Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap

Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap

Class	Grade I
Location	Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, New York, United States
Inaugurated	1985 (as the A Phenomenon Stakes)
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website	NYRA
Race information
Distance	6 furlongs
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Three-years-old & older
Weight	Handicap
Purse	$350,000 (2021)

The Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap is a Grade I American thoroughbred horse race for horses age three and older over a distance of six furlongs on the dirt held annually in late July at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 17 August 1985 as the A Phenomenon Stakes, the sixth event on the card that day and was won by the Richard E. Dutrow Sr. trained Cognizant, who won in a time of 1:093⁄5. The event was named after the winner of the 1983 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, A Phenomenon.^[1] A Phenomenon suffered a life-ending injury in the 1984 Forego Handicap.^[2]

The event was classified as Grade III in 1990^[3] and in 1995 upgraded to Grade II.

In 2000, the event was renamed to honor Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. who had died in 1999. Vanderbilt was a very prominent Thoroughbred owner who also served as chairman of the board of the New York Racing Association from 1971 to 1975.

In 2010 the event was upgraded to Grade I.^[4]

The 2019 winner Imperial Hint set a new track record for the six-furlong distance, winning for the second time in a time of 1:07.92.^[4]

Records

Speed record:

• 1:07.92 – Imperial Hint (2019)

Margins

• 8 lengths – El Deal (2017)

Most wins:

• 2 – Cognizant (1985, 1986)
• 2 – Imperial Hint (2018, 2019)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 4 – Pat Day (1985, 1986, 1992, 1993)
• 4 – Javier Castellano (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 4 – Steven M. Asmussen (2010, 2013, 2020, 2022)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 – Happy Valley Farm (1985, 1986)
• 2 – H. Joseph Allen (1988, 2006)
• 2 – Hobeau Farm (1991, 1998)
• 2 – Shadwell Racing (1999, 2008)
• 2 – Raymond Mamone (2018, 2019)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap
2024	Nakatomi	5	Tyler Gaffalione	Wesley A. Ward	Qatar Racing & Mrs. Fitriani Hay	6 furlongs	1:09.97	$350,000	I	[5]
2023	Elite Power	5	Irad Ortiz Jr.	William I. Mott	Juddmonte	6 furlongs	1:09.22	$350,000	I	[6]
2022	Jackie's Warrior	4	Joel Rosario	Steven M. Asmussen	J. Kirk & Juby Robison	6 furlongs	1:09.74	$350,000	I	[7]
2021	Lexitonian	5	Jose Lezcano	Jack Sisterson	Calumet Farm	6 furlongs	1:09.38	$350,000	I	[8]
2020	Volatile	6	Ricardo Santana Jr.	Steven M. Asmussen	Three Chimneys Farm & Phoenix Thoroughbred III	6 furlongs	1:09.61	$232,500	I	[9]
2019	Imperial Hint	6	Javier Castellano	Luis Carvajal Jr.	Raymond Mamone	6 furlongs	1:07.92	$350,000	I	[10]
2018	Imperial Hint	5	Javier Castellano	Luis Carvajal Jr.	Raymond Mamone	6 furlongs	1:08.98	$350,000	I	[11]
2017	El Deal	6	Javier Castellano	Jorge Navarro	Michelle & Albert Crawford	6 furlongs	1:09.26	$350,000	I	[12]
2016	A. P. Indian	6	Joe Bravo	Arnaud Delacour	Green Lantern Stables	6 furlongs	1:08.25	$350,000	I	[13]
2015	Rock Fall	4	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Stonestreet Stables	6 furlongs	1:08.75	$350,000	I	[14]
2014	Palace	5	Cornelio Velásquez	Linda L. Rice	Antonino Miuccio	6 furlongs	1:08.56	$350,000	I	[15]
2013	Justin Phillip	4	John R. Velazquez	Steven M. Asmussen	Zayat Stables	6 furlongs	1:08.59	$392,000	I	[16]
2012	Poseidon's Warrior	4	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Robert E. Reid Jr.	Swilcan Stable	6 furlongs	1:09.40	$400,000	I	[17]
2011	Sean Avery	5	Joe Bravo	Allen Iwinski	Black Swan	6 furlongs	1:09.71	$250,000	I	[18]
2010	Majesticperfection	4	Shaun Bridgmohan	Steven M. Asmussen	Padua Stables	6 furlongs	1:08.63	$250,000	I	[19]
2009	Fabulous Strike	6	Ramon A. Dominguez	Todd M. Beattie	Walter Downey	6 furlongs	1:08.69	$250,000	II	[20]
2008	Abraaj	5	Alan Garcia	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Shadwell Racing	6 furlongs	1:10.23	$250,000	II	[21]
2007	Diabolical	4	Mario G. Pino	Steve Klesaris	Puglisi Stables & Steve Klesaris	6 furlongs	1:08.67	$260,000	II	[22]
2006	War Front	4	José A. Santos	H. Allen Jerkens	H. Joseph Allen	6 furlongs	1:10.21	$208,200	II	[23]
2005	Pomeroy	4	Eibar Coa	Patrick L. Biancone	Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith	6 furlongs	1:08.69	$200,000	II	[24]
2004	Speightstown	6	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	Eugene & Laura Melnyk	6 furlongs	1:08.04	$200,000	II	[25]
2003	Private Horde	4	Jason P. Lumpkins	S. Joe Cain	Billy R. Tucker	6 furlongs	1:09.18	$200,000	II	[26]
2002	Orientate	4	Jerry D. Bailey	D. Wayne Lukas	Robert & Beverly Lewis	6 furlongs	1:09.72	$200,000	II	[27]
2001	Five Star Day	5	Garrett K. Gomez	C. Beau Greely	Columbine Stable & Kitchwa Stables	6 furlongs	1:08.57	$200,000	II	[28]
2000	† Successful Appeal	4	Edgar S. Prado	John C. Kimmel	Starview Stable & John T. L. Jones, Jr	6 furlongs	1:09.21	$200,000	II	[29]
A Phenomenon Handicap
1999	Intidab	6	Robbie Davis	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Shadwell Racing	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$150,000	II	[30]
1998	Kelly Kip	4	Jean-Luc Samyn	H. Allen Jerkens	Hobeau Farm	6 furlongs	1:09.60	$137,575	II	[31]
A Phenomenon Stakes
1997	Royal Haven	5	Richard Migliore	Gasper S. Moschera	Barbara J. Davis	6 furlongs	1:09.60	$108,700	II	[32]
1996	Prospect Bay	4	Jerry D. Bailey	John C. Kimmel	Lucille Conover	6 furlongs	1:08.20	$109,600	II	[33]
A Phenomenon Handicap
1995	Not Surprising	5	Robbie Davis	Judson Van Worp	Robert Van Worp	6 furlongs	1:09.60	$111,900	II	[34]
1994	Boundary	4	John R. Velazquez	William I. Mott	Mrs. W. H. Perry	6 furlongs	1:08.60	$109,800	III	[35]
A Phenomenon Stakes
1993	Gold Spring (ARG)	5	Pat Day	Jesse N. Wigginton	Ross Harris	6 furlongs	1:09.20	$117,800	III	[36]
1992	For Really	5	Pat Day	D. Wayne Lukas	Regal Oak Farm	6 furlongs	1:08.60	$119,200	III	[37]
1991	Kid Russell	5	Rafael Mojica Jr.	H. Allen Jerkens	Hobeau Farm	6 furlongs	1:09.40	$119,000	III	[38]
1990	Prospectors Gamble	5	Julio A. Garcia	Brian A. Mayberry	Jan Siegel	6 furlongs	1:09.20	$84,000	III	[39]
1989	Mr. Nickerson	3	José A. Santos	Mark J. Reid	Robert H. A. Nixon	6 furlongs	1:08.80	$87,750		[40]
1988	High Brite	4	Ángel Cordero Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	H. Joseph Allen	6 furlongs	1:10.00	$84,000		[41]
1987	Banker's Jet	5	Jorge L. Vargas	Salvatore J. Longo	Gerald Fineberg	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$82,830		[42]
1986	Cognizant	5	Pat Day	Richard E. Dutrow Sr.	Happy Valley Farm	6 furlongs	1:09.20	$55,300		[43]
1985	Cognizant	4	Pat Day	Richard E. Dutrow Sr.	Happy Valley Farm	6 furlongs	1:09.60	$55,600		[44]

Notes:

† In the 2000 running Intidab crossed the finish line first but was later disqualified; Successful Appeal was declared the winner.

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

1. "A PHENOMENON (USA) b. H, 1980 – 12 Starts, 6 Wins, 3 Places, 1 Shows Career Earnings: $380,982". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
2. Crist, Steve (20 August 1984). "A Phenomenon Destroyed After Injury". The New York Times. p. Section C-5. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
3. "Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (Gr. 1)". Equibase. 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
4. "ALFRED G. VANDERBILT HANDICAP - SARATOGA, NY". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
5. "2024 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (Grade 1 - race 6)". 27 July 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
6. "2023 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (Grade 1 - race 8)" (PDF). 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
7. "2022 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (Grade 1 - race 8)". www.equibase.com. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
8. "2021 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
9. "2020 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap Grade 1 – (race 10)". Equibase. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
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12. "2017 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
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22. "2007 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 28 July 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
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24. "2005 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 13 August 2005. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
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27. "2002 A. G. Vanderbilt Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 11 August 2002. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
28. "2001 A. G. Vanderbilt Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 5 August 2001. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
29. "2000 A. G. Vanderbilt Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 9 August 2000. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
30. "1999 A Phenomenon Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 11 August 1999. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
31. "1998 A Phenomenon Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 12 August 1998. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
32. "1997 A Phenomenon Stakes Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 8 August 1997. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
33. "1996 A Phenomenon Stakes Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 8 August 1996. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
34. "1995 A Phenomenon Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 6 August 1995. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
35. "1994 A Phenomenon Handicap Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 7 August 1994. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
36. "1993 A Phenomenon Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 2 August 1993. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
37. "1992 A Phenomenon Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 3 August 1992. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
38. "1991 A Phenomenon Stakes Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 2 August 1991. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
39. "Thoroughbred Racing (1990 A Phenomenon Stakes – race 8: held 4 August 1990)". The Courier-Journal. 5 August 1990. p. 46. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
40. "Racing Roundup (1989 A Phenomenon Stakes – race 7: held 5 August 1989)". Hartford Courant. 6 August 1989. p. 71. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
41. "Racing Roundup (1988 A Phenomenon Stakes – race 1: held 5 August 1988)". New York Daily News. 6 August 1988. p. 74. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
42. "Saratoga racing results (1987 A Phenomenon Stakes – race 6: held 8 August 1987)". Glen Falls Post-Star. 9 August 1987. p. 49. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
43. "Saratoga racing results (1986 A Phenomenon Stakes – race 5: held 8 August 1986)". The Courier-Journal. 9 August 1986. p. 25. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
44. "Racing Roundup (1985 A Phenomenon Stakes – race 6: held 17 August 1985)". New York Daily News. 18 August 1985. p. 185. Retrieved 20 July 2020.