Native Diver Stakes
The Native Diver Handicap is an American Grade III stakes race for Thoroughbred race horses run in late November at Del Mar Racetrack during its Fall Meet. (It was formerly held in early December at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California until that track's closing.) Set at a distance of 9 furlongs (one and one eighth mile] it’s open to horses three-years-old and up and currently offers a purse of $100,000 added.
Begun in 1978, the Native Diver will be in its 39th running in 2017.
The race is named for one of the great sprinters and certainly one of California’s most beloved horses, Native Diver, who ranks no. 60 in Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century.
In the 2008 edition, Slew's Tizzy set a new Hollywood Park track record for 1 1/8 miles with a winning time of 1:46.78. [1]
The 2012 running of the Native Diver offered a purse of $250,000.
Past winners
- 2016 - Midnight Storm (5) (Mike E. Smith)
- 2015 - Dortmund (3) (Gary L. Stevens)
- 2014 - Big Cazanova (ARG) (5) (Elvis Trujillo)
- 2013 - Blueskiesnrainbows (4) (Martin A. Pedroza)
- 2012 - Game On Dude (5) (Mike E. Smith)
- 2011 - Kettle Corn (4) (Garrett Gomez)
- 2010 - Aggie Engineer (5) (Joe Talamo)
- 2009 - Mast Track (5) (Rafael Bejarano)
- 2008 - Slew's Tizzy (4) (Joel Rosario)
- 2007 - Heatseeker (IRE) (4) (Michael C. Baze)
- 2006 – Saint Stephen (6)
- 2005 - Trotamondo (Chilean bred) (4) (Garrett Gomez)
- 2004 – Truly a Judge (6) (Martin Pedroza)
- 2003 – Olmodavor (4) (Alex Solis)
- 2002 – Piensa Sonado (Chilean bred) (4) (Laffit Pincay, Jr.)
- 2001 – Momentum (3) (Corey Nakatani)
- 2000 – Sky Jack (4)
- 1999 – Puerto Madero (Chilean bred) (5) (Kent Desormeaux) (Silver Charm, heavily favored, came third.)
- 1998 – Puerto Madero (4)
- 1997 - Refinado Tom (ARG) (Gary Stevens)
- 1996 – Gentlemen (ARG) (4) (Gary Stevens)
- 1995 – Alphabet Soup (4)
- 1994 – Best Pal (6)
- 1993 – Slew of Damascus (Corey Nakatani)
- 1992 – Sir Beaufort (5) (Chris McCarron)
- 1991 – Twilight Agenda (Chris McCarron)
- 1990 – Warcraft (3) (Chris McCarron) (Pleasant Tap placed by a nose.)
- 1989 – Ruhlmann (Chris McCarron)
- 1988 – Cutlass Reality (beat Precisionist, 1985 sprint champion)
- 1987 - Epidaurus (5)
- 1986 - Hopeful Word (5)
- 1985 - Innamorato (4)
- 1984 - Lord at War (4)
- 1983 - Menswear (5)
- 1982 - Native Tactics (4)
- 1981 - Syncopate (6)
- 1980 - Replant (6) (Flying Paster 3rd)
- 1979 – Life's Hope (6)