Chicago Handicap

The Chicago Handicap is a Grade III race for Thoroughbred fillies and mares, ages three and up, set at seven furlongs and held in June at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. It offers a purse of $100,000.

Chicago Handicap

Grade III race
Location	Churchill Downs Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated	1986
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	www.churchilldowns.com
Race information
Distance	7 furlongs
Surface	Dirt
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Fillies & Mares, Three-years-old and Up
Weight	Assigned
Purse	$100,000 (2016)

The race began in 1986 at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. In 2007, the race was moved to a synthetic surface when Arlington Park switched its main track from dirt to an all-weather course. The Chicago Handicap was switched back to dirt in 2017, when it was moved to Churchill Downs.[1] Arlington Park was cutting back on its stakes races in order to boost overnight race purses, and Churchill Downs, which is owned by the same company, picked up both the Chicago Handicap and the Matron Stakes.[2]

It went back to Arlington Park in 2018 with Princess La Quinta winning the race[3]

Records

Speed Record (at Arlington Park)

• 1:21.24 - Withallprobability (1992)

Most wins

• 2 - Lazer Show (1986, 1987)
• 2 - Informed Decision (2009, 2010)

Most wins by a jockey

• 3 - Pat Day (1986, 1987, 1990)
• 3 - Craig Perret (1991, 2001, 2003)
• 3 - Rene R. Douglas (2002, 2004, 2008)

Most wins by a trainer

• 2 - Donald R. Winfree (1986, 1987)
• 2 - Frank L. Brothers (1989, 2001)
• 2 - D. Wayne Lukas (1992, 1995)
• 2 - Phillip England (1996, 2000)
• 2 - William I. Mott (2006, 2011)
• 2 - Jonathan E. Sheppard (2009, 2010)
• 2 - W. Bret Calhoun (2013, 2017)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time	Gr.
2019	My Mertie	4	Carlos Marquez Jr.	Michele Boyce	Oak Rock Racing LLC (Margaret Burlingham), Terry Biondo, Cherrywood Racing Stables II (M. Boyce)	1:22.44	G3
2018	Hotshot Anna	4	Harry Hernandez	Hugh Robertson	Hugh Robertson	1:20.93	G3
2017	Finley'sluckycharm	4	Brian Hernandez Jr.	W. Bret Calhoun	Carl L. Moore Management LLC	1:22.17	G3
2016	Sarah Sis	4	Jose Valdivia Jr.	Ingrid Mason	Rags Racing Stable LLC	1:23.16	G3
2015	Race not held
2014	My Option	4	Eduardo Perez	Chris Block	Timothy J. Keeley	1:23.72	G3
2013	Cozze Up Lady	4	Miguel Mena	W. Bret Calhoun	Martin Racing et al.	1:23.06	G3
2012	Kitty in a Tizzy	5	Francisco C. Torres	H. James Bond	William L. Clifton Jr.	1:23.49	G3
2011	Devil by Design	5	Corey Nakatani	William I. Mott	John D. Gunther et al.	1:25.54	G3
2010	Informed Decision	5	Julien Leparoux	Jonathan E. Sheppard	Augustin Stable	1:24.34	G3
2009	Informed Decision	4	Julien Leparoux	Jonathan E. Sheppard	Augustin Stable	1:21.49	G3
2008	Leah's Secret	5	Rene R. Douglas	Todd Pletcher	WinStar Farm	1:22.17	G3
2007	Lady Belsara	4	E. T. Baird	S. Matthew Kintz	At the Moment Stables	1:23.10	G3
2006	Ebony Breeze	6	John Jacinto	William I. Mott	Kinsman Stable	1:22.02	G3
2005	Happy Ticket	4	Eusebio Razo Jr.	Andrew Leggio Jr.	Stewart Mather Madison	1:22.54	G3
2004	My Trusty Cat	4	Rene Douglas	David R. Vance	Carl F. Pollard	1:23.54	G3
2003	For Rubies	4	Craig Perret	Lynn S. Whiting	Choctaw Racing Stable	1:24.21	G3
2002	Mandy's Gold	4	Rene R. Douglas	Michael E. Gorham	Steeplechase Farm	1:22.86	G3
2001	Trip	4	Craig Perret	Frank L. Brothers	Claiborne Farm	1:22.18	G3
2000	Saoirse	4	David Clark	Phil England	Knob Hill Stable	1:23.09	G3
1998	- 1999	Race not held
1997	J J'sdream	4	Mark Guidry	Bobby Barnett	John A. Franks	1:22.25	G3
1996	Bunbeg	4	Mickey Walls	Phillip England	Knob Hill Stable	1:23.86	G3
1995	Low Key Affair	4	Aaron T. Gryder	D. Wayne Lukas	Moyglare Stud	1:24.64	G3
1994	Minidar	4	Vann Belvoir	Mark A. Hennig	Edward P. Evans	1:22.49	G3
1993	Meafara	4	Juvenal Lopez Diaz	Leslie E. Ahrens	Frank L. Muench	1:22.12	G3
1992	Withallprobability	4	Garrett Gomez	D. Wayne Lukas	Edward P. Evans	1:21.24	G3
1991	Safely Kept	5	Craig Perret	Alan E. Goldberg	Jayeff B. Stable	1:23.05
1990	Fit for a Queen	4	Pat Day	Steven C. Penrod	Hermitage Farm	1:23.00
1989	Rose's Record	5	Jorge Velasquez	Frank L. Brothers	D. V. Ringler	1:24.60
1988	Race not held
1987	Lazer Show	4	Pat Day	Donald R. Winfree	James J. Devaney	1:22.80
1986	Lazer Show	3	Pat Day	Donald R. Winfree	James J. Devaney	1:21.40

References

• Equibase Statistics - Chicago Handicap

Specific

1. Equibase.com. "Chicago Handicap Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
2. "Churchill Downs to host Arlington's Matron, Chicago Handicap this year | Daily Racing Form". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
3. "Princess La Quinta Seeks Third Win in Chicago Handicap". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2020-06-29.