Ruffian Stakes
Horse race
The Ruffian Stakes is a Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares ages four-years-old and older run over a distance of one mile on a dirt track scheduled annually in early May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York .
Race history
The race is named in honor of the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly, Ruffian who broke down in a match race with the 1975 Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure on 6 July 1975 at Belmont Park and was humanely destroyed the following day.[ 1]
The following year the New York Racing Association scheduled the inaugural running of the Ruffian Stakes on 9 October 1976 as a 1+ 1 ⁄4 miles race for fillies and mares, three-year-old and older. The event was won by Revidere who defeated the Argentine bred Bastonera II by 14 lengths on a sloppy track in a time of 2:01 flat.[ 2] Revidere was sired by Reviewer the same sire of the ill-fated Ruffian. After the first running the event was classified as Grade I .
In 1977 the distance of the event was decreased to 1+ 1 ⁄8 miles and the conditions of the event were changed to a handicap thus the name of the event became the Ruffian Handicap.[ 3] In 1990 the distance was reduced once again to 1+ 1 ⁄16 miles.[ 4]
The 2001 running of the Ruffian Handicap was cancelled due to the September 11th terrorist attacks .
In 2010 and 2011 the event was moved to the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York during the regular summer meeting and was run as the Ruffian Invitational Handicap over a distance of 1+ 1 ⁄8 miles.[ 4]
In late 2011 the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association downgraded the event to Grade II for 2012[ 5] however, NYRA did not schedule the event.
The event was moved to Aqueduct Racecourse in 2013 and held in April over a distance of one mile[ 3] and then returned to Belmont Park in 2014 and scheduled in May where it was run on the undercard of the Man o' War Stakes on Mother's Day. That year the event became the Ruffian Stakes again in 2014 and the conditions were changed to the current format of fillies and mares ages four-years-old and older allowed to enter.[ 3] Fiftyshadesofhay won the race, giving John Velazquez his sixth win in the race, currently the leading jockey to have won this event.[ 6]
Outstanding mares to have won this event include Sky Beauty who won this race in 1994 with 130 pounds,[ 7] Bayakoa who won the event in 1989, and Lady's Secret who won it twice, in 1985 and 1986, after which she was awarded the Eclipse Award for U.S. Horse of the Year . Genuine Risk , the second filly to win the Kentucky Derby , won it in 1980.
The 2020 winner Monomoy Girl would go on and win the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland and would be crowned U.S. Champion Older Female Horse .
In 2024 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.[ 8]
Records
Speed record:
1 mile – 1:34.05 Cavorting (2016)
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles – 1:40.16 Tough Tiz's Sis (2008)
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles – 1:46.80 Lady's Secret (1986)
Margins:
14 lengths – Revidere (1976)
12+ 1 ⁄4 lengths – Tough Tiz's Sis (2008)
Most wins:
Most wins by a jockey :
Most wins by a trainer :
Most wins by an owner:
Winners
Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Purse
Grade
Ref
At Aquaduct – Ruffian Stakes
2024
Soul of an Angel
5
Trevor McCarthy
Saffie Joseph Jr.
C Two Racing Stable & Agave Racing Stable
1 mile
1:35.40
$200,000
II
[ 9]
At Belmont Park
2023
Pass the Champagne
5
Feargal Lynch
George Weaver
R.A. Hill Stable, Black Type Thor., Rock Ridge Racing, BlackRidge Stables & James F. Brown
1 mile
1:36.13
$200,000
II
[ 10]
2022
Search Results
4
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Chad C. Brown
Klaravich Stables
1 mile
1:34.88
$200,000
II
[ 11]
2021
Vault
5
Joel Rosario
Brad H. Cox
Kueber Racing, Barlar, Madaket Stables & Little Red Feather Racing
1 mile
1:35.81
$200,000
II
[ 12]
2020
Monomoy Girl
5
Florent Geroux
Brad H. Cox
Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables
1 mile
1:34.13
$145,500
II
[ 13]
2019
Come Dancing
5
Manuel Franco
Carlos F. Martin
Blue Devil Racing Stable
1 mile
1:36.54
$242,500
II
[ 14]
2018
Pacific Wind
4
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Chad C. Brown
Sharon Alesia, Ciaglia Racing, Peter M. Brant & Dominic Savides
1 mile
1:39.05
$245,000
II
[ 15]
2017
Highway Star
4
Angel S. Arroyo
Rodrigo A. Ubillo
Chester & Mary Broman
1 mile
1:39.05
$245,000
II
[ 16]
2016
Cavorting
4
Javier Castellano
Kiaran P. McLaughlin
Stonestreet Stables
1 mile
1:34.05
$250,000
II
[ 17]
2015
§ Wedding Toast
5
Jose Lezcano
Kiaran P. McLaughlin
Godolphin Racing
1 mile
1.35.57
$250,000
II
[ 18]
2014
Fiftyshadesofhay
4
John R. Velazquez
Bob Baffert
Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman
1 mile
1:35.70
$250,000
II
[ 6]
At Aqueduct – Ruffian Handicap
2013
Withgreatpleasure
5
John R. Velazquez
David Nunn
David Blethen
1 mile
1:36.52
$250,000
II
[ 19]
2012
Race not held
At Saratoga – Ruffian Invitational Handicap
2011
Ask the Moon
6
Javier Castellano
Martin D. Wolfson
Farnsworth Stable
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:50.46
$250,000
I
[ 20]
2010
Malibu Prayer
4
John R. Velazquez
Todd A. Pletcher
Edward P. Evans
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:48.14
$250,000
I
[ 21]
At Belmont Park – Ruffian Handicap
2009
Swift Temper
5
Alan Garcia
Dale L. Romans
Richard Nip & Omar Trevino
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:40.59
$300,000
I
[ 22]
2008
Tough Tiz's Sis
4
Edgar S. Prado
Bob Baffert
Karl Watson & Weitman Performance
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:40.16
$300,000
I
[ 23]
2007
Ginger Punch
4
Rafael Bejarano
Robert J. Frankel
Stronach Stables
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:40.25
$285,000
I
[ 24]
2006
Pool Land
4
John R. Velazquez
Todd A. Pletcher
Melnyk Racing Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:41.81
$294,000
I
[ 25]
2005
Stellar Jayne
4
Jerry D. Bailey
Saeed bin Suroor
Godolphin Racing
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:41.87
$300,000
I
[ 26]
2004
Sightseek
5
John R. Velazquez
Robert J. Frankel
Juddmonte Farms
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:41.51
$294,000
I
[ 27]
2003
Wild Spirit (CHI)
4
Jerry D. Bailey
Robert J. Frankel
Sumaya Us Stable
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:41.23
$300,000
I
[ 28]
2002
Mandy's Gold
4
Jose A. Santos
Michael E. Gorham
Steeplechase Farm
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.57
$300,000
I
[ 29]
2001
Race not held
2000
Riboletta (BRZ)
5
Chris McCarron
Eduardo Inda
Aaron U. & Marie D. Jones
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:40.35
$250,000
I
[ 30]
1999
Catinca
4
Jerry D. Bailey
John C. Kimmel
Robert K. Waxman
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:41.94
$250,000
I
[ 31]
1998
Sharp Cat
4
Corey Nakatani
Wallace Dollase
The Thoroughbred Corporation
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.40
$250,000
I
[ 32]
1997
Tomisue's Delight
3
Jerry D. Bailey
Neil J. Howard
Stephen C. Hilbert
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:44.43
$250,000
I
[ 33]
1996
Yanks Music
3
John R. Velazquez
Leo O'Brien
Michael Fennessy
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:41.84
$250,000
I
[ 34]
1995
Inside Information
4
Mike E. Smith
Claude R. McGaughey III
Ogden Mills Phipps
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:40.98
$200,000
I
[ 35]
1994
Sky Beauty
4
Mike E. Smith
H. Allen Jerkens
Georgia E. Hofmann
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:41.79
$200,000
I
[ 7]
1993
Shared Interest
5
Robbie Davis
Flint S. Schulhofer
Robert S. Evans
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:41.92
$200,000
I
[ 36]
1992
Versailles Treaty
5
Mike E. Smith
Claude R. McGaughey III
Cynthia Phipps
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:41.41
$200,000
I
[ 37]
1991
Queena
5
Angel Cordero Jr.
Claude R. McGaughey III
Emory A. Hamilton
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:41.65
$200,000
I
[ 38]
1990
Quick Mischief
4
Raul I. Rojas
Charles J. Carlesimo Jr.
Gregory Mordas
1+ 1 ⁄16 miles
1:42.80
$240,840
I
[ 39]
1989
Bayakoa (ARG)
5
Laffit Pincay Jr.
Ron McAnally
Janis & Frank Whitham
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:48.40
$226,400
I
[ 40]
1988
Sham Say
3
Jacinto Vasquez
William B. Cox
Evergreen Farm
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:48.00
$244,000
I
[ 41]
1987
†§ Coup de Fusil
5
Angel Cordero Jr.
Jan H. Nerud
Tartan Farms
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:48.60
$249,600
I
[ 42]
1986
Lady's Secret
4
Pat Day
D. Wayne Lukas
Eugene V. Klein
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:46.80
$230,400
I
[ 43]
1985
§ Lady's Secret
3
Jorge Velasquez
D. Wayne Lukas
Eugene V. Klein
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:47.40
$169,800
I
[ 44]
1984
Heatherten
5
Randy Romero
William I. Mott
John A. Franks
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:48.20
$172,200
I
[ 45]
1983
Heartlight No. One
3
Laffit Pincay Jr.
Pedro Marti
Burt Bacharach
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:47.20
$171,925
I
[ 46]
1982
Christmas Past
3
Jacinto Vasquez
Angel A. Penna Jr.
Cynthia Phipps
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:48.60
$166,800
I
[ 47]
1981
Relaxing
5
Angel Cordero Jr.
Angel Penna Sr.
Ogden Phipps
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:47.60
$161,700
I
[ 48]
1980
Genuine Risk
3
Jacinto Vasquez
LeRoy Jolley
Diana M. Firestone
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:49.20
$136,500
I
[ 49]
1979
It's in the Air
3
Laffit Pincay Jr.
Laz Barrera
Harbor View Farm
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:47.40
$133,125
I
[ 50]
1978
Late Bloomer
4
Jorge Velasquez
John M. Gaver Jr.
Greentree Stable
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:47.00
$108,100
I
[ 51]
1977
Cum Laude Laurie
3
Angel Cordero Jr.
Thomas L. Rondinello
Daniel W. Galbreath
1+ 1 ⁄8 miles
1:52.20
$110,300
I
[ 52]
Ruffian Stakes
1976
Revidere
3
Jacinto Vasquez
David A. Whiteley
William Haggin Perry
1+ 1 ⁄4 miles
2:01.00
$132,375
I
[ 2]
Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
† In the 1987 running Sacahuista finished first, but was disqualified for interfering with other runners in the straight. Coup De Fusil was declared the winner and Sacahuista was placed third. However, since all three placegetters were part of an entry Coup De Fusil, Clabber Girl and Sacahuista the payout for first place was $2.80 as the entry's odds were 2/5.
See also
References