Azeri Stakes
| Grade II race | |
| Location | Oaklawn Park Race Track Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1987 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | left-handed |
| Qualification | Fillies & Mares, four-years-old & up |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $350,000 |
The Azeri Stakes is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Open to Fillies & Mares age four and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs).
Race names were the Oaklawn Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap in 1987–1995, the Oaklawn Breeders' Cup Handicap in 1996–2004 and the Azeri Breeders' Cup Stakes in 2005–2007. since 2008, Azeri Stakes.
Inaugurated in 1987, through 2004 it was known as the Oaklawn Breeders' Cup Stakes. It was renamed in 2005 to honor Azeri, the American Horse of the Year of 2002, and the American Champion Older Female Horse three years running: 2002, 2003, and 2004.
This race was upgraded to a Grade II for its 2014 running.[1]
Records
Speed record:
- 1:42.01 - Sister Act (1999)
Most wins:
- 2 - Halo America (1995, 1997)
- 2 - Heritage of Gold (2000, 2001)
- 2 - Tiz Miz Sue (2012, 2013)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 3 - Calvin Borel (1997, 1999, 2010)
- 3 - Joseph Rocco, Jr. (2012, 2013, 2016)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 - D. Wayne Lukas (1987, 1991, 1992)
- 3 - Bobby C. Barnett (1994, 1995, 1997)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 - John A. Franks (1994, 1995, 1997)
Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Serengeti Empress | 4 | Joseph Talamo | Thomas Amoss | Joel Politi | 1:44.46 |
| 2019 | Midnight Bisou | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Steve Asmussen | Bloom Racing Stable LLC, Madaket Stables LLC, Allen Racing LLC | 1:42.72 |
| 2018 | Martini Glass | 5 | Paco Lopez | Keith Nations | Campanella, Vince and Nation's Racing Stable LLC | 1:42.95 |
| 2017 | Streamline | 5 | Chris Landeros | Brian Williamson | Vanier, Nancy A. and Cartwright Thoroughbreds V LLC | 1:43.67 |
| 2016 | Call Pat | 6 | Joseph Rocco, Jr. | Brad H. Cox | Miller Racing | 1:44.44 |
| 2015 | Gold Medal Dancer | 5 | Luis S. Quinonez | Donnie K. Von Hemel | Pin Oak Stable | 1:45.92 |
| 2014 | Close Hatches | 4 | Joel Rosario | William I. Mott | Juddmonte Farms | 1:44.34 |
| 2013 | Tiz Miz Sue | 6 | Joseph Rocco, Jr. | Steve Hobby | Cresran | 1:45.26 |
| 2012 | Tiz Miz Sue | 5 | Joseph Rocco, Jr. | Steve Hobby | Cresran | 1:43.58 |
| 2011 | Havre de Grace | 4 | Ramon Dominguez | J. Larry Jones | Fox Hills Farm | 1:42.02 |
| 2010 | Freedom Star | 4 | Calvin Borel | Bob Baffert | George Krikorian | 1:44.09 |
| 2009 | Acoma | 4 | Julien Leparoux | David M. Carroll | Helen Alexander/Helen Groves | 1:42.55 |
| 2008 | Hystericalady | 5 | Robby Albarado | Jerry Hollendorfer | Rancho San Miguel et al. | 1:43.86 |
| 2007 | India | 4 | Chris DeCarlo | Todd Pletcher | Lyon Stables | 1:44.37 |
| 2006 | Round Pond | 4 | Stewart Elliott | John Servis | Fox Hill Farms | 1:43.93 |
| 2005 | Injustice | 4 | Luis Quinonez | Wayne A. Catalano | Turf Express/D & E Yates | 1:43.40 |
| 2004 | Golden Sonata | 5 | Carlos Marquez, Jr. | Morris Nicks | James C. Spence | 1:44.32 |
| 2003 | Bien Nicole | 5 | Don Pettinger | Donnie Von Hemel | John & Kristine Richter | 1:44.19 |
| 2002 | Ask Me No Secrets | 4 | Mike E. Smith | David Hofmans | Earl H. Shultz | 1:44.56 |
| 2001 | Heritage of Gold | 6 | Robby Albarado | Thomas M. Amoss | Jack Garey | 1:44.20 |
| 2000 | Heritage of Gold | 5 | Shane Sellers | Thomas M. Amoss | Jack Garey | 1:44.15 |
| 1999 | Sister Act | 4 | Calvin Borel | Jeffrey Jacobs | Choctaw Racing/E. Taylor | 1:42.01 |
| 1998 | Turn To The Queen | 5 | Timothy Doocy | Kenny Smith | K.K. & V. Jayaraman | 1:44.76 |
| 1997 | Halo America | 7 | Calvin Borel | Bobby C. Barnett | John A. Franks | 1:42.18 |
| 1996 | Belle of Cozzene | 4 | Don Pettinger | Steve Hobby | John & Barbara Smicklas | 1:43.32 |
| 1995 | Halo America | 5 | Weldon Cloninger | Bobby C. Barnett | John A. Franks | 1:42.59 |
| 1994 | Morning Meadow | 4 | Shane Romero | Bobby C. Barnett | John A. Franks | 1:44.60 |
| 1993 | Guiza | 6 | Corey Nakatani | Robert J. Frankel | Robert Witt | 1:44.79 |
| 1992 | Cuddles | 4 | David Guillory | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 1:43.82 |
| 1991 | A Wild Ride | 4 | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Zenya Yoshida | 1:42.31 |
| 1990 | A Penny Is A Penny | 5 | Aaron Gryder | Steven Morguelan | David L. Levitch | 1:43.60 |
| 1989 | Savannah's Honor | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Richard J. Lundy | Allen E. Paulson | 1:45.00 |
| 1988 | Ms. Margi | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Philip M. Hauswald | Edward A. Cox, Jr. | 1:42.20 |
| 1987 | North Sider | 5 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | Lukas & Paul Paternostro | 1:42.20 |