Pilgrim Stakes

The Pilgrim Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on the turf track scheduled annually in late September at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $200,000.

Pilgrim Stakes

Grade II race
Location	Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated	1979 (at Aqueduct Racetrack)
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website	NYRA
Race information
Distance	1+1⁄16 miles
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Two-year-olds
Weight	122 lbs with allowances
Purse	$200,000 (2021)
Bonuses	Winner receives automatic entrance to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

History

The event was inaugurated on 29 October 1979 at Aqueduct Racetrack and was run over the 1+1⁄8 mile distance in split divisions as the sixth^[1] and eighth race^[2] on the card that day.

The race is named for Joseph E. Widener's horse, Pilgrim,^[3] winner of the 1919 Remsen Stakes.

In 1982 the event was classified as Grade III, upgraded to Grade II in 1988 for two runnings before being downgraded to Grade III.^[4] From 2001–2007 the race was not graded as in 2009 when the event was moved off the turf track due to the inclement weather and held over a shorter one mile distance.^[5]

The event was run in two divisions in the above mentioned inaugural 1979 and again in 1983.^[6]

The distance of the event has been changed several times but since 2010 the event has been run over the current distance of 1+1⁄16 miles.^[4]

The race was part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series from 2008 to 2010, when the winner automatically qualified for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

The event was upgraded to a Grade III event in 2020.^[7]

In 2022 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.^[8]

Records

Speed record:

• 1+1⁄16 miles: 1:41.04 – Annapolis (2021)
• 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:48.02 – Volponi (2000)

Margins:

• 12 lengths – Diplomatic Jet (1994)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 – Live Oak Racing (1981, 2001)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 – John Velazquez (1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2007)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 6 – Todd A. Pletcher (2007, 2009, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
At Aqueduct – Pilgrim Stakes
2024	Zulu Kingdom (IRE)	Joel Rosario	Chad C. Brown	Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, William Strauss & Michael J. Caruso	1+1⁄16 miles	1:48.67	$200,000	II	[9]
2023	Agate Road	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Todd A. Pletcher	Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.83	$200,000	II	[10]
2022	Major Dude	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Todd A. Pletcher	Spendthrift Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:46.60	$200,000	II	[11]
At Belmont Park
2021	Annapolis	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Todd A. Pletcher	Bass Racing	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.04	$186,000	II	[12]
2020	Fire At Will	Kendrick Carmouche	Michael J. Maker	Three Diamonds Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.46	$150,000	II	[13]
2019	Structor	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Chad C. Brown	Jeff Drown & Don Rachel	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.46	$200,000	III	[14]
2018	Forty Under	Manuel Franco	Jeremiah C. Englehart	August Dawn Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.37	$200,000	III	[15]
2017	Seabhac	Luis Saez	Todd A. Pletcher	Donegal Racing	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.48	$200,000	III	[16]
2016	Oscar Performance	José L. Ortiz	Brian A. Lynch	Amerman Racing	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.88	$200,000	III	[17]
2015	Isotherm	Jose Lezcano	George Weaver	Matthew Schera	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.98	$200,000	III	[18]
2014	Imperia	Javier Castellano	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Godolphin Racing	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.36	$200,000	III	[19]
2013	Bobby's Kitten	Javier Castellano	Chad C. Brown	Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.37	$200,000	III	[20]
2012	Noble Tune	Ramon A. Dominguez	Chad C. Brown	Martin S. Schwartz & Dell Ridge Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:47.81	$150,000	III	[21]
2011	Shkspeare Shaliyah	Alex O. Solis	Doodnauth Shivmangal	Shivmangal Racing Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:51.59	$100,000	III	[22]
2010	Air Support	Rajiv Maragh	Claude R. McGaughey III	Stuart S. Janney III	1+1⁄16 miles	1:47.87	$147,500	III	[23]
2009	Eskendereya	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Zayat Stables	1 mile	1:37.85	$152,500	Listed	Off turf[24]
2008	Elusive Bluff	Michael C. Baze	Eric J. Guillot	Southern Equine Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:47.91	$156,800	III	[25]
2007	The Leopard	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.61	$81,000	Listed	[26]
2006	Pickapocket	Eibar Coa	Frank A. Alexander	Martin Cherry	1+1⁄8 miles	1:52.62	$85,925	Listed	[27]
2005	Fagan's Legacy	Joe Bravo	Kelly J. Breen	George & Lori Hall	1+1⁄8 miles	1:52.11	$82,575	Listed	Off turf[28]
2004	Crown Point	Jose L. Espinoza	David G. Donk	Drumlanrig Farm	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.31	$82,875	Listed	[29]
2003	Timo	John R. Velazquez	William Badgett Jr.	C. K. Woods Stable	1+1⁄8 miles	1:57.46	$82,525	Listed	[30]
At Aqueduct
2002	One Colony	Aaron Gryder	Mark A. Hennig	Edward P. Evans	1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.00	$82,950	Listed	Off turf[31]
2001	Miesque's Approval	Jerry D. Bailey	William I. Mott	Live Oak Racing	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.80	$83,475	Listed	[32]
At Belmont Park
2000	Volponi	John R. Velazquez	Philip G. Johnson	Amherst & Spruce Pond	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.02	$113,300	III	[33]
1999	Kachemak Bay	John R. Velazquez	John P. Campo Jr.	Evelyn M. Pollard	1+1⁄8 miles	1:54.67	$111,600	III	[34]
1998	Incurable Optimist	John R. Velazquez	David G. Donk	John T. & Theresa E. Behrendt	1+1⁄8 miles	1:48.05	$108,100	III	[35]
At Aqueduct
1997	§ Cryptic Rascal	Mike E. Smith	William Badgett Jr.	Landon Knight	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.83	$115,700	III	[36]
At Belmont Park
1996	Accelerator	Mike E. Smith	Claude R. McGaughey III	Ogden Mills Phipps	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.80	$113,800	III	Off turf[37]
At Aqueduct
1995	Play It Again Stan	Herb McCauley	Frank A. Generazio Jr.	Sybil Lauren	1+1⁄16 miles	1:50.20	$115,900	III	[38]
At Belmont Park
1994	Diplomatic Jet	Jerry D. Bailey	Philip M. Serpe	Fred W. Hooper	1+1⁄16 miles	1:46.67	$82,076	III	[39]
1993	§ Dove Hunt	Jerry D. Bailey	Neil J. Howard	William S. Farish III	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.60	$122,600	III	[40]
1992	§ Awad	Julie Krone	David G. Donk	Ryehill Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.60	$127,000	III	[41]
1991	Smiling and Dancin	Richard Migliore	Stephen L. DiMauro	Robert J. Sullivan	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.20	$122,800	III	[42]
At Aqueduct
1990	Fourstars Allstar	Mike E. Smith	Leo O'Brien	Richard Bromze	1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.60	$90,000	III	[43]
1989	Super Mario	Richard Migliore	D. Wayne Lukas	H. Joseph Allen	1+1⁄8 miles	1:56.00	$126,800	II	[44]
1988	Tuneful Tip	Carl Gambardella	Ronald J. Dandy	Frank Generazio	1+1⁄8 miles	1:59.00	$132,200	II	[45]
1987	Blew by Em	Chris Antley	Michael H. Daggett	Joseph B. Singer	1+1⁄8 miles	1:53.60	$92,850	III	[46]
1986	§ David's Bird	Jean-Luc Samyn	Philip G. Johnson	Sugar Maple Farm	1+1⁄8 miles	1:53.00	$97,950	III	[47]
1985	Pillaster	Ángel Cordero Jr.	LeRoy Jolley	Peter M. Brant	1+1⁄8 miles	1:54.40	$89,550	III	[48]
1984	Tent Up	Vincent Bracciale Jr.	John W. Hicks	Geoffrey A. Huguely	1+1⁄8 miles	1:53.20	$94,500	III	[49]
1983	Pied A' Tierre	Larry Saumell	Ronald L. Benshoff	Blanche P. Levy	1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.40	$54,700	III	†Division 1[50]
	Vision	Eddie Maple	Woodford C. Stephens	Claiborne Farm		1:50.20	$54,700		†Division 2[51]
1982	Fortnightly	Ángel Cordero Jr.	Edward I. Kelly Jr.	Bwamazon Farm	1+1⁄8 miles	1:57.60	$85,800	III	[52]
1981	Gnome's Gold	Jean-Luc Samyn	Patrick J. Kelly	Live Oak Racing	1+1⁄8 miles	1:57.20	$84,300		[53]
1980	Akureyri	Eddie Maple	Woodford C. Stephens	Hickory Tree Stable	1+1⁄8 miles	1:54.80	$58,400		[54]
1979	Freeo	Sam Maple	Joseph B. Cantey	Loblolly Stable	1+1⁄8 miles	1:53.00	$42,850		Division 1[1]
	I Take All	Ángel Cordero Jr.	Edward I. Kelly Sr.	Brookfield Farm		1:52.40	$43,050		Division 2[2]

Legend:
  Dirt   Turf
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
† Both divisions of the event were moved off the turf and onto the main track due to the inclement weather

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

1. "Freeo, I Take All capture divisions of Pilgrim Stakes (1979 Pilgrim Stakes Division 1 – race 6: held 29 October 1979)". Baltimore Sun. Associated Press. 30 October 1979. p. 34. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
2. "Pilgrim on Rocks (1979 Pilgrim Stakes Division 2 – race 8: held 29 October 1979)". New York Daily News. 30 October 1979. pp. 208, 209. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
3. "PILGRIM (USA) b. G, 1917 Career Earnings: $24,409". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
4. "Pilgrim Stakes (Gr. 3)". Equibase. 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
5. "PILGRIM STAKES – MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
6. "PILGRIM STAKES (2ND. DIV.) - AQUEDUCT, NY". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
7. Schweigardt, Andrew (2019). "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2020". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
8. Ehalt, Bob (28 July 2022). "NYRA Shifts Belmont Fall Meet to Aqueduct Change will allow construction of infield tunnel, redevelopment plan to begin". Retrieved 22 August 2022.
9. "2024 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 2 – (race 11)". Equibase. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
10. "2023 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
11. "2022 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
12. "2021 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 2 – (race 4)". Equibase. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
13. "2020 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
14. "2019 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
15. "2018 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
16. "2017 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
17. "2016 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
18. "2015 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
19. "2014 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
20. "2013 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
21. "2012 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
22. "2011 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
23. "2010 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 7)". Equibase. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
24. "2009 Pilgrim Stakes Listed – (race 9)". Equibase. 4 October 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
25. "2008 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
26. "2007 Pilgrim Stakes Listed – (race 4)". Equibase. 29 September 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
27. "2006 Pilgrim Stakes Listed – (race 9)". Equibase. 22 October 2006. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
28. "2005 Pilgrim Stakes Listed – (race 8)". Equibase. 23 October 2005. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
29. "2004 Pilgrim Stakes Listed – (race 9)". Equibase. 24 October 2004. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
30. "2003 Pilgrim Stakes Listed – (race 9)". Equibase. 19 October 2003. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
31. "2002 Pilgrim Stakes Listed – (race 8)". Equibase. 27 October 2002. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
32. "2001 Pilgrim Stakes Listed – (race 8)". Equibase. 6 November 2001. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
33. "2000 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 22 October 2000. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
34. "1999 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 24 October 1999. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
35. "1998 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 6)". Equibase. 25 October 1998. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
36. "1997 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 31 October 1997. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
37. "1996 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 20 October 1996. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
38. "1995 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 11 November 1995. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
39. "1994 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 6)". Equibase. 25 September 1994. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
40. "1993 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 2 October 1993. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
41. "1992 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 2 October 1992. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
42. "1991 Pilgrim Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 4 October 1991. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
43. "Fourstars Allstar rallies, prevails (1990 Pilgrim Stakes – race 8: held 31 October 1990)". Baltimore Sun. Associated Press. 1 November 1990. p. 38. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
44. "Super Mario still unbeaten (1989 Pilgrim Stakes – race 8: held 5 November 1989 )". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Associated Press. 6 November 1989. p. 38. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
45. "Tuneful Tip takes Pilgrim (1988 Pilgrim Stakes – race 8: held 6 November 1988)". New York Daily News. 7 November 1988. p. 202. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
46. "Blew by Em just does that in Pilgrim (1987 Pilgrim Stakes – race 8: held 31 October 1987)". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. 1 November 1987. p. 21. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
47. "David's Bird wins Pilgrim (1986 Pilgrim Stakes – race 8: held 2 November 1986)". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. 3 November 1986. p. 40. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
48. "Pillaster a decisive winner in $89,550 Pilgrim Stakes (1985 Pilgrim Stakes – race 8: held 9 November 1985)". Hackensack Record. 10 November 1985. p. 75. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
49. "Tent Up wins Pilgrim Stakes (1984 Pilgrim Stakes – race 8: held 4 November 1984)". Asbury Park Press. Associated Press. 5 November 1984. p. 61. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
50. O'Day, Joe (20 October 1983). "Pied A' Tierre, Vision win in Big A Opener (1983 Pilgrim Stakes Division 1 – race 7: held 19 October 1983)". New York Daily News. p. 131. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
51. "Pied A' Tierre, Vision share Pilgram Stakes (1983 Pilgrim Stakes Division 2 – race 8: held 19 October 1983)". White Plains Journal News. Associated Press. 20 October 1983. p. 22. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
52. "Fortnightly takes Pilgrim (1982 Pilgrim Stakes – race 8: held 25 October 1982)". New York Daily News. Associated Press. 26 October 1982. p. 61. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
53. "Gnome's Gold takes Pilgrim Purse (1981 Pilgrim Stakes – race 8: held 26 October 1981)". Tampa Tribune. Associated Press. 27 October 1981. p. 50. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
54. "Akureyri surprise winner in Pilgrim Stakes at Aqueduct (1980 Pilgrim Stakes – race 8: held 27 October 1980)". Miami News. Associated Press. 28 October 1980. p. 50. Retrieved 2 September 2020.