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3 unusual facts about graded stakes race


All American Stakes

The All American is the first Grade III event on its new Tapeta Footings main track which was unveiled on November 7, 2007.

Gardenia Stakes top three finishers

This is a listing of the horses that finished in either first, second, or third place and the number of starters in the Gardenia Stakes, an American Grade 3 race for three-year-olds and up at 1-1/16 miles on synthetic surface held at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky.

Thomas P. Whitney

A fan of Thoroughbred racing, as a hobby Whitney owned and raced several horses, most notably winning the Grade 1 Diana Handicap in 1983.


Allaire du Pont

The Grade III Pimlico Breeders' Cup Distaff Handicap at Pimlico Race Course was renamed the Allaire du Pont Breeders' Cup Distaff in her memory.

Dean McKeown

Riding Collier Hill, McKeown won a number of major international races, including the 2005 Group 2 Gerling-Preis in Cologne, Germany, the C$2 million Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada, and the HK$14 million Hong Kong Vase in Hong Kong, China.

Del Mar Derby

A Grade II race open to three-year-old horses, it is contested on turf over a distance of one and one-eighth miles (9 furlongs).

Del Mar Handicap

The Grade II race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and three-eighths miles on the Jimmy Durante turf course.

El Cajon Stakes

Open to three-year-old horses, the non-graded stakes is contested at a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) on Polytrack synthetic dirt and as at 2009 offered a purse of $100,000.

Eurico Rosa da Silva

As at September 27, 2008 he ranks sixth in wins and fifth in earnings at Woodbine and notably won two Graded stakes races at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky and will likely ride those winners in October's Breeders' Cup.

Hollywood Gold Cup top three finishers

This is a listing of the horses that finished in first, second, and third place (and the number of starters) in the Hollywood Gold Cup, an American Grade 1 race for three-year-olds and up at 1 1/4 miles (on dirt, 1938-2006 and the synthetic surface, 'Cushion Track', since 2007), held at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California.

Ian Wilkes

Now a resident of Louisville, Kentucky and training on his own, Wilkes earned his first Grade 1 win with Capt. Candyman Can in the 2009 King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Indian Blessing

Always a front runner, after winning her debut in a sprint race at Saratoga Race Course, Indian Blessing won the one-mile Grade I Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

Jean Cruguet

In 1969, he won a major Grade I race aboard Arts and Letters when he replaced Braulio Baeza due to another commitment, riding the future Hall of Fame colt to victory in the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.

Kentucky Oaks top three finishers

This is a listing of the horses that finished in either first, second, or third place and the number of starters in the Kentucky Oaks, the first leg of the defacto American Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing, an American Grade 1 race for three year-old fillies at 1-1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Mesabi Maiden

The daughter of Cox's Ridge and Steel Maiden out of Hall of Fame Champion Damascus is probably best remembered for winning the mile and an eighth Grade II $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 17, 1996.

New York Turf Writers Cup

A Grade I event on the turf for 4-year-olds and up, this race offers a purse of $150,000.

Purple Violet Stakes

Open to three-year-old fillies registered in the State of Illinois, the non-graded stakes is contested at a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) on Polytrack synthetic dirt.

Rajiv Maragh

Rapidly developing into a top jockey since moving north to compete at NYRA tracks, in 2009 he has been a winner of several Grade 1 races.

San Diego Handicap

This Grade II race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on Polytrack synthetic dirt.

Smoke Glacken

He won the Grade II Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes at Laurel Park, the Grade III Riva Ridge Stakes at Belmont Park, the Grade III Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park by eight lengths, the Grade III Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes, the Mountain Valley Stakes, and the Black Gold Handicap.

Stately Victor

Owned by Thomas F. and Jack Conway, the latter once a Kentucky Democratic Party candidate for the United States Senate, Stately Victor won the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 10, 2010, prior to running in the Kentucky Derby.

Sweet Vendetta

Her connections including pop star owner David Cassidy decided to enter her in the second jewel of America's defacto Filly Triple Crown, the $200,000 Grade II Black-eyed Susan Stakes.

Telly's Pop

In his outstanding two-year-old season, in addition to a win in the Haggin Stakes Telly's Pop won the 1975 Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar Racetrack followed by the Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita Park, and then the California Juvenile Stakes at Bay Meadows Racetrack, all Grade II events that comprised the California Triple Crown for his age group.

Tropical Turf Handicap

The Tropical Turf Handicap is an American Grade IIIT Thoroughbred horse race run on the turf course at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Florida each year.


see also

Captain Bodgit

Captain Bodgit was a highly regarded two year-old colt training in Maryland who won the prestigious Laurel Futurity, a graded stakes race, after winning both the Dover Stakes at Delaware Park and Bimelech Stakes at Laurel Park.