [20]
2013 Richard's Kid 8 Joseph Talamo Doug F. O'Neill David Kenney, Triple B Farms, Westside Rentals.com, et al. 1+12 miles 2:30.93 $100,500 III [21]
2012 Richard's Kid 7 Rafael Bejarano Bob Baffert Zabeel Racing International 1+12 miles 2:29.22 $100,000 III [22]
2011 Bourbon Bay 5 Joseph Talamo Neil D. Drysdale David and Jill Heerensperger 1+12 miles 2:29.39 $125,000 III [23]
2010 Temple City 5 Joseph Talamo Carla Gaines Spendthrift Farm 1+12 miles 2:30.46 $125,000 III [24]
2009 Unusual Suspect 5 Alonso Quinonez Barry Abrams Barry, David & Dyan Abrams 1+12 miles 2:31.22 $150,000 Listed [25]
2008 Zappa 6 Garrett K. Gomez John W. Sadler Gary & Cecil Barber 1+12 miles 2:30.53 $150,000 Listed [26]
2007 Atlando (IRE) 6 Martin A. Pedroza Darrell Vienna Gary A. Tanaka 1+38 miles 2:13.18 $88,935 [27]
Escondido Handicap
2006 Runaway Dancer 7 Alex O. Solis Dan L. Hendricks R L Stables 1+38 miles 2:13.20 $88,605 [28]
2005 †Laura's Lucky Boy 4 Corey Nakatani Richard E. Mandella Mercedes Stables 1+38 miles 2:12.06 $82,450 [29]
2004 § Sarafan 7 Corey Nakatani Neil D. Drysdale Gary A. Tanaka 1+38 miles 2:12.92 $79,000 [30]
2003 Bonus Pack 5 Kent J. Desormeaux Thomas F. Proctor Glen Hill Farm 1+38 miles 2:12.50 $81,625 [31]
2002 Dance Dreamer 4 Kent J. Desormeaux Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte 1+38 miles 2:12.86 $78,650 [32]
2001 Cagney (BRZ) 4 Alex O. Solis Richard E. Mandella Stud TNT 1+38 miles 2:14.19 $83,975 [33]
2000 Alvo Certo (BRZ) 7 Omar A. Berrio Antonio C. Avila Bandeirantes Stable 1+38 miles 2:15.23 $80,850 [34]
1999 Astarabad 5 Chris Antley Julio C. Canani David S. Milch 1+38 miles 2:13.74 $78,900 [35]
1998 Dowty 6 Gary L. Stevens William I. Mott Allen E. & Madeleine A. Paulson 1+38 miles 2:14.13 $78,700 [36]
1997 Dowty 5 Gary L. Stevens William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson 1+38 miles 2:15.62 $80,550 [37]
1996 Dernier Empereur 5 Pat Valenzuela Ben D. A. Cecil Gary A. Tanaka 1+38 miles 2:18.80 $104,800 [38]
1995 Varadavour (IRE) 6 Ronald J. Warren Jr. Mike Puype Frank Gogliano 1+38 miles 2:16.09 $106,650 [39]
1994 Sir Mark Sykes (IRE) 5 Corey Black Jenine Sahadi Mike H. Sloan 1+38 miles 2:13.84 $81,375 [40]
1993 Luazur (FR) 4 Pat Day Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann 1+38 miles 2:14.61 $81,825 [41]
1992 Navarone 4 Pat Valenzuela Rodney Rash Robert E. Hibbert 1+38 miles 2:12.56 $81,075 [42]
1991 Berillon (GB) 4 Gary L. Stevens Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte 1+38 miles 2:12.92 $79,425 [43]
1990 Rial (ARG) 5 Jose M. Fernandez Vincent Clyne Erick C. Boelcke 1+38 miles 2:14.60 $81,825 [44]
1989 Brisque (AUS) 6 Eddie Delahoussaye Donn L. Luby Charles & Audrey Kenis-3 plus U Stable 1+38 miles 2:16.00 $83,150 [45]
1988 Mazilier 4 Fernando Toro John Gosden Juddmonte 1+116 miles 1:42.40 $67,050 [46]
1987 Captain Vigors 5 Fernando Toro Richard E. Mandella Jack Grossman 1+116 miles 1:42.20 $56,150 [47]
1986 Truce Maker 8 Frank Olivares Michael C. Whittingham Greer Garson & Buddy Fogelson 1+116 miles 1:42.20 $54,950 [48]
1985 Race not held
1984 Go Dancer (FR) 5 Chris McCarron John Gosden Howard W. Koch, Aaron & Candy Spelling 7+12 furlongs 1:29.00 $46,100 Division 1[49]
Pair of Deuces 6 Ray Sibille Laz Barrera Happy Valley Farm & John H. Hartigan 1:28.80 $46,100 Division 2[50]
1983 Pin Puller 4 Chris McCarron Willard L. Proctor Heardsdale Racing 1+116 miles 1:43.00 $55,750 [51]
1982 Rock Softly 4 Kenneth D. Black Jesse C. Newsom Byron, Davis, Gilson, et al. 1+116 miles 1:42.80 $55,500 [52]
1981 Advocatum 5 Darrel G. McHargue Melvin F. Stute Constance S. Wilson 1+116 miles 1:42.00 $56,300 [53]
1980 § Nain Bleu (FR) 4 Laffit Pincay Jr. Thomas Ray Bell II Bell Bloodstock & Gayno Stable 1+116 miles 1:43.00 $44,050 [54]
1979 Uniformity 7 Sandy Hawley Mike R. Mitchell Sydell Smith 1+116 miles 1:43.60 $44,100 [55]
1978 Bywayofchicago 4 Fernando Toro Thomas A. Pratt Robert Fluor, Sidney Port & Herman Sarkowsky 1+116 miles 1:42.40 $33,500 [56]
1977 Authorization 5 Darrel G. McHargue Willard L. Proctor Glen Hill Farm 1+116 miles 1:43.00 $21,375 Division 1[57]
Pikehall 3 Henry E. Moreno Charles E. Whittingham Howard B. Keck 1:43.00 $21,375 Division 2[58]
1976 Silver Saber 4 Laffit Pincay Jr. Thomas Ray Bell II Bell Bloodstock 1+116 miles 1:43.00 $28,150 [59]
1975 Buck Price 4 Darrel G. McHargue Robert J. Frankel Martin Ritt 7+12 furlongs 1:27.40 $27,900 [60]
1974 Flighting 7 Robert Howard Willard L. Proctor Glen Hill Farm 7+12 furlongs 1:29.00 $21,375 Division 1[61]
Bensadream 4 Jorge Tejeira Michael E. Millerick Ben Osher & Carl Hodges 1:29.00 $21,375 Division 2[62]
1973 Tannyhill 4 Donald R. Pierce Robert G. Craft Rex C. Ellsworth 1+18 miles 1:49.60 $33,250 [63]
1972 Mongo's Pride 4 William Mahorney Jack Van Berg Van Berg Stable 1+18 miles 1:49.60 $26,950 [64]
1971 Born Wild 4 Johnny Sellers A. Thomas Doyle Westerly Stud 1+18 miles 1:49.60 $27,200 [65]
1970 Cougar II (CHI) 4 Fernando Toro George A. Riley Perla de Chico Stud 1+18 miles 1:49.00 $22,050 [8]
1969 Big John A. 5 Concepcion Barria Thomas F. Richardson Mrs. C. J. Dorfman 1+18 miles 1:50.60 $28,450 [66]
1968 Big John A. 4 Antonio L. Diaz Thomas F. Richardson Mrs. C. J. Dorfman 1+18 miles 1:51.20 $19,600 Division 1[67]
Till Morrow 4 Álvaro Pineda William H. Wyndle Mrs. Kathryn Hart 1:51.20 $19,400 Division 2[68]
1967 Strawberry Drive 5 Donald R. Pierce John W. Pappalardo William F. Fenske 1+18 miles 1:50.20 $17,150 Division 1[69]
Estambul II (ARG) 5 Donald R. Pierce Morton Lipton Vicgray Farm 1:50.20 $16,850 Division 2[70]
1966 Quicken Tree 3 Raul Caballero Clyde Turk Louis R. Rowan 1+18 miles 1:50.20 $20,175 Division 1[71]
ƒ Amerigo's Fancy 4 Raul Caballero C. Ralph West Mr. & Mrs. Desi Arnez 1:49.60 $20,075 Division 2[72]
1965 Switchback 5 Miguel Yanez James D. Jordan The Pam Stable 1+18 miles 1:50.40 $23,150 [73]
1964 Desert Chief III (NZ) 8 Donald Ross Dale K. Landers Valley Stables 1+18 miles 1:50.20 $14,325 Division 1[74]
Victory Beauty 8 George Taniguchi Louis R. Carno Mr. & Mrs. Nelson H. Monroe & Sons 1:50.00 $14,325 Division 2[75]
1963 Braganza (NZ) 8 Miguel Yanez Morton Lipton Triad Stables 1+18 miles 1:51.40 $16,950 Division 1[76]
Moon Mad 4 Angel Valenzuela William A. Reavis Richlew Stable 1:50.00 $16,950 Division 2[77]
1962 Hardware 3 George Taniguchi Clyde Turk Mr. & Mrs George Dorney 1+18 miles 1:51.40 $23,200 [78]
1961 § Top Double 3 Emile Ohayon Clyde Turk Earl Beaty & George Dorney 1+116 miles 1:41.60 $16,825 [79]
1960 Cleave 4 Basil Frazier Charles A. Comiskey F. H. Smith 1+116 miles 1:41.20 $16,500 [80]
1959 I Step 3 Ronald Griffiths Harold Beasy Mrs. Peggy H. Lester 1+116 miles 1:41.80 $16,575 [81]
1958 Solid Fleet 4 Carlos DeMello Harry C. Richards Kessix Stable 1+116 miles 1:41.60 $16,350 [82]
1957 Hi Pardner 5 Tony Dominguez Warren Stute Clement L. Hirsch 1+116 miles 1:41.60 $16,075 [83]
1956 Poona II (IRE) 5 Johnny Adams Graceton Philpot Helbush Farms 1+116 miles 1:40.20 $16,125 [5]
1955 Arrogate 4 Ralph Neves Reginald Cornell Mr. & Mrs. Dick Griegorian 1+116 miles 1:42.40 $11,000 [84]
19521954 Race not held
1951 Caruso II (AUS) 7 Johnny Longden William Molter William Goetz 6 furlongs 1:10.60 $2,500 [85]
Escondido Stakes
1950 Pat's Own 2 Walter Litzenberg C. Ralph West Mr. & Mrs. R. S. Ross 5+12 furlongs 1:04.20 $6,675 ♯ 2YOs [3]
Escondido Handicap
1949 ƒ Great Dream 3 Billy Pearson Russell H. McDaniel Mr. & Mrs. Russell H. McDaniel 6 furlongs 1:10.40 $5,000 ‡3YO fillies [2]
19391948 Race not held
1938 Happy Bolivar 5 George Burns W. A. Thomas Mrs. Albert M. Koewler 6 furlongs 1:10.60 $1,610 [86]
1937 ƒ Clean Out 5 D. Smith William Finnegan Mrs. Vera S. Bragg 6 furlongs 1:11.60 $1,115 ¶3YOs & up [1]
Close

Legend:
  All Weather Track   Dirt   Turf
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
ƒ Filly or Mare
‡ In 1949 the event was for three-year-old fillies
♯ In 1950 the event was for two-year-olds as Escondido Stakes
† In the 2005 running, Sarafan was first past the post but was disqualified for interference in the straight and Laura's Lucky Boy was declared the winner.

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

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