Forty Niner Stakes

The Forty Niner Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older run over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) on the dirt held annually in late October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event offers a purse of $300,000. The event had been called the Kelso Handicap until the NYRA renamed it in 2023 after renaming Saratoga Race Course's Forbidden Apple Stakes to the Kelso Stakes.[1]

This article is about the annual event inaugurated in 1980 at Aqueduct Racetrack and run through 2022 as the Kelso Handicap. For the former event known as the Forbidden Apple Stakes and held in that name from 2014 to 2022 and renamed to the Kelso Stakes in 2023, see Kelso Stakes.
Forty Niner Stakes
Grade II race
LocationBelmont Park
Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated1980 (as Kelso Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack)
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
WebsiteNYRA
Race information
DistanceOne mile
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds and older
WeightBase weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 126 lbs.
3-year-olds: 122 lbs.
Purse$300,000 (since 2021)

History

The event was originally named in honor of Kelso, Allaire du Pont's five-time winner of American Horse of the Year honors. Kelso won the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park five times (1960–1964) consecutively at the then distance of 2 miles on the dirt. Fittingly NYRA scheduled the inaugural running of the Kelso Handicap over two miles at Aqueduct on 23 October 1980. At the time the event was the only $100,000 two mile event on the dirt in the US.[2] The former claimer Peat Moss won the inaugural event as a 24-1 longshot in a time of 3:243⁄5.[2] Peat Moss would repeat his winning ways the following year carrying a high-weight of 126 pounds.[3] The 1982 running would be the last time the event would be held at the marathon distance. In 1983 the event was not held.[4]

On 20 October 1984 the event was renewed as a 1+1⁄4 miles turf race on an all stakes card at Belmont Park which included the Jockey Club Gold Cup[5] inheriting the classification status of Grade III from the Brighton Beach Handicap which became defunct with its last race on 24 August 1983.[6][7]

In 1988 the event was shortened to one mile.[8]

In 1997 the event was upgraded to Grade II.[8] In 2009, it had been originally being scheduled for turf before being moved to the main track due to extremely heavy rain the day before and consequently was down graded to Grade III.[8] In 2010 the event was moved to the main dirt track.[4]

Of the more notable winners of the event is Lure. Lure ran in the event three times winning in 1993 and finishing second twice in 1992[9] and 1994.[10] In 1992 although finishing second as a three-year-old later that year he went on to win the Breeders' Cup Mile. In 1993 after winning this event he followed up in his next start winning the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park. In 1994 Lure just failed to win the event, beaten by a nose carrying 128 pounds and giving 14 pounds to the winner Nijinsky's Gold in a thrilling stretch battle.[10]

The event in 2022 was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.[11] The event was moved to late October and the conditions of the changed from a handicap to a stakes allowance.[12][13]

In 2023 the event was renamed to the Forty Niner Stakes after the late stallion Forty Niner, a winner of several NYRA Grade 1 stakes.[14]

Records

Speed record:

  • 1 mile (dirt) 1:32.90 – Anchor Down (2016)
  • 1 mile (turf) 1:32.07 – Ashkal Way (2006)
  • 1+1⁄4 miles (turf) – 2:01.20 – Who's For Dinner (1984)
  • 2 miles (dirt) – 3:20.80 Peat Moss (1981)

Margins:

  • 5 lengths – Tizway (2010)

Most wins:

  • 2 – Peat Moss (1980, 1981)
  • 2 – I'm a Banker (1985, 1986)
  • 2 – Forbidden Apple (2000, 2001)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
At Aqueduct – Kelso Handicap
2023 1 mile $300,000 II
2022 Double Crown 5 J. D. Acosta Norman L. Cash Lola Cash & Lynn Cash 1 mile 1:37.16 $300,000 II [13]
At Belmont Park
2021 Life Is Good 3 Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd A. Pletcher WinStar Farm & China Horse Club 1 mile 1:34.37 $279,000 II [15]
2020 Complexity 4 Jose L. Ortiz Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables 1 mile 1:33.82 $139,500 II [16]
2019 Pat On the Back 5 Dylan Davis Jeremiah C. Englehart Harold Lerner, AWC Stables & Nehoc Stables 1 mile 1:33.97 $300,000 II [17]
2018 Patternrecognition 5 Tyler Gaffalione Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence 1 mile 1:34.16 $300,000 II [18]
2017 Sharp Azteca 4 Paco Lopez Jorge Navarro Ivan Rodriguez 1 mile 1:34.12 $300,000 II [19]
2016 Anchor Down 5 Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher Alto Racing 1 mile 1:32.90 $343,000 II [20]
2015 Appealing Tale 5 Joseph Talamo Peter L. Miller Gary Barber 1 mile 1:34.86 $400,000 II [21]
2014 Vyjack 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Rudy R. Rodriguez Pick Six Racing 1 mile 1:34.05 $400,000 II [22]
2013 Graydar 4 Edgar S. Prado Todd A. Pletcher Twin Creeks Racing Stable 1 mile 1:34.08 $400,000 II [23]
2012 Jersey Town 6 Javier Castellano Barclay Tagg Charles E. Fipke 1 mile 1:35.24 $400,000 II [24]
2011 Uncle Mo 3 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable 1 mile 1:33.82 $190,000 II [25]
2010 Tizway 5 Rajiv Maragh H. James Bond William L. Clifton Jr. 1 mile 1:34.42 $250,000 II [26]
2009 Le Grand Cru 4 Jose Lezcano H. Allen Jerkens Judson Streicher 1 mile 1:37.36 $225,000 III Off turf[27]
2008 Tam Lin (GB) 5 Javier Castellano Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1 mile 1:39.13 $248,000 II [28]
2007 Trippi's Storm 4 Javier Castellano Stanley M. Hough E. Paul Robsham Stables 1 mile 1:32.36 $249,200 II [29]
2006 Ashkal Way (IRE) 5 Michael J. Luzzi Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1 mile 1:32.07 $250,000 II [30]
2005 Funfair (GB) 6 Edgar S. Prado H. Graham Motion Cheveley Park Farm 1 mile 1:32.95 $334,200 II [31]
2004 Mr O'Brien (IRE) 5 Eibar Coa Robin L. Graham Skeedattle Stable 1 mile 1:32.69 $270,000 II [32]
2003 Freefourinternet 5 Jose L. Espinoza Joan Scott Equirace.com LLC 1 mile 1:34.73 $347,000 II [33]
2002 Green Fee 6 John R. Velazquez Daniel C. Peitz Robert & Lawana Low 1 mile 1:33.83 $350,000 II [34]
2001 Forbidden Apple 6 José A. Santos Christophe Clement Arthur I. Appleton 1 mile 1:36.77 $250,000 II [35]
2000 Forbidden Apple 5 Jean-Luc Samyn Christophe Clement Arthur I. Appleton 1 mile 1:34.39 $250,000 II [36]
1999 Middlesex Drive 4 Shane Sellers Philip M. Hauswald C. Steven Duncker 1 mile 1:35.45 $250,000 II [37]
1998 Dixie Bayou 5 Jorge F. Chavez Robert Barbara Sabine Stable 1 mile 1:36.21 $200,000 II [38]
1997 Lucky Coin 4 Robbie Davis Richard S. Nieminski Edward I. Kelly Sr. 1 mile 1:33.72 $200,000 II [39]
1996 Same Old Wish 6 Shane Sellers Robert Barbara Friendship Stable 1 mile 1:34.42 $175,000 III [40]
1995 Mighty Forum (GB) 4 Eddie Delahoussaye Mark A. Hennig Team Valor International 1 mile 1:39.58 $200,000 III [41]
1994 Nijinsky's Gold 5 José A. Santos Richard A. Violette Jr. Stanton P. Powell 1 mile 1:34.18 $200,000 III [10]
1993 Lure 4 Mike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey III Claiborne Farm 1 mile 1:35.86 $200,000 III [42]
1992 Roman Envoy 4 Craig Perret James E. Picou Fred W. Hooper 1 mile 1:36.39 $200,000 III [9]
1991 Star of Cozzene 3 José A. Santos D. Wayne Lukas Clover Racing Stable 1 mile 1:33.37 $116,200 III [43]
1990 Expensive Decision 4 Jean-Luc Samyn Stanley R. Shapoff Edward Shapoff 1 mile 1:32.40 $95,700 III [44]
1989 I Rejoice 6 Jerry D. Bailey Edward I. Kelly Sr. Brookfield Farms 1 mile 1:36.40 $125,600 III [45]
1988 San's the Shadow 4 Chris Antley Timothy A. Hills J. Scott Rutan 1 mile 1:42.00 $120,400 III [46]
1987 I'm a Banker 5 Antonio Graell Gasper S. Moschera Albert Davis 1+1⁄4 miles 2:10.80 $128,200 III [47]
1986 I'm a Banker 4 Antonio Graell Gasper S. Moschera Albert Davis 1+1⁄4 miles 2:03.20 $91,200 III [48]
1985 Mourjane (IRE) 5 Richard Migliore Thomas J. Skiffington Fernwood Stables 1+1⁄4 miles 2:02.00 $91,800 III [49]
1984 Who's for Dinner 5 Walter Guerra Jan H. Nerud Tartan Farms 1+1⁄4 miles 2:01.20 $96,000 III [50]
1983 Race not held
At Aqueduct
1982 Worthy Too 4 Jean-Luc Samyn Michael J. Kelly Adele L. Rand 2 miles 3:24.40 $116,400 [51]
1981 Peat Moss 6 Frank Lovato Jr. Gilbert Puentes Murray M. Garren 2 miles 3:20.80 $110,400 [3]
1980 Peat Moss 5 Frank Lovato Jr. Gilbert Puentes Murray M. Garren 2 miles 3:24.60 $113,600 [2]

Legend:
  Dirt   Turf

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References
  1. "2023 Saratoga Summer Meet Stakes Schedule Released The 40-day summer meet will open July 13 and continue through Sept. 4". Bloodhorse.com. NYRA. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  2. Harris, Russ (24 October 1980). "24-1 Peat Moss, wins Kelso 'Cap at Big A (1980 Kelso Handicap – race 8: held 23 October 1980)". New York Daily News. p. 26. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  3. Whelan, Tom (24 October 1981). "Peat Moss' wine, wins Kelso again (1981 Kelso Handicap – race 8: held 23 October 1981)". White Plains Journal News. p. 26. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  4. "KELSO HANDICAP – MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  5. Crist, Steve (19 October 1984). "Belmont Innovation: An All-Stakes Card". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  6. "BRIGHTON BEACH HANDICAP – MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  7. "Brighton Beach Handicap (Gr. 3)". Equibase. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  8. "Kelso Handicap Profile". Equibase. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  9. "1992 Kelso Handicap Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 10 October 1992. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  10. "1994 Kelso Handicap Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 8 October 1994. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  11. Ehalt, Bob (28 July 2022). "NYRA Shifts Belmont Fall Meet to Aqueduct Change will allow construction of infield tunnel, redevelopment plan to begin". Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  12. "Condition Book #2 - Belmont at the Big A". equibase.com. NYRA. September 2022. p. 32. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  13. "2022 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 5)". Equibase. 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  14. "2023 Belmont at the Big A Fall Meet Schedule Announced NYRA has announced the stakes schedule for the 2023 Belmont at the Big A fall meet". Bloodhorse.com. NYRA. 24 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  15. "2021 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 4)". Equibase. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  16. "2020 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  17. "2019 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 10)". Equibase. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  18. "2018 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 22 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  19. "2017 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  20. "2016 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 5)". Equibase. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  21. "2015 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 5)". Equibase. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  22. "2014 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 4)". Equibase. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  23. "2013 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  24. "2012 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
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  26. "2010 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  27. "2009 Kelso Handicap Grade 3 – (race 4)". Equibase. 4 October 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  28. "2008 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 28 September 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  29. "2007 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 29 September 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  30. "2006 Kelso Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 30 September 2006. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  31. "2005 Kelso Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 2 October 2005. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  32. "2004 Kelso Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 9 October 2004. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  33. "2003 Kelso Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 4 October 2003. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  34. "2002 Kelso Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 5 October 2002. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  35. "2001 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 6 October 2001. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  36. "2000 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 9)". Equibase. 8 October 2000. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  37. "1999 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 16 October 1999. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  38. "1998 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 17 October 1998. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  39. "1997 Kelso Handicap Grade 2 – (race 6)". Equibase. 18 October 1997. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  40. "1996 Kelso Handicap Grade 3 – (race 7)". Equibase. 5 October 1996. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  41. "1995 Kelso Handicap Grade 3 – (race 6)". Equibase. 7 October 1995. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  42. "1993 Kelso Handicap Grade 3 – (race 6)". Equibase. 16 October 1993. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  43. "1991 Kelso Handicap Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 14 October 1991. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  44. "Expensive Decision turns in record mile time at Belmont (1990 Kelso Handicap – race 8: held 8 October 1990)". Hackensack Record. 9 October 1990. p. 8. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  45. Farrell, Mike (8 October 1989). "Horse Racing (1989 Kelso Handicap – race 8: held 7 October 1989)". Hackensack Record. p. 8. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  46. "Horse Racing (1988 Kelso Handicap – race 8: held 8 October 1988)". Hackensack Record. 9 October 1988. p. 8. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  47. "I'm A Banker repeats Belmont win (1987 Kelso Handicap – race 8: held 11 October 1987)". Baltimore Sun. Associated Press. 12 October 1987. p. 26. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  48. "I'm A Banker wins (1986 Kelso Handicap – race 8: held 19 October 1986)". Asbury Park Press. Associated Press. 20 October 1986. p. 38. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
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