Ruffian Stakes
The Ruffian Stakes is a Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares ages three-years-old and up run over a distance of 1 mile on a dirt track at Belmont Park, and formerly at Aqueduct Racecourse and Saratoga Race Course.
| Grade II stakes race | |
| Location | Belmont Park New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1976 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Fillies & Mares, 4-years-old & up |
| Weight | Weight-for-Age |
| Purse | $150,000 (2020) |
Race history
The race is named in honor of the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly, Ruffian.
It was first run in 1976 as the Ruffian Stakes, and was run as the Ruffian Handicap from 1977 until 2009. In 2010 and 2011 it was run as the Ruffian Invitational Handicap before returning to the Ruffian Handicap for the 2013 running. It became the Ruffian Stakes again in 2014.[1]
Sky Beauty won this race in 1994 with 130 pounds, Bayakoa won it in 1989, and Lady's Secret won it twice, in 1985 and 1986, after which she was awarded the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. Genuine Risk, the second filly to win the Kentucky Derby, won it in 1980.
The 2001 running of the Ruffian Handicap was cancelled due to the September 11th terrorist attacks. It was also not run in 2012.
In 2010 the Ruffian was moved to Saratoga Race Course where it is held in the first Sunday in August. Malibu Prayer won the first edition of the race to be held at Saratoga.
In 2014, the Ruffian was moved back to Belmont Park, where it was run on the undercard of the Man o' War Stakes on Mother's Day. Fiftyshadesofhay won the race, giving John Velazquez his sixth win in the race.
Race venue
Previously the race was held in August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York; until 2009 it had been run at the beginning of September at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The 2013 running was held at Aqueduct Racecourse and then returned to Belmont Park in 2014.
Race records
Speed record:
- 1:34.05 – Cavorting (2016) (at 1 mile)
- 1:40.16 – Tough Tiz's Sis (2008) (at 1 1⁄16 miles)
Most wins:
- 2 – Lady's Secret (1985, 1986)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 6 – John Velazquez (2014, 2013, 2010, 2006, 2004, 1996)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 – Claude R. McGaughey III (1991, 1992, 1995)
- 3 – Robert J. Frankel (2003, 2004, 2007)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 – Cynthia Phipps (1982, 1992)
- 2 – Eugene V. Klein (1985, 1986)
Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Dist. (Miles) |
Time |
Win$ |
Gr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Monomoy Girl | 5 | Florent Geroux | Brad Cox | Dubb, M., Monomoy Stables, LLC, The Elkstone | 1 m | 1:34.13 | $150,000 | G2 |
| 2019 | Come Dancing | 5 | Manny Franco | Carlos F. Martin | Blue Devil Racing Stable (Marc Holliday) | 1 m | 1:36.54 | $137,500 | G2 |
| 2018 | Pacific Wind | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad Brown | Sharon Alesia, Ciaglia Racing LLC, Peter M. Brant, Dominic Savides | 1 m | 1:39.05 | $150,000 | G2 |
| 2017 | Highway Star | 4 | Angel S. Arroyo | Rodrigo Ubillo | Chester & Mary Broman | 1 m | 1:39.05 | $150,000 | G2 |
| 2016 | Cavorting | 4 | Javier Castellano | Kiaran McLaughlin | Stonestreet Stables | 1 m | 1:34.05 | $150,000 | G2 |
| 2015 | Wedding Toast | 5 | Jose Lezcano | Kiaran McLaughlin | Godolphin Racing | 1 m | 1.35.57 | $150,000 | G2 |
| 2014 | Fiftyshadesofhay | 4 | John Velazquez | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 1 m | 1:35.70 | $150,000 | G2 |
| 2013 | Withgreatpleasure | 5 | John Velazquez | David Nunn | David Blethen | 1 m | 1:36.52 | $150,000 | G2 |
| 2012 | Race not held | ||||||||
| 2011 | Ask the Moon | 6 | Javier Castellano | Marty Wolfson | Farnsworth Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:50.46 | $150,000 | G1 |
| 2010 | Malibu Prayer | 4 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Edward P. Evans | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.14 | $150,000 | G1 |
| 2009 | Swift Temper | 5 | Alan Garcia | Dale Romans | Richard Nip & Omar Trevino | 11⁄16 m | 1:40.59 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 2008 | Tough Tiz's Sis | 4 | Edgar Prado | Bob Baffert | Karl Watson & Paul Weitman | 11⁄16 m | 1:40.16 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 2007 | Ginger Punch | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Robert J. Frankel | Stronach Stables | 11⁄16 m | 1:40.25 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 2006 | Pool Land | 4 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Melnyk Racing Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:41.81 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 2005 | Stellar Jayne | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing | 11⁄16 m | 1:41.87 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 2004 | Sightseek | 5 | John Velazquez | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 11⁄16 m | 1:41.51 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 2003 | Wild Spirit | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Sumaya Us Stable | 11⁄16 m | 1:41.23 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 2002 | Mandy's Gold | 4 | José A. Santos | Michael E. Gorham | Steeplechase Farm (John & Jeanne Gorham) | 11⁄16 m | 1:42.57 | $180,000 | G1 |
| 2001 | No races held due to the 911 attacks. | ||||||||
| 2000 | Riboletta | 5 | Chris McCarron | Eduardo Inda | Aaron & Marie Jones | 11⁄16 m | 1:40.35 | $150,000 | G1 |
| 1999 | Catinca | 4 | Jerry Bailey | John C. Kimmel | Robert K. Waxman | 11⁄16 m | 1:41.94 | $150,000 | G1 |
| 1998 | Sharp Cat | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Wallace Dollase | Ahmed bin Salman | 11⁄16 m | 1:42.40 | $150,000 | G1 |
| 1997 | Tomisue' Delight | 3 | Jerry Bailey | Neil J. Howard | Stephen C. Hilbert | 11⁄16 m | 1:44.43 | $150,000 | G1 |
| 1996 | Yanks Music | 3 | John Velazquez | Leo O'Brien | Michael Fennessy | 11⁄16 m | 1:41.80 | $150,000 | G1 |
| 1995 | Inside Information | 4 | Mike E. Smith | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 11⁄16 m | 1:40.80 | $120,000 | G1 |
| 1994 | Sky Beauty | 4 | Mike E. Smith | H. Allen Jerkens | Georgia Hofmann | 11⁄16 m | 1:41.60 | $120,000 | G1 |
| 1993 | Shared Interest | 5 | Robbie Davis | Scotty Schulhofer | Robert S. Evans | 11⁄16 m | 1:41.80 | $120,000 | G1 |
| 1992 | Versailles Treaty | 5 | Mike E. Smith | C. R. McGaughey III | Cynthia Phipps | 11⁄16 m | 1:41.40 | $120,000 | G1 |
| 1991 | Queena | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | C. R. McGaughey III | Emory A. Hamilton | 11⁄16 m | 1:41.60 | $120,000 | G1 |
| 1990 | Quick Mischief | 4 | Raul Rojas | Charles Carlesimo Jr. | Gregory Mordas | 11⁄16 m | 1:42.80 | $144,480 | G1 |
| 1989 | Bayakoa | 5 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Ron McAnally | Frank Whitham | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.40 | $135,840 | G1 |
| 1988 | Sham Say | 3 | Jacinto Vásquez | William Cocks | Evergreen Farm | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.00 | $146,400 | G1 |
| 1987* | Coup De Fusil | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Jan H. Nerud | Tartan Farms (James & Virginia Binger) | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.60 | $149,760 | G1 |
| 1986 | Lady's Secret | 4 | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 11⁄8 m | 1:46.80 | $165,240 | G1 |
| 1985 | Lady's Secret | 3 | Jorge Velásquez | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 11⁄8 m | 1:47.40 | $128,880 | G1 |
| 1984 | Heatherten | 5 | Randy Romero | William I. Mott | John A. Franks | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.20 | $103,320 | G1 |
| 1983 | Heartlight No. One | 3 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Pedro Marti | Burt Bacharach | 11⁄8 m | 1:47.20 | $103,140 | G1 |
| 1982 | Christmas Past | 3 | Jacinto Vásquez | Angel Penna Jr. | Cynthia Phipps | 11⁄8 m | 1:48.60 | $100,080 | G1 |
| 1981 | Relaxing | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Angel Penna Sr. | Ogden Phipps | 11⁄8 m | 1:47.60 | $97,020 | G1 |
| 1980 | Genuine Risk | 3 | Jacinto Vásquez | LeRoy Jolley | Diana M. Firestone | 11⁄8 m | 1:49.20 | $81,900 | G1 |
| 1979 | It's In The Air | 3 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 11⁄8 m | 1:47.40 | $79,875 | G1 |
| 1978 | Late Bloomer | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Gaver Jr. | Greentree Stable | 11⁄8 m | 1:47.00 | $64,860 | G1 |
| 1977 | Cum Laude Laurie | 3 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Lou Rondinello | Daniel W. Galbreath | 11⁄8 m | 1:52.20 | $66,480 | |
| 1976 | Revidere | 3 | Jacinto Vásquez | David A. Whiteley | William Haggin Perry | 11⁄4 m | 2:01.00 | $79,425 | |
References
- Equibase.com. "Ruffian Stakes profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 2017-07-02.