Fantasy Stakes
Horse race
The Fantasy Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually usually in early April at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas . The event currently offers a purse of $750,000.
History
The inaugural running of the event was on 6 April 1973 and was won by Robert E. Lehmann's Knitted Gloves coming from behind by 1+ 1 ⁄2 lengths in a time of 1:423 ⁄5 .[ 1]
After three runnings the event was upgraded to Grade II status in 1976[ 2] and in 1978 was once again upgraded to a Grade I, signifying that the race was a major event for the three-year-old fillies.[ 3] Between 1978 and 1989 the event held this classification and in that time some impressive winners include Davona Dale in 1979 who captured the U.S. Filly Triple Crown becoming the U.S. Champion three-year-old filly , the 1980 winner and US Hall of Fame inductee Bold 'n Determined . The 1980 US Champion two-year-old filly Heavenly Cause won this event in her sophomore season. Other champions to win this event were Tiffany Lass, the 1986 U.S. Champion three-year-old filly and the 1987 winner Very Subtle who later that year would win the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Hollywood Park Racetrack .
In 1990, the event was downgraded to Grade II status[ 3] and held this status until the 2012 running and the next year it was reclassified as Grade III[ 3]
The 2008 winner Eight Belles won the event as a short 1/2 odds-on favorite in a four-horse field.[ 4] Later that spring Eight Belles would be tragically euthanized after finishing second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby .
Two winners of this event have gone on to defeat their male counterparts in Triple Crown events. Rachel Alexandra , the winner in 2009 by the stakes record of 8+ 3 ⁄4 lengths went on to win the Preakness Stakes . She would later be crowned the US Horse of the Year . Also Swiss Skydiver , the 2020 winner would go on and win the Preakness Stakes defeating the Kentucky Derby winner Authentic .
The event is a prep race to the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing , including the Kentucky Oaks , Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and Mother Goose Stakes .
In 2024 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association back to Grade II.[ 5]
Records
Speed record:
1:41.20 – My Darling One (1984)
Margins:
Most wins by a jockey :
Most wins by a trainer :
Most wins by an owner:
3 – Fox Hill Farms (2005, 2008, 2011)
Winners
Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Purse
Grade
Ref
2024
Thorpedo Anna
Brian Hernandez Jr.
Kenneth G. McPeek
Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks & Magdalena Racing
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.24
$750,000
II
[ 6]
2023
Wet Paint
Flavien Prat
Brad H. Cox
Godolphin
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.08
$600,000
III
[ 7]
2022
Yuugiri
Florent Geroux
Rodolphe Brisset
Sekie Yoshihara & Tsunebumi Yoshihara
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.65
$600,000
III
[ 8]
2021
Pauline's Pearl
Ricardo Santana Jr.
Steven M. Asmussen
Stonestreet Stables
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.64
$600,000
III
[ 9]
2020
Swiss Skydiver
Brian Hernandez Jr.
Kenneth G. McPeek
Peter Callahan
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.00
$400,000
III
[ 10]
2019
Lady Apple
Ricardo Santana Jr.
Steven M. Asmussen
Phoenix Thoroughbred III & Katierich Stables
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.88
$500,000
III
[ 11]
2018
Sassy Sienna
Gary L. Stevens
Brad H. Cox
Medallion Racing & Jerry McClanahan
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:45.63
$400,000
III
[ 12]
2017
Ever So Clever
Luis Contreras
Steven M. Asmussen
Clearview Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.40
$400,000
III
[ 13]
2016
Terra Promessa
Ricardo Santana Jr.
Steven M. Asmussen
Stonestreet Stables
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:45.06
$400,000
III
[ 14]
2015
Include Betty
Rosemary Homeister Jr.
Thomas F. Proctor
Brereton C. Jones & Timothy Thornton
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.16
$400,000
III
[ 15]
2014
Sugar Shock
Channing Hill
Doug L. Anderson
On Cloud Nine
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.87
$400,000
III
[ 16]
2013
Rose to Gold
Calvin H. Borel
Sal Santoro
Kathleen Amaya & Raffaele Centofanti
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:45.80
$400,000
III
[ 17]
2012
Mamma Kimbo
Mike E. Smith
Bob Baffert
Peachtree Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.64
$300,000
II
[ 18]
2011
Joyful Victory
Mike E. Smith
J. Larry Jones
Fox Hill Farms
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.74
$285,000
II
[ 19]
2010
Blind Luck
Rafael Bejarano
Jerry Hollendorfer
Mark Dedomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo & Jerry Hollendorfer
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.56
$285,000
II
[ 20]
2009
Rachel Alexandra
Calvin H. Borel
Hal R. Wiggins
L & M Partners
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.35
$245,000
II
[ 21]
2008
Eight Belles
Ramon A. Dominguez
J. Larry Jones
Fox Hill Farms
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.06
$237,500
II
[ 4]
2007
High Heels
Joe M. Johnson
Gary G. Hartlage
Anita A. Ebert
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.43
$250,000
II
[ 22]
2006
Ready to Please
Stewart Elliott
Todd A. Pletcher
James T. Scatuorchio
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:45.63
$250,000
II
[ 23]
2005
Round Pond
Stewart Elliott
John C. Servis
Fox Hill Farms
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.49
$250,000
II
[ 24]
2004
House of Fortune
Alex O. Solis
Ron McAnally
Arnold Zetcher
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.62
$200,000
II
[ 25]
2003
Ruby's Reception
Terry J. Thompson
J. Larry Jones
Oasis Racing Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.61
$200,000
II
[ 26]
2002
See How She Runs
Donald R. Pettinger
Donnie K. Von Hemel
Pin Oak Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.80
$200,000
II
[ 27]
2001
Mystic Lady
Eibar Coa
Mark A. Hennig
R. Lee Lewis
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.52
$200,000
II
[ 28]
2000
Classy Cara
Ignacio Puglisi
Doug F. O'Neill
John J. Zamora
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.95
$200,000
II
[ 29]
1999
Excellent Meeting
Kent J. Desormeaux
Bob Baffert
Golden Eagle Farm
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.73
$250,000
II
[ 30]
1998
Silent Eskimo
Carlos Gonzalez
Bobby C. Barnett
John A. Franks
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.84
$250,000
II
[ 31]
1997
Blushing K. D.
Lonnie Meche
Sam B. David Jr.
James & Sue Burns
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.61
$250,000
II
[ 32]
1996
Escena
Pat Day
William I. Mott
Allen E. Paulson
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.93
$250,000
II
[ 33]
1995
Cat's Cradle
Chris Antley
David E. Hofmans
Ridder Thoroughbred Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.29
$250,000
II
[ 34]
1994
Two Altazano
Kirk Paul LeBlanc
Michael Stidham
Harold Goodman
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.64
$250,000
II
[ 35]
1993
Aztec Hill
Mike E. Smith
Thomas K. Bohannan
Loblolly Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.33
$250,000
II
[ 36]
1992
Race the Wild Wind
Chris McCarron
Ron McAnally
Marianne & Brandon Chase
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.74
$250,000
II
[ 37]
1991
Lite Light
Corey Nakatani
Jerry Hollendorfer
Oaktown Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:41.93
$250,000
II
[ 38]
1990
Silvered
Donald Lee Howard
Dewey Smith
Arthur B. Hancock III & Roy L. Bowen
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.20
$250,000
II
[ 39]
1989
Fantastic Look
Chris McCarron
Gary F. Jones
Mr. & Mrs. John C. Mabee
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.20
$250,000
I
[ 40]
1988
Jeanne Jones
Bill Shoemaker
Charles E. Whittingham
Mr. & Mrs. John C. Mabee
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.20
$250,000
I
[ 41]
1987
† Very Subtle
Chris McCarron
Melvin F. Stute
Ben Rochelle & Estate of Carl Grinstead
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.40
$271,300
I
[ 42]
1986
Tiffany Lass
Gary L. Stevens
Laz Barrera
Aaron U. Jones
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.00
$274,400
I
[ 43]
1985
Rascal Lass
Ray Sibille
Lin Wheeler
Vista Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.20
$282,700
I
[ 44]
1984
My Darling One
Chris McCarron
Laz Barrera
Dolly Green
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:41.20
$267,400
I
[ 45]
1983
Brindy Brindy
Kenneth Jones
Jack Van Berg
Jane M. Martin
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.60
$283,300
I
[ 46]
1982
Flying Partner
Ray Sibille
Charles E. Whittingham
Buckland Farm
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:47.00
$271,700
I
[ 47]
1981
Heavenly Cause
Laffit Pincay Jr.
Woodford C. Stephens
Ryehill Farm
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.80
$223,150
I
[ 48]
1980
Bold 'n Determined
Eddie Delahoussaye
Neil D. Drysdale
Saron Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:45.20
$169,900
I
[ 49]
1979
Davona Dale
Jorge Velasquez
John M. Veitch
Calumet Farm
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.40
$169,350
I
[ 50]
1978
Equanimity
Hank E. Moreno
Henry Moreno
Pine Tree Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.60
$129,750
I
[ 51]
1977
Our Mims
Don Brumfield
John M. Veitch
Calumet Farm
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:45.00
$139,850
II
[ 52]
1976
T. V. Vixen
Bernie Walt
Peter W. Salmen Jr.
Crimson King Farm
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:43.40
$121,950
II
[ 53]
1975
Hoso
Mickey Solomone
Frank H. Merrill Jr.
Roxie Gian
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:46.00
$118,250
[ 54]
1974
Miss Musket
Bill Shoemaker
Charles E. Whittingham
Aaron U. Jones
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.40
$122,900
[ 55]
1973
Knitted Gloves
Julio C. Espinoza
Ike Mourar
Robert E. Lehmann
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.60
$61,600
[ 1]
Notes:
† In the 1987 running, Up The Apalachee, was first past the post but was disqualified and placed second. Very Subtle was declared the winner.
See also
External links
References