True North Stakes

The True North Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years old and older held over a distance of six and half furlongs on dirt scheduled annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $350,000.^[1]

True North Stakes

Grade II race
Location	Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated	1979
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website	www.nyra.com
Race information
Distance	6+1⁄2 furlongs
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Four-years-old and older
Weight	124lbs with allowances
Purse	US$350,000 (2024)

History

The True North is named for the winner of the 1945 Fall Highweight Handicap, W. Deering Howe's, True North.

The event was inaugurated on 9 July 1979 as the True North Handicap and was won by the longshot Moleolus in a time of 1:104⁄5.^[2]

The event was classified as Grade III in 1982 and upgraded to Grade II in 1985.^[1] The only mare to win the event was Gold Beauty in 1993.^[3]

In winning the 1987 edition of the True North Handicap, Groovy earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 134.^[4]

In 2014 the conditions of the race changed to a stakes race. In 2017 the distance of the race was changed from 6 furlongs to 6+1⁄2 furlongs.^[1]

In 2024 the event was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.^[5]

Records

Speed record:

• 6+1⁄2 furlongs – 1:14.85 – Catalina Cruiser (2019)
• 6 furlongs – 1:07.80 – Groovy (1987)

Most wins:

• 2 - Firenze Fire (2020, 2021)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 4 – William I. Mott (1991, 1993, 1998, 2023)

Margin:

• 8+1⁄2 lengths – Trappe Shot (2011)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 3 – Jean-Luc Samyn (1979, 1981, 1999)
• 3 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1987, 1988, 1989)
• 3 – Robbie Davis (1996, 1997, 2000)
• 3 – Javier Castellano (2012, 2015, 2018)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 – Seymour Cohn (1985, 1999)
• 2 – Mr. Amore Stables (2020, 2021)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
At Saratoga – True North Stakes
2024	Baby Yoda	6	Eric Cancel	William I. Mott	Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber & Jerold L. Zaro	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.62	$350,000	II	[6]
At Belmont Park
2023	Elite Power	5	Irad Ortiz Jr.	William I. Mott	Juddmonte	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.65	$250,000	II	[7]
2022	Jackie's Warrior	4	Joel Rosario	Steven M. Asmussen	Judy & J.Kirk Robison	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.09	$300,000	II	[8]
2021	Firenze Fire	6	Jose Ortiz	Kelly Breen	Mr Amore Stables	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.52	$300,000	II	[9]
2020	Firenze Fire	5	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Kelly Breen	Mr Amore Stables	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.53	$150,000	II	[10]
2019	Catalina Cruiser	5	Joel Rosario	John W. Sadler	Hronis Racing	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.85	$250,000	II	[11]
2018	Imperial Hint	5	Javier Castellano	Luis Carvajal Jr.	Raymond Mamone	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.02	$240,000	II	[12]
2017	Roy H	5	Paco Lopez	Peter L. Miller	Rockingham Ranch	6 furlongs	1:08.59	$250,000	II	[13]
2016	Joking	7	Manuel Franco	Charlton Baker	Charlton Baker	6 furlongs	1:08.04	$240,000	II	[14]
2015	Rock Fall	4	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Stonestreet Stables	6 furlongs	1:08.37	$250,000	II	[15]
2014	Palace	5	José L. Ortiz	Linda L. Rice	Antonino Miuccio	6 furlongs	1:08.29	$250,000	II	[16]
True North Handicap
2013	Fast Bullet	5	Joel Rosario	Bob Baffert	Zayat Stables	6 furlongs	1:08.27	$400,000	II	[17]
2012	Caixa Eletronica	7	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Repole Stables	6 furlongs	1:09.52	$400,000	II	[18]
2011	Trappe Shot	4	John R. Velazquez	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Mill House	6 furlongs	1:08.86	$250,000	II	[19]
2010	Bribon (FR)	7	Garrett K. Gomez	Todd A. Pletcher	Derrick Smith	6 furlongs	1:09.63	$250,000	II	[20]
2009	Fabulous Strike	6	Ramon A. Dominguez	Todd M. Beattie	Walter Downey	6 furlongs	1:07.85	$250,000	II	[21]
2008	Benny the Bull	5	Edgar S. Prado	Richard E. Dutrow Jr.	IEAH Stables, James Cohen, Pegasus Holdings Group & Sanford H. Robbins	6 furlongs	1:09.06	$250,000	II	[22]
2007	Will He Shine	5	Edgar S. Prado	Dale L. Romans	Saviaro Pugliese & Marc Wexler	6 furlongs	1:08.70	$200,000	II	[23]
2006	Anew	5	Alan Garcia	Steven M. Asmussen	Chrome Cowboy Racing & Raymond Vitolo	6 furlongs	1:08.10	$200,000	II	[24]
2005	Woke Up Dreamin	5	Mike E. Smith	Bob Baffert	Michael E. Pegram	6 furlongs	1:08.38	$212,900	II	[25]
2004	Speightstown	6	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	Eugene Melnyk	6 furlongs	1:08.04	$206,400	II	[26]
2003	Shake You Down	5	Michael J. Luzzi	Scott A. Lake	Robert L. Cole Jr.	6 furlongs	1:09.40	$190,000	II	[27]
2002	Explicit	5	Lonnie Meche	Ian P. D. Jory	Marvin Malmuth	6 furlongs	1:09.80	$250,000	II	[28]
2001	Say Florida Sandy	7	Aaron Gryder	Juan Serey	John Rotella	6 furlongs	1:08.60	$150,000	II	[29]
2000	Intidab	7	Robbie Davis	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Shadwell Stable	6 furlongs	1:10.00	$150,000	II	[30]
1999	Kashatreya	5	Jean-Luc Samyn	John O. Hertler	Seymour Cohn	6 furlongs	1:09.60	$150,000	II	[31]
1998	Richter Scale	4	Jerry D. Bailey	William I. Mott	Nancy & Richard Kaster	6 furlongs	1:08.80	$138,600	II	[32]
1997	Punch Line	7	Robbie Davis	William H. Turner Jr.	Althea Richards	6 furlongs	1:08.80	$110,300	II	[33]
1996	Not Surprising	6	Robbie Davis	Judson Van Worp	Robert Van Worp	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$111,200	II	[34]
1995	Waldoboro	4	Eddie Maple	Claude R. McGaughey III	Emory A. Hamilton	6 furlongs	1:09.60	$110,500	II	[35]
1994	Friendly Lover	6	Rick Wilson	Joseph H. Pierce Jr.	Pastime Stable	6 furlongs	1:09.60	$112,300	II	[36]
1993	Lion Cavern	4	Julie Krone	William I. Mott	Sheikh Mohammed	6 furlongs	1:10.20	$115,200	II	[37]
1992	Shining Bid	4	Eddie Maple	Jack B. Morgan	Deborah A. Matz	6 furlongs	1:08.20	$119,800	II	[38]
1991	Diablo	4	Julie Krone	William I. Mott	Bertram R. Firestone	6 furlongs	1:08.20	$116,200	II	[39]
1990	Mr. Nickerson	4	Chris Antley	Mark J. Reid	Robert H. A. Nixon	6 furlongs	1:10.40	$85,600	II	[40]
1989	Dancing Spree	4	Ángel Cordero Jr.	Claude R. McGaughey III	Ogden Phipps	6 furlongs	1:09.40	$113,600	II	[41]
1988	§ High Brite	4	Ángel Cordero Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	H. Joseph Allen	6 furlongs	1:10.00	$113,000	II	[42]
1987	Groovy	4	Ángel Cordero Jr.	José Martín	Lone Star Stable	6 furlongs	1:07.80	$108,800	II	[43]
1986	Phone Trick	4	Jorge Velásquez	Richard E. Mandella	Howell Wynne	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$110,800	II	[44]
1985	Cannon Shell	6	D. J. Murphy	Chester Ross	Seymour Cohn	6 furlongs	1:10.80	$87,000	II	[45]
1984	Believe The Queen	4	Jorge Velásquez	H. Allen Jerkens	Bohemia Stable	6 furlongs	1:09.80	$86,850	III	[46]
1983	‡ Gold Beauty	4	Don Brumfield	William Curtis Jr.	Mrs. Philip Hofmann	6 furlongs	1:10.40	$84,600	III	[47]
1982	Shimatoree	3	Mario G. Pinoclaud	Richard E. Dutrow Sr.	Rif'at Hussain	6 furlongs	1:08.60	$82,650		[48]
1981	Joanie's Chief	4	Jean-Luc Samyn	Eugene Jacobs	Peter Barberino	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$58,800		[49]
1980	Syncopate	5	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Ron McAnally	Elmendorf Farm	6 furlongs	1:09.20	$55,000		[50]
1979	Moleolus	4	Jean-Luc Samyn	Patrick J. Kelly	Live Oak Plantation Racing	6 furlongs	1:10.40	$42,225		[2]

Notes:
‡ Filly or Mare
§ Ran as part of an entry

See also

• List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

1. "True North Stakes (Gr. 2)". equibase. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
2. Inaugural Running of True North Handicap Ward, Gene (9 July 1979). "$61 Moleolus wins first True North (1979 True North Handicap – race 8: held 8 July 1979)". New York Daily News. p. 58. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
3. "TRUE NORTH HANDICAP – MULTIPLE TRACKSS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
4. Beyer, Andrew Beyer on Speed: New Strategies for Racetrack Betting, p.57 (1995) Houghton Mifflin ISBN 978-0-395-73523-7
5. "NYRA sets 2024 calendar, with Belmont Stakes at Saratoga". nyra.com. New York Racing Association. January 24, 2024. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
6. "2024 True North Stakes Presented by F. W. Webb Grade 2 - (race 4)". Equibase. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
7. "2023 True North Stakes Grade 2 - (race 3)". Equibase. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
8. "2022 True North Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
9. "2021 True North Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
10. "2020 True North Stakes Grade 2 – (race 9)" (PDF). Equibase. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
11. "2019 True North Stakes Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
12. "2018 True North Stakes Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
13. "2017 True North Stakes Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
14. "2016 True North Stakes Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
15. "2015 True North Stakes Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
16. "2014 True North Stakes Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
17. "2013 RTN True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
18. "2012 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
19. "2011 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
20. "2010 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
21. "2009 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
22. "2008 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
23. "2007 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 9 June 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
24. "2006 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 10 June 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
25. "2005 True North Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 11 June 2005. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
26. "2004 True North Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 5 June 2004. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
27. "2003 True North Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 7 June 2003. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
28. "2002 True North Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 8 June 2002. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
29. "2001 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 9 June 2001. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
30. "2000 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 10 June 2000. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
31. "1999 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 5 June 1999. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
32. "1998 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 5)". Equibase. 6 June 1998. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
33. "1997 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 7 June 1997. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
34. "1996 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 8 June 1996. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
35. "1995 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 15 July 1995. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
36. "1994 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 16 July 1994. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
37. "1993 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 20 June 1993. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
38. "1992 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 20 June 1992. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
39. "1991 True North Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 22 June 1991. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
40. "Belmont Park Charts (1990 True North Handicap – race 8: held 23 June 1990)". New York Daily News. 24 June 1990. p. 75. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
41. "Dancing Spree wins True North 'Cap (1989 True North Handicap – race 8: held 24 June 1989)". The New York Times. 25 June 1989. p. 52. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
42. "High Brite wins True North (1988 True North Handicap – race 8: held 21 June 1988)". Asbury Park Press. Associated Press. 20 June 1988. p. 42. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
43. "Groovy wins True North (1987 True North Handicap – race 8: held 21 June 1988)". Hartford Courant. Associated Press. 22 June 1987. p. 90. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
44. "Phone Trick stays unbeaten (1986 True North Handicap – race 8: held 22 June 1986)". The Courier-Journal. Associated Press. 23 June 1986. pp. 16, 29. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
45. "Phone Trick stays unbeaten (1985 True North Handicap – race 8: held 23 June 1985)". The Journal News. Associated Press. 24 June 1985. p. 47. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
46. O'Day, Joe (25 June 1984). "A Super Day by Jorge (1984 True North Handicap – race 8: held 24 June 1984)". New York Daily News. p. 54. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
47. O'Day, Joe (27 June 1983). "Gold Beauty, a filly, Beats 7 colts by 2½ (1983 True North Handicap – race 8: held 24 June 1983)". New York Daily News. p. 59. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
48. Gaffer, Wes (4 July 1982). "Shimatoree sprints to win True North Handicap (1982 True North Handicap – race 8: held 3 July 1982)". New York Daily News. p. 343. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
49. Kellner, Jenny (4 July 1981). "Joanie's Chief ruins Proud Appeal's return (1981 True North Handicap – race 8: held 3 July 1981)". New York Daily News. p. 71. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
50. Harris, Russ (7 July 1980). "Syncopate stretch run nudges Isella by a nose (1980 True North Handicap – race 8: held 6 July 1980)". New York Daily News. p. 63. Retrieved 25 June 2020.