Hill Prince Stakes

The Hill Prince Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of one and one-eight miles (9 furlongs) on the turf annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

Hill Prince Stakes

Grade III stakes race
Location	Aqueduct Racetrack Queens, New York, United States
Inaugurated	1975 (at Belmont Park as Hill Prince Handicap)
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website	NYRA
Race information
Distance	1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs)
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds
Weight	124 lbs. with allowances
Purse	$200,000 (2024)

History

The race is named for Christopher Chenery's Hall of Fame colt, Hill Prince.^[1]

The inaugural running took place as the Hill Prince Handicap on 26 October 1975 and was run at a distance of a mile and three-eights. It was won on a disqualification by Gustave Ring's homebred colt Don Jack.^[2]

The following year the event was scheduled in June at a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles.^[3]

The Hill Prince Stakes was hosted by Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York in 1979, 1980, and again in 1982.^[4]

In 1981 was classified Grade III by the American Graded Stakes Committee.^[3]

The race was run in two divisions in 1982.^[5] The second division was won by Larida, the only filly to have won this event.^[6]

The event has been moved off the turf due to track conditions in 1998, 2003 and 2009 but has not had its classification downgraded.^[4]

Primarily the event had been scheduled in early spring but in 2014 NYRA moved the event to October and increased the stakes significantly to $500,000.^[3] In 2018 the event was upgraded to Grade II status.^[3]

The event was moved in the schedule to November in 2023 and is held at Aqueduct Racetrack.^[3]

In 2024 the American Graded Stakes Committee downgraded the event to Grade III status.^[7]

Records

Speed record:

• 1 mile: 1:33.45 – Marcavelly (2007)
• 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:39.70 – Optic Nerve (1996)
• 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:45.96 – Subordination (1997)

Margins:

• 7+1⁄4 lengths – Street Game (2011)

Most wins by an owner:

• 4 – Klaravich Stables (1997, 2006, 2015, 2021)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 4 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1978, 1981, 1988, 1991)
• 4 – Jerry Bailey (1983, 1992, 1994, 1995)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 4 – William I. Mott (1993, 1995, 2007, 2017)
• 4 – Christophe Clement (2008, 2012, 2018, 2024)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
At Aqueduct – Hill Prince Stakes
2024	Deterministic	Joel Rosario	Christophe Clement	St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven C. Duncker & Vicarage Stable	1+1⁄8 miles	1:46.58	$2500,000	III	[8]
2023	Integration	Kendrick Carmouche	Claude R. McGaughey III	West Point Thoroughbreds & Woodford Racing	1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.06	$250,000	II	[9]
2022	Celestial City	Jose Lezcano	Claude R. McGaughey III	Stuart S. Janney III	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.27	$300,000	II	[10]
At Belmont Park
2021	Public Sector (GB)	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Chad C. Brown	Klaravich Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.68	$400,000	II	[11]
2020	Get Smokin	Javier Castellano	Thomas M. Bush	Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust	1 mile	1:36.95	$150,000	II	[12]
2019	Neptune's Storm	Ricardo Santana Jr.	Richard Baltas	John Rochfort, Saul Gevertz, Lynn Gitomer, Mike Goetz, Michael Nentwig, & Daniel Weiner	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.74	$401,200	II	[13]
2018	Have At It	David Cohen	Christophe Clement	Robert S. Evans	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.52	$514,750	II	[14]
2017	Yoshida (JPN)	Manuel Franco	William I. Mott	WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, SF Racing & Head of Plains Partners	1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.07	$500,000	III	[15]
2016	Camelot Kitten	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Chad C. Brown	Ken and Sarah Ramsey	1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.25	$500,000	III	[16]
2015	Takeover Target	Jose L. Ortiz	Chad C. Brown	Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence	1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.42	$500,000	III	[17]
2014	Ring Weekend	Irad Ortiz Jr.	H. Graham Motion	St. Elias Stable & West Point Thoroughbreds	1+1⁄8 miles	1:55.56	$500,000	III	[18]
2013	Notacatbutallama	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	Repole Stable	1 mile	1:34.82	$150,000	III	[19]
2012	Summer Front	Ramon A. Dominguez	Christophe Clement	Waterford Stable	1 mile	1:33.74	$150,000	III	[20]
2011	Street Game	Ryan Curatolo	Philip M. Serpe	Flying Zee Stables	1 mile	1:36.38	$100,000	III	[21]
2010	Krypton	Rajiv Maragh	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Harvey A. Clarke & Ron Winchell	1 mile	1:34.97	$98,000	III	[22]
2009	Despite the Odds	Jeremy Rose	Michael J. Trombetta	Larry R. Johnson, TYB Stable & Gerry Dilger	1 mile	1:35.68	$109,000	III	Off turf[23]
2008	Gio Ponti	Garrett K. Gomez	Christophe Clement	Castleton Lyons	1 mile	1:35.03	$111,000	III	[24]
2007	Marcavelly	Edgar S. Prado	William I. Mott	Zayat Stables	1 mile	1:33.45	$105,700	III	[25]
2006	Outperformance	Javier Castellano	Richard A. Violette Jr.	Klaravich Stables	1 mile	1:36.74	$115,400	III	[26]
2005	Rey de Cafe	Javier Castellano	George R. Arnold II	G. Watts Humphrey Jr.	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.25	$114,700	III	[27]
2004	Artie Schiller	Richard Migliore	James A. Jerkens	Timber Bay Farm & Mrs. Thomas J. Walsh	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.06	$110,000	III	[28]
2003	Happy Trails	Shaun Bridgmohan	Steve Klesaris	Sanford Goldfarb & Team Julep Stable	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.13	$113,100	III	Off turf[29]
2002	Van Minister	Michael J. Luzzi	Carlos F. Martin	Our Sugar Bear Stable	1+1⁄8 miles	1:54.42	$109,300	III	[30]
2001	Proud Man	Rene R. Douglas	Harry Benson	Double R Stable, Robert Kaufman & Stephen Weiss	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.25	$114,600	III	[31]
2000	Promontory Gold	Edgar S. Prado	Robert J. Frankel	Robert A. Witt	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.15	$110,900	III	[32]
1999	Time Off	Jean-Luc Samyn	Scott M. Schwartz	Herbert T. and Carol A. Schwartz	1+1⁄8 miles	1:47.48	$111,200	III	[33]
1998	Recommended List	Jorge F. Chavez	James E. Picou	Fred W. Hooper	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.28	$113,000	III	Off turf[34]
1997	Subordination	John R. Velazquez	Gary Sciacca	Klaravich Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:45.96	$112,000	III	[35]
1996	Optic Nerve	Jose A. Santos	Howard M. Tesher	Oak Cliff Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:39.70	$112,028	III	[36]
1995	Green Means Go	Jerry D. Bailey	William I. Mott	Pin Oak Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:40.33	$113,600	III	[37]
1994	Pennine Ridge	Jerry D. Bailey	David G. Donk	December Hill Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:39.87	$84,876	III	[38]
1993	Halissee	Julie Krone	William I. Mott	John A. Nerud	1+1⁄16 miles	1:40.91	$86,700	III	[39]
1992	‡Free At Last	Jerry D. Bailey	D. Wayne Lukas	Team Valor Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.05	$88,650	III	[40]
1991	Young Daniel	Angel Cordero Jr.	John M. Veitch	Darby Dan Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:39.87	$96,750	III	[41]
1990	Solar Splendor	Eddie Maple	Patrick J. Kelly	Live Oak Plantation	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.20	$96,450	III	[42]
1989	Slew the Knight	Chris Antley	John O. Hertler	Philip DiLeo	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.00	$94,200	III	[43]
1988	Sunshine Forever	Angel Cordero Jr.	John M. Veitch	Darby Dan Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.20	$120,200	III	[44]
1987	Forest Fair	Jose A. Santos	John J. Lenzini Jr.	Gary Marano	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.80	$121,200	III	[45]
1986	Double Feint	Jose A. Santos	LeRoy Jolley	Peter M. Brant	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.40	$88,640	III	[46]
1985	§Danger's Hour	Donald MacBeth	MacKenzie Miller	Rokeby Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:40.60	$98,850	III	[47]
1984	A Gift	Donald MacBeth	Joseph B. Cantey	Taylor Asbury	1+1⁄16 miles	1:48.40	$72,800	III	[48]
1983	Domynsky (GB)	Jerry D. Bailey	William Curtis Jr.	Dogwood Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:48.80	$61,100	III	[49]
At Aqueduct
1982	Majesty's Prince	Ruben Hernandez	Joseph B. Cantey	Newstead Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.40	$55,300	III	Division 1[5]
	ƒLarida	Eddie Maple	Woodford C. Stephens	John DeWitt Marsh		1:42.60	$55,300		Division 2[50]
At Belmont Park
1981	Summing	Angel Cordero Jr.	Luis Barrera	Charles T. Wilson Jr.	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.40	$59,500	III	[51]
At Aqueduct – Hill Prince Handicap
1980	Ben Fab	Jean Cruguet	Jacques Dumas	Rene Benoit	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.40	$58,000		[52]
1979	Bends Me Mind	Jorge Velasquez	Woodford C. Stephens	Mill House Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:46.00	$57,450		[53]
At Belmont Park
1978	Darby Creek Road	Angel Cordero Jr.	Howard M. Tesher	H. Joseph Allen	1 mile	1:35.20	$37,675		[54]
1977	Forward Charger	Jacinto Vasquez	LeRoy Jolley	Gerald Robins	1 mile	1:34.40	$37,625		[55]
1976	Fifth Marine	Ron Turcotte	Sidney Watters Jr.	Pamela H. Firman	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.20	$45,675		[56]
1975	†Don Jack	George Martens	Vincent J. Cincotta	Gustave Ring	1+3⁄8 miles	2:23.20	$57,750		[57]

Legend:
  Dirt   Turf
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
ƒ Filly or Mare
† In the inaugural running of the event in 1975 Annie's Brat finished first, but was disqualified and set back to second.
‡ In the 1992 running of the event Casino Magistrate finished first but was disqualified and set back to second.

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

1. "Hill Prince". NYRA. 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
2. "Don Jack is Victor". New York Times. 1975-10-27. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
3. "Hill Prince Stakes (Gr. 2)". Equibase. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
4. "HILL PRINCE STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
5. Gaffer, Wes (13 May 1983). "Majesty's Prince, Larida race to Big A wins (1982 Hill Prince Stakes Division 1 – race 6: held 12 May 1982)". New York Daily News. p. 158. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
6. "HILL PRINCE STAKES - 2ND DIV. - AQUEDUCT, NY". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
7. "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2024". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
8. "2024 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 5)". Equibase. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
9. "2023 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 2 - (race 5)". Equibase. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
10. "2022 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
11. "2021 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 23 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
12. "2020 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 18 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
13. "2019 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
14. "2018 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
15. "2017 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 7 October 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
16. "2016 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
17. "2015 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
18. "2014 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
19. "2013 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
20. "2012 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
21. "2011 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 18 June 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
22. "2010 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 4)". Equibase. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
23. "2009 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
24. "2008 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 6 June 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
25. "2007 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
26. "2006 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 9 June 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
27. "2005 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 10 June 2005. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
28. "2004 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 June 2004. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
29. "2003 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 14 June 2003. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
30. "2002 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 15 June 2002. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
31. "2001 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 16 June 2001. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
32. "2000 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 17 June 2000. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
33. "1999 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 13 June 1999. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
34. "1998 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 14 June 1998. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
35. "1997 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 15 June 1997. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
36. "1996 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 16 June 1996. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
37. "1995 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase. 10 June 1995. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
38. "1994 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 25 June 1994. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
39. "1993 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 13 June 1993. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
40. "1992 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 14 June 1992. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
41. "1991 Hill Prince Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase. 16 June 1991. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
42. Whelan, Tom (12 July 1990). "Solar Splendor stays home in Hill Prince Turf Stakes (1990 Hill Prince Stakes – race 9: held 11 July 1990)". The Herald Statesman. p. 18. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
43. "Slew The Knight wins at Belmont (1989 Hill Prince Stakes – race 8: held 9 July 1989)". Hartford Courant. The Associated Press. 10 July 1989. p. 191. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
44. "Sunshine Forever shines in Hill Prince Stakes (1988 Hill Prince Stakes – race 8: held 24 June 1988)". The Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 25 June 1988. p. 15. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
45. "3-5 Forest Fair Wins Hill Prince (1987 Hill Prince Stakes – race 8: held 20 June 1987)". New York Newsday. The Associated Press. 21 June 1987. p. 287. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
46. "Double Feint 4-for-4 on grass (1986 Hill Prince Stakes – race 8: held 21 June 1986)". New York Daily News. 22 June 1986. p. 239. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
47. Harris, Russ (23 June 1985). "Danger's Hour runs fastest Hill Prince (1985 Hill Prince Stakes – race 8: held 22 June 1985)". New York Daily News. The Associated Press. p. 108. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
48. Whelan, Tom (4 June 1984). "A Gift sparkles in Hill Prince win at Belmont (1984 Hill Prince Stakes – race 8: held 3 June 1984)". The Herald Statesman. p. 20. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
49. O'Day, Joe (23 May 1983). "Domynsky rallies to win Hill Prince (1983 Hill Prince Stakes – race 8: held 22 May 1983)". New York Daily News. p. 107. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
50. "'Prince', Larida win (1982 Hill Prince Stakes Division 2 – race 8: held 12 May 1982)". Miami Herald. United Press International. 13 May 1983. p. 544. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
51. Gaffer, Wes (7 May 1981). "Summing wins at Belmont (1981 Hill Prince Stakes – race 8: held 6 May 1981)". New York Daily News. p. 113. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
52. "Ben Fab wins fifth Straight in Aqueduct's Hill Prince Handicap (1980 Hill Prince Handicap – race 8: held 7 May 1980)". Lexington Herald. The Associated Press. 7 May 1980. p. 55. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
53. "Bends Me Mind Wins at Aqueduct (1979 Hill Prince Handicap – race 8: held 2 May 1979)". Miami Herald. The Associated Press. 7 May 1979. p. 78. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
54. "Darby Creek Road Cops Hill Prince Handicap (1978 Hill Prince Handicap – race 8: held 19 July 1978)". Hartford Courant. The Associated Press. 20 July 1978. p. 33. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
55. "Forward Charger Wins Belmont Feature (1977 Hill Prince Handicap – race 8: held 21 July 1977)". Hartford Courant. The Associated Press. 21 July 1977. p. 66. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
56. "3rd Straight Belmont win (1976 Hill Prince Handicap – race 8: held 20 June 1976)". San Francisco Examiner. The Associated Press. 21 June 1976. p. 52. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
57. "Horse Racing Update (1975 Hill Prince Handicap – race 7: held 26 October 1975)". Philadelphia Inquirer. The Associated Press. 27 October 1975. p. 78. Retrieved 25 October 2021.