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The Excelsior Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. A Listed event for three-year-olds and up, it is contested over a distance of one-and-one-eighth miles 9 furlong.[1]
| Listed race | |
| Location | Aqueduct Racetrack Queens, New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1903 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄8 miles |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old & up |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | US$150,000 (2018) |
"Excelsior" is Latin for "Upward, ever upward", and is the motto of the state of New York.
In 1928, when Hall of Famer Grey Lag was ten years old, he came in third. He'd won this race as a five-year-old in 1923.
The race was run at the old Jamaica Race Course from 1903 to 1910, and then again from 1915 to 1959. In 1913, it was run at Belmont Park. It wasn't run at all in 1909, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1933, 1967, and 2020.
Since inception, the race has been contested at various distances and as initially a handicap as the race was known as the Excelsior Handicap:
- 1+1⁄16 miles: 1903–1960
- 1 mile: 1960
- 1 mile, 1 furlong: 1961–1978
- 1+1⁄8 miles: 1994–2014, 2018-2019, 2021
- 1+1⁄4 miles: 1979–1993, 2015–2017
The event was downgraded from Grade III to Listed in 2022.
Speed record: (at distance of 1+1⁄8 miles)
- 1:48.10 – Classic Endeavor (2003)
- 1:48.10 – Magna Graduate (2007)
Most wins:
- 2 – King Saxon (1935, 1936)
- 2 – Find (1954, 1956)
- 2 – Lac Ouimet (1987, 1988)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 –Todd A. Pletcher (2006, 2007, 2019)
- 3 –William C. Winfrey (1953, 1954, 1956)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 – Eric Guerin (1953, 1954, 1956)
- 3 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1972, 1975, 1976)
- 3 – Bobby Ussery (1958, 1962, 1966)
- 3 – Chuck C. Lopez (1997, 2003, 2008)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 – Rancocas Stable (1923, 1929, 1931)
- 3 – Alfred G. Vanderbilt II (1953, 1954, 1956)
- 3 – Sigmund & Viola Sommer (1972, 1977, 1980)
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Dist. (Miles) |
Time |
Win$ |
Gr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Law Professor | 5 | Manuel Franco | Rob Atras | Twin Creeks Racing Stables | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.34 | $82,500 | Listed |
| 2022 | Forewarned | 7 | Dexter Haddock | Uriah St. Lewis | Uriah St. Lewis | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.76 | $82,500 | Listed |
| 2021 | Modernist | 4 | Junior Alvarado | William I. Mott | Pam Wygod and Martin Wygod | 11⁄8 m | 1:54.38 | $82,500 | G3 |
| 2019 | Life's a Parlay | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:51.54 | $82,500 | G3 |
| 2018 | Discreet Lover | 5 | Manuel Franco | Uriah St. Lewis | Uriah St. Lewis | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.45 | $90,000 | G3 |
| 2017 | Send it in | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Paul P. Pompa Jr. | 11⁄4 m | 2:02.07 | $90,000 | G3 |
| 2016 | Kid Cruz | 5 | José Ortiz | Linda L. Rice | Viña del Mar TBs & Black Swan Stable | 11⁄4 m | 2:04.52 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 2015 | Effinex | 4 | Angel S. Arroyo | James A. Jerkens | Tri-Bone Stables (Bernice Cohen) | 11⁄4 m | 2:02.16 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 2014 | Romansh | 4 | José Ortiz | Thomas Albertrani | Godolphin Racing | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.07 | $90,000 | G3 |
| 2013 | Last Gunfighter | 4 | Rajiv Maragh | Chad Brown | John D. Gunther | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.78 | $90,000 | G3 |
| 2012 | Marilyn's Guy | 6 | Chuck C. Lopez | Tony Dutrow | Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, Gary Aisquith | 11⁄8 m | 1:52.54 | $90,000 | G3 |
| 2011 | Inherit the Gold | 5 | Eddie Castro | James Hooper | Glas-Tipp Stable (Mary Murray) & Susanne Hooper | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.34 | $60,000 | G3 |
| 2010 | Goldsville | 5 | Ramon A. Dominguez | Michael E. Hushion | Marc C. Ferrell | 11⁄8 m | 1:51.43 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 2009 | Giant Moon | 4 | Edgar Prado | Richard E. Schosberg | Albert Fried Jr. | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.90 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 2008 | Temporary Saint | 5 | Chuck C. Lopez | Bruce N. Levine | Maggi Moss | 11⁄8 m | 1:51.13 | $66,720 | G3 |
| 2007 | Magna Graduate | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Elisabeth Alexander | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.10 | $125,460 | G3 |
| 2006 | West Virginia | 5 | Norberto Arroyo Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Donald & Roberta Zuckerman | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.28 | $67,140 | G3 |
| 2005 | Offlee Wild | 5 | Rafael Bejarano | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | AZ Azalea Stables LLC | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.41 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 2004 | Funny Cide | 4 | José A. Santos | Barclay Tagg | Sackatoga Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.57 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 2003 | Classic Endeavor | 5 | Chuck C. Lopez | Scott Schwartz | Herbert T. Schwartz & Scott Schwartz | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.10 | $90,000 | G3 |
| 2002 | John Little | 4 | Norberto Arroyo Jr. | Deborah Bodner | Deborah Bodner | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.25 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 2001 | Cat's At Home | 4 | Filberto Leon | Mark A. Hennig | Edward P. Evans | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.92 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 2000 | Lager | 6 | Heberto Castillo Jr. | James A. Jerkens | Susan & John Moore | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.76 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 1999 | Smart Coupons | 6 | René Douglas | Deborah Bodner | Louis J. Porreco | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.71 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 1998 | Sir Bear | 5 | Enrique Jurado | Ralph Ziade | Barbara Smollin | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.24 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 1997 | Ormsby | 5 | Chuck C. Lopez | Sue Alpers | Woodside Stud | 11⁄8 m | 1:47.69 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 1996 | May I Inquire | 5 | Joe Bravo | Gasper Moschera | Barbara J. Davis | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.67 | $120,000 | G2 |
| 1995 | Iron Gavel | 5 | José Martínez Jr. | Gasper Moschera | Joques Farm | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.28 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 1994 | Colonial Affair | 4 | José A. Santos | Flint S. Schulhofer | Centennial Farm (Donald Little) | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.82 | $90,000 | G2 |
| 1993 | Devil His Due | 4 | Mike E. Smith | H. Allen Jerkens | Lion Crest Stable (Edith Libutti) | 11⁄4 m | 2:03.05 | $72,120 | G2 |
| 1992 | Defensive Play | 5 | David Flores | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farm | 11⁄8 m | 2:01.95 | $102,780 | G2 |
| 1991 | Chief Honcho | 4 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Bertram R. Firestone | 11⁄8 m | 2:02.60 | $102,060 | G2 |
| 1990 | Lay Down | 6 | Chris Antley | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 11⁄8 m | 2:02.20 | $100,980 | G2 |
| 1989 | Forever Silver | 5 | Julie Krone | Stanley R. Shapoff | Chevalier Stable | 11⁄8 m | 2:02.60 | $99,720 | G2 |
| 1988 | Lac Ouimet | 5 | Jerry Bailey | Richard J. Lundy | Virginia Kraft Payson | 11⁄8 m | 2:00.20 | $140,880 | G2 |
| 1987 | Lac Ouimet | 4 | Eddie Maple | Richard J. Lundy | Virginia Kraft Payson | 11⁄8 m | 2:02.00 | $106,380 | G2 |
| 1986 | Garthorn | 6 | Rafael Meza | Robert J. Frankel | Jerome S. Moss | 11⁄8 m | 2:02.40 | $101,340 | G2 |
| 1985 | Morning Bob | 4 | Jacinto Vásquez | Nick Zito | Mike Rich Stable | 11⁄8 m | 2:04.20 | $87,750 | G2 |
| 1984 | Canadian Factor | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | Melvin W. Gross | Frank Stronach | 11⁄8 m | 2:03.00 | $88,650 | G2 |
| 1983 | Fast Gold | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Sally A. Bailie | Aisco Stable | 11⁄8 m | 2:04.00 | $67,200 | G2 |
| 1982 | Globe | 5 | Michael Venezia | Victor J. Nickerson | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 11⁄8 m | 2:03.40 | $66,480 | G2 |
| 1981 | Irish Tower | 4 | Jeffrey Fell | Stanley M. Hough | Malcolm H. Winfield | 11⁄8 m | 2:00.80 | $66,680 | G2 |
| 1980 | Ring of Light | 5 | Cash Asmussen | Pancho Martin | Viola Sommer | 11⁄8 m | 2:01.40 | $67,560 | G2 |
| 1979 | Special Tiger | 4 | George Martens | William F. Schmitt | Albert Fried Jr. | 11⁄4 m | 2:03.80 | $63,600 | G2 |
| 1978 | Cox's Ridge | 4 | Eddie Maple | Joseph B. Cantey | Loblolly Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.60 | $49,005 | G2 |
| 1977 | Turn And Count | 4 | Steve Cauthen | Pancho Martin | Sigmund Sommer | 11⁄8 m | 1:51.00 | $48,150 | G2 |
| 1976 | Double Edge Sword | 6 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Richard Dutrow Sr. | Aisquith Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.00 | $51,120 | G2 |
| 1975 | Step Nicely | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.40 | $33,990 | G2 |
| 1974 | Everton II | 5 | Marco Castaneda | Laz Barrera | Enrique Ubarri | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.00 | $33,840 | G2 |
| 1973 | Key To The Mint | 4 | Ron Turcotte | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:47.80 | $32,640 | G2 |
| 1972 | Autobiography | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Pancho Martin | Sigmund Sommer | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.00 | $34,860 | |
| 1971 | Loud | 4 | Jacinto Vásquez | James W. Maloney | William Haggin Perry | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.80 | $34,200 | |
| 1970 | Hydrologist | 4 | Chuck Baltazar | Roger Laurin | Meadow Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.80 | $37,570 | |
| 1969 | San Roque | 4 | Heliodoro Gustines | Sherrill W. Ward | Lazy F Ranch | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.60 | $37,310 | |
| 1968 | Peter Piper | 5 | Jorge Velásquez | Paul Healy | Joseph R. Daly | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.00 | $35,945 | |
| 1966 | Choker | 6 | Bobby Ussery | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.20 | $36,010 | |
| 1965 | Tenacle | 5 | William Mayorga | Homer C. Pardue | Joseph R. Straus | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.40 | $35,750 | |
| 1964 | Uppercut | 5 | Johnny Sellers | Willard C. Freeman | William L. Harmonay | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.00 | $17,875 | |
| 1963 | Greek Money | 4 | John L. Rotz | Virgil W. Raines | Brandywine Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.60 | $18,265 | |
| 1962 | Hitting Away | 4 | Bobby Ussery | James E. Fitzsimmons | Ogden Phipps | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.00 | $18,558 | |
| 1961 | Mail Order | 5 | Larry Adams | Larry Thompson | Alamode Farm | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.20 | $19,110 | |
| 1960 | Talent Show | 5 | Ray Broussard | Clyde Troutt | Ada L. Rice | 1 m | 1:34.80 | $18,745 | |
| 1959 | Whitley | 4 | Sam Boulmetis Sr. | Max Hirsch | W. Arnold Hanger | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.80 | $18,485 | |
| 1958 | Kingmaker | 5 | Bobby Ussery | Frank I. Wright | Happy Hill Farm | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.60 | $18,615 | |
| 1957 | Midafternoon | 5 | Eddie Arcaro | Thomas M. Waller | Mrs. Edward E. Robbins | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.60 | $19,750 | |
| 1956 | Find | 6 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.20 | $19,800 | |
| 1955 | Fisherman | 4 | Hedley Woodhouse | Sylvester Veitch | Cornelius V. Whitney | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.00 | $20,450 | |
| 1954 | Find | 4 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.00 | $21,250 | |
| 1953 | First Glance | 6 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.00 | $20,500 | |
| 1952 | Spartan Valor | 4 | James Stout | Frank Catrone | William G. Helis Jr. | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.60 | $18,950 | |
| 1951 | Lotowhite | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | Lydell T. Ruff | Thomas G. Benson | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.20 | $20,750 | |
| 1950 | Arise | 4 | Douglas Dodson | James C. Bentley | Addison Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.80 | $17,200 | |
| 1949 | My Request | 4 | Claude Erickson | James P. Conway | Florence Whitaker | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.80 | $16,700 | |
| 1948 | Knockdown | 5 | Ferril Zufelt | James W. Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.00 | $20,750 | |
| 1947 | Coincidence | 5 | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.00 | $15,900 | |
| 1946 | Fighting Step | 4 | Johnny Adams | Charles C. Norman | Murlogg Farm (Helen W. Kellogg) | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.00 | $12,750 | |
| 1945 | Saguaro | 4 | Mike Caffarella | Woody Stephens | Jule Fink | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.60 | $7,070 | |
| 1944 | Alex Barth | 4 | Nick Jemas | James R. Hastie | Milbrook Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.40 | $7,375 | |
| 1943 | Riverland | 5 | Steve Brooks | Moody Jolley | Louisiana Farm | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.40 | $9,300 | |
| 1942 | Waller | 4 | Charles Wahler | A. G. Robertson | John C. Clark | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.80 | $8,775 | |
| 1941 | Robert Morris | 3 | Nick Wall | Thomas H. McCreery | J. Frederic Byers | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.60 | $8,275 | |
| 1940 | The Chief | 5 | Irving Anderson | Earl Sande | Maxwell Howard | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.20 | $6,200 | |
| 1939 | Thanksgiving | 4 | Raymond Workman | Mary Hirsch | Anne C. Corning | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.20 | $6,950 | |
| 1938 | Caballero II | 6 | Wayne D. Wright | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.40 | $6,650 | |
| 1937 | Thorson | 5 | William Ray | Thomas H. McCreery | Buckley M. Byers | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.80 | $6,950 | |
| 1936 | King Saxon | 5 | Charles Landolt | Charles H. Knebelkamp | Charles H. Knebelkamp | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.20 | $5,400 | |
| 1935 | King Saxon | 4 | Cal Rainey | Charles H. Knebelkamp | Charles H. Knebelkamp | 11⁄16 m | 1:43.60 | $5,430 | |
| 1934 | Watch Him | 5 | Earl Steffen | Willie Knapp | Fannie Hertz | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.00 | $2,450 | |
| 1932 | Pompeius | 3 | Joe Knapp | J. P. "Sammy" Smith | William R. Coe | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.20 | $4,850 | |
| 1931 | Mokatam | 4 | Willie Kelsay | Frank M. Taylor | Rancocas Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.00 | $5,700 | |
| 1930 | Minotaur | 4 | Charles Kurtsinger | Charles Graffagnini | John R. Thompson Jr. | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.80 | $5,950 | |
| 1929 | Mowlee | 4 | Laverne Fator | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.20 | $7,200 | |
| 1928 | Brown Flash | 4 | Virgil Peterson | Jack S. Middleton | Frederick Johnson | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.40 | $6,200 | |
| 1927 | Amberjack | 4 | James McCoy | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.00 | $6,200 | |
| 1926 | Turf Idol | 4 | Sidney Hebert | Jimmy Johnson | James Butler | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.60 | $6,400 | |
| 1925 | Sting | 4 | Benjamin Breuning | Jimmy Johnson | James Butler | 11⁄16 m | 1:42.60 | $5,850 | |
| 1924 | Rialto | 4 | Johnny Corcoran | James G. Rowe Sr. | Greentree Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.00 | $5,850 | |
| 1923 | Grey Lag | 5 | Laverne Fator | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.00 | $5,850 | |
| 1922 | Sennings Park | 6 | Charles Fairbrother | A. Jack Joyner | Westmont Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.80 | $5,850 | |
| 1921 | Blazes | 4 | Ted Rice | William M. Garth | Joshua S. Cosden | 11⁄16 m | 1:47.20 | $8,550 | |
| 1920 | Boniface | 5 | Earl Sande | H. Guy Bedwell | J. K. L. Ross | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.20 | $4,850 | |
| 1919 | Naturalist | 5 | Charles Fairbrother | Thomas Welsh | Joseph E. Widener | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.40 | $3,850 | |
| 1918 | George Smith | 5 | Willie Kelsay | Hollie Hughes | John Sanford | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.40 | $3,850 | |
| 1917 | Roamer | 6 | Andy Schuttinger | A. J. Goldsborough | Andrew Miller | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.40 | $2,825 | |
| 1916 | Sand Marsh | 4 | James Butwell | Richard O. Miller | Fred E. Rose | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.00 | $2,425 | |
| 1915 | Addie M. | 4 | Joe McCahey | George W. Langdon | John W. Messervy | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.80 | $1,925 | |
| 1913 | Meridian | 5 | Buddy Glass | Albert Ewing | Richard F. Carman | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.60 | ||
| 1906 | Merry Lark | 4 | Walter Miller | Thomas Welsh | Newcastle Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:47.20 | $7,350 | |
| 1905 | Santa Catalina † | 3 | Walter Miller | R. Wyndham Walden | Albermale Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.40 | $6,450 | |
| 1904 | Rostand | 4 | Herman Phillips | George Cornell | F. R. Docter | 11⁄16 m | 1:45.60 | $6,600 | |
| 1903 | Blackstock | 4 | Grover Fuller | John W. Rogers | William C. Whitney | 11⁄16 m | 1:46.60 | $6,730 |
- † In 1905 Preen finished first but was disqualified.
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