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.
Grade III race | |
Location | Del Mar Racetrack Del Mar, California, United States |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1937 (as Escondido Handicap) |
Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
Website | Del Mar |
Race information | |
Distance | 1+1⁄2 miles (12 furlongs) |
Surface | Dirt |
Track | left-handed |
Qualification | Three-years-old and older |
Weight | 125 lbs with allowances |
Purse | $100,000 (2024) |
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+1⁄16 miles.[4]
In 1956 the Irish-bred Poona set a new track record for the 1+1⁄16-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+1⁄2 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+3⁄8 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+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 miles (dirt): 2:30.09 – Heywoods Beach (2022)
- 1+1⁄2 miles (polytrack): 2:29.01 – Irish Surf (2014) (Track record)
- 1+3⁄8 miles (turf): 2:12.06 - †Laura's Lucky Boy (2005)
- 1+1⁄8 miles (turf): 1:49.00 - Cougar II (CHI) (1970)
- 1+1⁄16 miles (turf): 1:42.00 - Advocatum (1981)
- 1+1⁄16 miles (dirt): 1:40.20 - Poona II (IRE) (1956) (Track record)
- 7+1⁄2 furlongs (turf): 1:27.40 - Buck Price (1975)
Margins:
- 10+1⁄4 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:
- 3 – Juddmonte (1988, 1991, 2002)
- 3 – Glen Hill Farm (1974, 1977, 2003)
- 3 – Gary A. Tanaka (1996, 2004, 2007)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 – Fernando Toro (1970, 1978, 1987, 1988)
- 4 – Rafael Bejarano (2012, 2015, 2018, 2019)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 4 – Robert J. Frankel (1975, 1991, 1993, 2002)
- 4 – Richard E. Mandella (1987, 2001, 2005, 2021)
- 4 – John W. Sadler (2008, 2016, 2019, 2022)
Winners
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+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 miles | 2:32.35 | $126,000 | III | [12] |
2022 | Heywoods Beach | 5 | Ramon A. Vazquez | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.09 | $125,500 | III | [13] |
2021 | Tizamagician | 4 | Flavien Prat | Richard E. Mandella | MyRacehorse & Spendthrift Farm | 1+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 miles | 2:32.36 | $100,000 | III | [15] |
2018 | Beach View | 5 | Rafael Bejarano | Leonard Powell | Levy Racing | 1+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.74 | $100,690 | III | [17] |
2016 | Hard Aces | 6 | Santiago Gonzalez | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.55 | $98,000 | III | [18] |
2015 | Big John B | 6 | Rafael Bejarano | Philip D'Amato | Michael House | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.62 | $100,000 | III | [19] |
2014 | Irish Surf | 4 | Elvis Trujillo | Dan L. Hendricks | Gainesway Stable & Thor-Bred Bred Stable | 1+1⁄2 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+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.93 | $100,500 | III | [21] |
2012 | Richard's Kid | 7 | Rafael Bejarano | Bob Baffert | Zabeel Racing International | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.22 | $100,000 | III | [22] |
2011 | Bourbon Bay | 5 | Joseph Talamo | Neil D. Drysdale | David and Jill Heerensperger | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:29.39 | $125,000 | III | [23] |
2010 | Temple City | 5 | Joseph Talamo | Carla Gaines | Spendthrift Farm | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.46 | $125,000 | III | [24] |
2009 | Unusual Suspect | 5 | Alonso Quinonez | Barry Abrams | Barry, David & Dyan Abrams | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:31.22 | $150,000 | Listed | [25] |
2008 | Zappa | 6 | Garrett K. Gomez | John W. Sadler | Gary & Cecil Barber | 1+1⁄2 miles | 2:30.53 | $150,000 | Listed | [26] |
2007 | Atlando (IRE) | 6 | Martin A. Pedroza | Darrell Vienna | Gary A. Tanaka | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:13.18 | $88,935 | [27] | |
Escondido Handicap | ||||||||||
2006 | Runaway Dancer | 7 | Alex O. Solis | Dan L. Hendricks | R L Stables | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:13.20 | $88,605 | [28] | |
2005 | †Laura's Lucky Boy | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Richard E. Mandella | Mercedes Stables | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:12.06 | $82,450 | [29] | |
2004 | § Sarafan | 7 | Corey Nakatani | Neil D. Drysdale | Gary A. Tanaka | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:12.92 | $79,000 | [30] | |
2003 | Bonus Pack | 5 | Kent J. Desormeaux | Thomas F. Proctor | Glen Hill Farm | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:12.50 | $81,625 | [31] | |
2002 | Dance Dreamer | 4 | Kent J. Desormeaux | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:12.86 | $78,650 | [32] | |
2001 | Cagney (BRZ) | 4 | Alex O. Solis | Richard E. Mandella | Stud TNT | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:14.19 | $83,975 | [33] | |
2000 | Alvo Certo (BRZ) | 7 | Omar A. Berrio | Antonio C. Avila | Bandeirantes Stable | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:15.23 | $80,850 | [34] | |
1999 | Astarabad | 5 | Chris Antley | Julio C. Canani | David S. Milch | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:13.74 | $78,900 | [35] | |
1998 | Dowty | 6 | Gary L. Stevens | William I. Mott | Allen E. & Madeleine A. Paulson | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:14.13 | $78,700 | [36] | |
1997 | Dowty | 5 | Gary L. Stevens | William I. Mott | Allen E. Paulson | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:15.62 | $80,550 | [37] | |
1996 | Dernier Empereur | 5 | Pat Valenzuela | Ben D. A. Cecil | Gary A. Tanaka | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:18.80 | $104,800 | [38] | |
1995 | Varadavour (IRE) | 6 | Ronald J. Warren Jr. | Mike Puype | Frank Gogliano | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:16.09 | $106,650 | [39] | |
1994 | Sir Mark Sykes (IRE) | 5 | Corey Black | Jenine Sahadi | Mike H. Sloan | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:13.84 | $81,375 | [40] | |
1993 | Luazur (FR) | 4 | Pat Day | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:14.61 | $81,825 | [41] | |
1992 | Navarone | 4 | Pat Valenzuela | Rodney Rash | Robert E. Hibbert | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:12.56 | $81,075 | [42] | |
1991 | Berillon (GB) | 4 | Gary L. Stevens | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:12.92 | $79,425 | [43] | |
1990 | Rial (ARG) | 5 | Jose M. Fernandez | Vincent Clyne | Erick C. Boelcke | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:14.60 | $81,825 | [44] | |
1989 | Brisque (AUS) | 6 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Donn L. Luby | Charles & Audrey Kenis-3 plus U Stable | 1+3⁄8 miles | 2:16.00 | $83,150 | [45] | |
1988 | Mazilier | 4 | Fernando Toro | John Gosden | Juddmonte | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $67,050 | [46] | |
1987 | Captain Vigors | 5 | Fernando Toro | Richard E. Mandella | Jack Grossman | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.20 | $56,150 | [47] | |
1986 | Truce Maker | 8 | Frank Olivares | Michael C. Whittingham | Greer Garson & Buddy Fogelson | 1+1⁄16 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+1⁄2 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+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.00 | $55,750 | [51] | |
1982 | Rock Softly | 4 | Kenneth D. Black | Jesse C. Newsom | Byron, Davis, Gilson, et al. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.80 | $55,500 | [52] | |
1981 | Advocatum | 5 | Darrel G. McHargue | Melvin F. Stute | Constance S. Wilson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.00 | $56,300 | [53] | |
1980 | § Nain Bleu (FR) | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Thomas Ray Bell II | Bell Bloodstock & Gayno Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.00 | $44,050 | [54] | |
1979 | Uniformity | 7 | Sandy Hawley | Mike R. Mitchell | Sydell Smith | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.60 | $44,100 | [55] | |
1978 | Bywayofchicago | 4 | Fernando Toro | Thomas A. Pratt | Robert Fluor, Sidney Port & Herman Sarkowsky | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $33,500 | [56] | |
1977 | Authorization | 5 | Darrel G. McHargue | Willard L. Proctor | Glen Hill Farm | 1+1⁄16 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+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.00 | $28,150 | [59] | |
1975 | Buck Price | 4 | Darrel G. McHargue | Robert J. Frankel | Martin Ritt | 7+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:27.40 | $27,900 | [60] | |
1974 | Flighting | 7 | Robert Howard | Willard L. Proctor | Glen Hill Farm | 7+1⁄2 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+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.60 | $33,250 | [63] | |
1972 | Mongo's Pride | 4 | William Mahorney | Jack Van Berg | Van Berg Stable | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.60 | $26,950 | [64] | |
1971 | Born Wild | 4 | Johnny Sellers | A. Thomas Doyle | Westerly Stud | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.60 | $27,200 | [65] | |
1970 | Cougar II (CHI) | 4 | Fernando Toro | George A. Riley | Perla de Chico Stud | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.00 | $22,050 | [8] | |
1969 | Big John A. | 5 | Concepcion Barria | Thomas F. Richardson | Mrs. C. J. Dorfman | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.60 | $28,450 | [66] | |
1968 | Big John A. | 4 | Antonio L. Diaz | Thomas F. Richardson | Mrs. C. J. Dorfman | 1+1⁄8 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+1⁄8 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+1⁄8 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+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.40 | $23,150 | [73] | |
1964 | Desert Chief III (NZ) | 8 | Donald Ross | Dale K. Landers | Valley Stables | 1+1⁄8 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+1⁄8 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+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.40 | $23,200 | [78] | |
1961 | § Top Double | 3 | Emile Ohayon | Clyde Turk | Earl Beaty & George Dorney | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.60 | $16,825 | [79] | |
1960 | Cleave | 4 | Basil Frazier | Charles A. Comiskey | F. H. Smith | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.20 | $16,500 | [80] | |
1959 | I Step | 3 | Ronald Griffiths | Harold Beasy | Mrs. Peggy H. Lester | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.80 | $16,575 | [81] | |
1958 | Solid Fleet | 4 | Carlos DeMello | Harry C. Richards | Kessix Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.60 | $16,350 | [82] | |
1957 | Hi Pardner | 5 | Tony Dominguez | Warren Stute | Clement L. Hirsch | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.60 | $16,075 | [83] | |
1956 | Poona II (IRE) | 5 | Johnny Adams | Graceton Philpot | Helbush Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.20 | $16,125 | [5] | |
1955 | Arrogate | 4 | Ralph Neves | Reginald Cornell | Mr. & Mrs. Dick Griegorian | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $11,000 | [84] | |
1952–1954 | 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+1⁄2 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] |
1939–1948 | 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] |
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
External links
References
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