Horse race
The Arlington Classic Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses over a distance of 1+ 1 ⁄16 miles on the turf held annually in late May at Arlington Park race track near Chicago .
History
The event was inaugurated in 1929 as the Classic Stakes over a distance of 1+ 1 ⁄4 miles on the dirt.[ 1]
At one time the Arlington Classic was one of the most important races in the United States, drawing the best 3-year-olds in the country. Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox attracted a crowd of 60,000 in 1930 and he continued his six race winning streak in the event.[ 2] In 1932 when Gusto, a grandson of the great Man o' War won, it was then the richest race for 3-year-olds in America with a purse of $88,100.[ 3]
A noteworthy upset in the Arlington Classic occurred in 1946 when Assault , who had just won the United States Triple Crown , finished last.[ 4]
The Arlington Classic was run at the now defunct Washington Park Racetrack from 1943 through 1945. It was known as the Grand Prix Stakes in 1971, 1972 and 1973 and in 1977 it was made open to horses three-year-olds and up as was labelled as the Arlington Classic Invitational Handicap. There was no race held in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1988, 1998 and 1999.
The Arlington Classic became part of Arlington Park's "Mid-America Triple" which included the American Derby in July and the Secretariat Stakes in August. The Triple was last won by Honor Glide in 1997.
The event held a Grade I classification between 1981 and 1989.[ 5]
In 2007, this Grade III stakes race was downgraded to an ungraded stakes by the American Graded Stakes Committee , but it has been returned to its Grade III status.[ 5]
The Arlington Classic was raced on dirt from 1929–1973, 1977–1987, 1989–1993.[ 5]
Distance
Since its inception, the Arlington Classic has been contested over a variety of distances:[ 1]
1929–1951 – 1+ 1 ⁄4 miles (dirt)
1952–1972 – 1 mile (dirt)
1973 – 1+ 1 ⁄16 miles (dirt)
1977–1979 – 1+ 1 ⁄4 miles (dirt)
1980–1993 – 1+ 1 ⁄8 miles (dirt)
1994–2001 – 1+ 1 ⁄8 miles (turf)
2001 onwards – 1+ 1 ⁄16 miles (turf)
Records
Speed record: (at current 1+ 1 ⁄16 miles distance)
Largest margin of victory:
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey :
Most wins by a trainer :
Winners of the Arlington Classic
Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
Purse
Grade
Arlington Classic Stakes
2018
Ezmosh
Jose Valdivia Jr.
Brad H. Cox
Madaket Stables , Zayat Stables , Ten Strike Racing
1:45.52
$100,000
III
2017
Cowboy Culture
Shaun Bridgmohan
Brad H. Cox
Head of Plains Partners/Cheyenne Stables
1:46.81
$100,000
III
2016
Surgical Strike
James Graham
Ben Colebrook
Seltzer/Anderson
1:47.51
$100,000
III
2015
Race not held
2014
¶Istanford
James Graham
Michael Stidham
Thrash/Alley
1:43.60
$150,000
III
2013
General Election
Joseph Rocco Jr.
Kellyn Gorder
WinStar Farm
1:45.48
$150,000
III
2012
Silver Max
Shaun Bridgmohan
Dale Romans
Bacon/Wells
1:41.87
$125,000
Listed
2011
Willcox Inn
Robby Albarado
Michael Stidham
All In Stable
1:49.51
$100,000
Listed
2010
Workin for Hops
Robby Albarado
Michael Stidham
Estrorace LLC
1:45.43
$100,000
Listed
2009
Giant Oak
Eusebio Razo Jr.
Chris M. Block
Virginia H. Tarra Trust
1:43.59
$150,000
Listed
2008
Meal Penalty
José Vélez Jr.
Todd Pletcher
Sassafras Racing/Gulf Coast Farms
1:41.97
$150,000
Listed
2007
Pleasant Strike
René Douglas
Todd A. Pletcher
Edward P. Evans
1:42.05
$150,000
III
2006
Kingship
Robby Albarado
Ronny Werner
Oxbow Racing
1:43.57
$150,000
III
2005
Purim
Mark Guidry
Thomas F. Proctor
Edward J. Sukley
1:42.65
$150,000
III
2004
Toasted
René Douglas
Laura de Seroux
Sidney L. Port
1:50.91
$200,000
II
2003
Lismore Knight
René Douglas
Todd A. Pletcher
J. J. Pletcher & B. Simon
1:42.73
$175,000
II
2002
Mr. Mellon
René Douglas
W. Elliott Walden
WinStar Farm /T. Van Meter II
1:41.95
$175,000
II
2001
Baptize
Mark Guidry
William I. Mott
Mary & Gary West
1:48.80
$200,000
II
2000
King Cugat
Robby Albarado
William I. Mott
Centennial Farms
1:48.16
$150,000
II
1998–99
Race not held
1997
Honor Glide
Garrett Gomez
Jim Day
Robert Schaedle III
1:47.59
$125,000
II
1996
Trail City
Pat Day
William I. Mott
W. I. Mott & R. Verchota
1:48.61
$200,000
II
1995
Hawk Attack
Pat Day
W. Elliott Walden
Cavalier Stable
1:48.04
$200,000
II
1994
Eagle Eyed
Corey Nakatani
Robert J. Frankel
Juddmonte Farms
1:48.46
$300,000
II
1993
Boundlessly
Pat Day
Jere R. Smith Jr.
Panic Stable
1:49.89
$300,000
II
1992
Saint Ballado
Julie Krone
Clint Goodrich
Lothenbach/Herold/Goodrich
1:46.82
$300,000
II
1991
Whadjathink
Jorge Velásquez
Michael Whittingham
Richard L. Duchossois
1:49.18
$300,000
II
Arlington Classic
1990
Sound Of Cannons
Pat Day
George R. Arnold II
B. Wilkinson/L.G. Robey
1:47.60
$250,000
II
1989
Clever Trevor
Don Pettinger
Donnie K. Von Hemel
D. C. McNeil
1:49.40
$200,000
I
1988
Race not held
1987
Lost Code
Gene St. Leon
L. William Donovan
Wendover Stable
1:49.60
$150,000
I
1986
Sumptious
Randy Romero
Phil Hauswald
John A. Bell III
1:49.40
$100,000
I
1985
Smile
Jacinto Vásquez
Frank Gomez
Frances A. Genter
1:51.20
$150,000
I
1984
At The Threshold
Pat Day
Lynn S. Whiting
W. Cal Partee
1:50.20
$100,000
I
1983
Play Fellow
Pat Day
Harvey L. Vanier
Vanier , Lauer, Victor
1:49.00
$100,000
I
1982
Wolfie's Rascal
Ángel Cordero Jr.
Howard Tesher
Sidney L. Port et al.
1:49.00
$125,000
I
1981
Fairway Phantom
John L. Lively
Carl Nafzger
William H. Floyd
1:53.40
$125,000
I
1980
Spruce Needles
Mike Morgan
Smiley Adams
Golden Chance Farm
1:49.20
$125,000
II
1979
Steady Growth
Brian Swatuk
John J. Tammaro Jr.
Kinghaven Farm
2:00.60
$100,000
II
1978
Alydar
Jeffrey Fell
John M. Veitch
Calumet Farm
2:00.40
$100,000
II
Arlington Classic Handicap
1977
Private Thoughts
Ramon Perez
Greg Sanders
Sandera Farm
1:59.40
$150,000
Listed
1974–76
Race not held
Grand Prix Stakes
1973
Linda's Chief
Braulio Baeza
Al Scotti
Neil Hellman
1:44.60
III
1972
King's Bishop
Eddie Maple
Thomas J. Kelly
Craig F. Cullinan Jr.
1:35.00
1971
Son Ange
Chuck Baltazar
Reggie Cornell
Calumet Farm
1:36.00
Arlington Classic
1970
Corn Off The Cob
Eddie Belmonte
Arnold N. Winick
Fence Post Farm
1:35.40
1969
Ack Ack
Braulio Baeza
Frank A. Bonsal
Cain Hoy Stable
1:34.40
1968
Exclusive Native
Ismael Valenzuela
Ivan H. Parke
Harbor View Farm
1:36.00
1967
Dr. Fager
Braulio Baeza
John A. Nerud
Tartan Stable
1:36.00
1966
Buckpasser
Braulio Baeza
Edward A. Neloy
Ogden Phipps
1:32.60
1965
Tom Rolfe
Bill Shoemaker
Frank Y. Whiteley Jr.
Powhatan Stable
1:34.80
1964
¶Tosmah
Sam Boulmetis Sr.
Joseph Mergler
Anthony Imbesi
1:36.20
1963
Candy Spots
Bill Shoemaker
Mesh Tenney
Rex C. Ellsworth
1:35.80
1962
Ridan
Avelino Gomez
LeRoy Jolley
J. G. W. Stable
1:38.00
1961
Globemaster
John L. Rotz
Thomas J. Kelly
Leonard P. Sasso
1:35.40
1960
T. V. Lark
Johnny Sellers
Paul K. Parker
C. R. Mac Stable
1:36.20
1959
Dunce
Lois C. Cook
Moody Jolley
Claiborne Farm
1:35.00
1958
A Dragon Killer
Jimmy Combest
Norman L. Haymaker
Mrs. S. Helene Sadacca
1:36.40
1957
Clem
Conn McCreary
William W. Stephens
Adele L. Rand
1:36.60
1956
Swoon's Son
David Erb
Lex Wilson
E. G. Drake
1:36.80
1955
Nashua
Eddie Arcaro
James E. Fitzsimmons
Belair Stud
1:35.20
1954
Errard King
Sam Boulmetis Sr.
Thomas J. Barry
Joseph Gavegnano
1:35.00
1953
Native Dancer
Eric Guerin
William C. Winfrey
Alfred G. Vanderbilt II
1:38.00
1952
Mark-Ye-Well
Eddie Arcaro
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
1:39.20
1951
Hall Of Fame
Ted Atkinson
John M. Gaver Sr.
Greentree Stable
2:03.20
1950
Greek Song
Ovie Scurlock
Virgil W. Raines
Brandywine Stable
2:01.80
1949
Ponder
Steve Brooks
Horace A. Jones
Calumet Farm
2:03.20
1948
Papa Redbird
Robert L. Baird
John M. Goode
J. A. Goodwin
2:03.00
1947
¶But Why Not
Warren Mehrtens
Max Hirsch
King Ranch
2:01.80
1946
The Dude
Melvin Duhon
Al Gaal
Mrs. Al Gaal
2:02.60
†1945
Pot O'Luck
Douglas Dodson
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
2:05.80
†1944
¶Twilight Tear
Leon Haas
Ben A. Jones
Calumet Farm
2:03.60
†1943
Slide Rule
Ferrill Zufelt
Cecil Wilhelm
William E. Boeing
2:04.60
1942
Shut Out
Eddie Arcaro
John M. Gaver Sr.
Greentree Stable
2:01.40
1941
Attention
Carroll Bierman
Max Hirsch
Mrs. Parker Corning
2:02.80
1940
Sirocco
George Woolf
James W. Smith
Dixiana Farm
2:03.00
1939
Challedon
Harry Richards
Louis Schaefer
William L. Brann
2:02.00
1938
Nedayr
Wayne D. Wright
William A. Crawford
Willis Sharpe Kilmer
2:06.20
1937
Flying Scot
John Gilbert
James W. Healy
John Hay Whitney
2:05.80
1936
Granville
James Stout
James E. Fitzsimmons
Belair Stud
2:03.20
1935
Omaha
Wayne D. Wright
James E. Fitzsimmons
Belair Stud
2:01.40
1934
Cavalcade
Mack Garner
Robert A. Smith
Brookmeade Stable
2:02.80
1933
Inlander
Robert Jones
Robert A. Smith
Brookmeade Stable
2:02.00
1932
Gusto
Silvio Coucci
Max Hirsch
Morton L. Schwartz
2:03.60
$88,100
1931
Mate
Alfred Robertson
James W. Healy
Albert C. Bostwick Jr.
2:02.40
1930
Gallant Fox
Earl Sande
James E. Fitzsimmons
Belair Stud
2:03.80
$78,750[ 2]
Classic Stakes
1929
Blue Larkspur
Mack Garner
Herbert J. Thompson
Edward R. Bradley
2:14.40
References