Ruffian Stakes

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.

Ruffian Stakes
Grade II race
LocationBelmont Park
New York, United States
Inaugurated1976
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
WebsiteNYRA
Race information
Distance1 mile
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFillies & Mares, four-years-old and older
Weight124 lbs with allowances
Purse$200,000 (2021)

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.

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 Belmont Park – Ruffian Stakes
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 [8]
2022 Search Results 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables 1 mile 1:34.88 $200,000 II [9]
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 [10]
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 [11]
2019 Come Dancing 5 Manuel Franco Carlos F. Martin Blue Devil Racing Stable 1 mile 1:36.54 $242,500 II [12]
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 [13]
2017 Highway Star 4 Angel S. Arroyo Rodrigo A. Ubillo Chester & Mary Broman 1 mile 1:39.05 $245,000 II [14]
2016 Cavorting 4 Javier Castellano Kiaran P. McLaughlin Stonestreet Stables 1 mile 1:34.05 $250,000 II [15]
2015 § Wedding Toast 5 Jose Lezcano Kiaran P. McLaughlin Godolphin Racing 1 mile 1.35.57 $250,000 II [16]
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 [17]
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 [18]
2010 Malibu Prayer 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Edward P. Evans 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.14 $250,000 I [19]
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 [20]
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 [21]
2007 Ginger Punch 4 Rafael Bejarano Robert J. Frankel Stronach Stables 1+1⁄16 miles 1:40.25 $285,000 I [22]
2006 Pool Land 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Melnyk Racing Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.81 $294,000 I [23]
2005 Stellar Jayne 4 Jerry D. Bailey Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin Racing 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.87 $300,000 I [24]
2004 Sightseek 5 John R. Velazquez Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.51 $294,000 I [25]
2003 Wild Spirit (CHI) 4 Jerry D. Bailey Robert J. Frankel Sumaya Us Stable 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.23 $300,000 I [26]
2002 Mandy's Gold 4 Jose A. Santos Michael E. Gorham Steeplechase Farm 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.57 $300,000 I [27]
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 [28]
1999 Catinca 4 Jerry D. Bailey John C. Kimmel Robert K. Waxman 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.94 $250,000 I [29]
1998 Sharp Cat 4 Corey Nakatani Wallace Dollase The Thoroughbred Corporation 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.40 $250,000 I [30]
1997 Tomisue's Delight 3 Jerry D. Bailey Neil J. Howard Stephen C. Hilbert 1+1⁄16 miles 1:44.43 $250,000 I [31]
1996 Yanks Music 3 John R. Velazquez Leo O'Brien Michael Fennessy 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.84 $250,000 I [32]
1995 Inside Information 4 Mike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps 1+1⁄16 miles 1:40.98 $200,000 I [33]
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 [34]
1992 Versailles Treaty 5 Mike E. Smith Claude R. McGaughey III Cynthia Phipps 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.41 $200,000 I [35]
1991 Queena 5 Angel Cordero Jr. Claude R. McGaughey III Emory A. Hamilton 1+1⁄16 miles 1:41.65 $200,000 I [36]
1990 Quick Mischief 4 Raul I. Rojas Charles J. Carlesimo Jr. Gregory Mordas 1+1⁄16 miles 1:42.80 $240,840 I [37]
1989 Bayakoa (ARG) 5 Laffit Pincay Jr. Ron McAnally Janis & Frank Whitham 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.40 $226,400 I [38]
1988 Sham Say 3 Jacinto Vasquez William B. Cox Evergreen Farm 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.00 $244,000 I [39]
1987 †§ Coup de Fusil 5 Angel Cordero Jr. Jan H. Nerud Tartan Farms 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.60 $249,600 I [40]
1986 Lady's Secret 4 Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein 1+1⁄8 miles 1:46.80 $230,400 I [41]
1985 § Lady's Secret 3 Jorge Velasquez D. Wayne Lukas Eugene V. Klein 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.40 $169,800 I [42]
1984 Heatherten 5 Randy Romero William I. Mott John A. Franks 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.20 $172,200 I [43]
1983 Heartlight No. One 3 Laffit Pincay Jr. Pedro Marti Burt Bacharach 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.20 $171,925 I [44]
1982 Christmas Past 3 Jacinto Vasquez Angel A. Penna Jr. Cynthia Phipps 1+1⁄8 miles 1:48.60 $166,800 I [45]
1981 Relaxing 5 Angel Cordero Jr. Angel Penna Sr. Ogden Phipps 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.60 $161,700 I [46]
1980 Genuine Risk 3 Jacinto Vasquez LeRoy Jolley Diana M. Firestone 1+1⁄8 miles 1:49.20 $136,500 I [47]
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 [48]
1978 Late Bloomer 4 Jorge Velasquez John M. Gaver Jr. Greentree Stable 1+1⁄8 miles 1:47.00 $108,100 I [49]
1977 Cum Laude Laurie 3 Angel Cordero Jr. Thomas L. Rondinello Daniel W. Galbreath 1+1⁄8 miles 1:52.20 $110,300 I [50]
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
  1. Avalyn Hunter. "Ruffian (horse)". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  2. "Revidere captures Ruffian by 14 lengths over Bastonera II – (race 8: held 9 October 1976)". Philadelphia Inquirer. The Associated Press. 10 October 1976. p. 72. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  3. Equibase.com. "Ruffian Stakes profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 2017-07-02.
  4. "RUFFIAN HANDICAP - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Database. 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  5. "TOBA American Graded Stakes Committee Summary of Decisions Made at November 30 and December 1, 2011 Grading Session" (PDF). BloodHorse. Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. December 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  6. "2014 Ruffian Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  7. "1994 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 6)". Equibase. 17 September 1994. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  8. "2023 Ruffian Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  9. "2022 Ruffian Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  10. "2021 Ruffian Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  11. "2020 Ruffian Stakes Grade 2 - (race 4)". Equibase. 11 July 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  12. "2019 Ruffian Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  13. "2018 Ruffian Stakes Grade 2 - (race 8)". Equibase. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  14. "2017 Ruffian Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  15. "2016 Ruffian Stakes Grade 2 - (race 7)". Equibase. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  16. "2015 Ruffian Stakes Grade 2 - (race 4)". Equibase. 9 May 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  17. "2013 Ruffian Handicap Grade 2 - (race 4)". Equibase. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  18. "2011 Ruffian Invitational Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 31 July 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  19. "2010 Ruffian Invitational Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 1 August 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  20. "2009 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 4)". Equibase. 12 September 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  21. "2008 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 6 September 2008. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  22. "2007 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 September 2007. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  23. "2006 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 10 September 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  24. "2005 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 11 September 2005. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  25. "2004 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 19 September 2004. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  26. "2003 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 13 September 2003. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  27. "2002 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 September 2002. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  28. "2000 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 16 September 2000. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  29. "1999 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 18 September 1999. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  30. "1998 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 19 September 1998. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  31. "1997 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 20 September 1997. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  32. "1996 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 14 September 1996. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  33. "1995 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 6)". Equibase. 16 September 1995. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  34. "1993 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 19 September 1993. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  35. "1992 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 20 September 1992. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  36. "1991 Ruffian Handicap Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. 21 September 1991. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  37. "Quick Mischief takes Ruffian by 3;... – (race 9: held 22 September 1990)". The Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 23 September 1990. p. 17. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  38. "Bayakoa turns back Open Mind in Ruffian – (race 9: held 24 September 1989)". The Courier-Journal. New York Times. 25 September 1989. p. 33. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  39. "Sham Say Open Mind in Ruffian – (race 9: held 25 September 1988)". The Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 26 September 1988. p. 34. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  40. "Coup de Fusil captures Ruffian – (race 8: held 27 September 1987)". Asbury Park Press. The Associated Press. 28 September 1987. p. 33. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  41. "Lady's Secret captures Ruffian – (race 8: held 21 September 1986)". Asbury Park Press. The Associated Press. 22 September 1986. p. 28. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  42. "Lady's Secret makes Ruffian 'Cap her seventh straight stakes victory – (race 8: held 22 September 1985)". The Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 23 September 1985. p. 28. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  43. "Heatherten surprises favorites in Ruffian – (race 8: held 30 September 1984)". The Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 1 October 1984. p. 31. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  44. "Heartlight No. One takes Ruffian 'Cap – (race 8: held 25 September 1983)". The Courier-Journal. The Associated Press. 26 September 1983. p. 10. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  45. Harris, Russ (27 September 1982). "Ghost of Christmas Past appears to win Ruffian – (race 8: held 26 September 1982)". New York Daily News. p. 91. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  46. Kellner, Jenny (28 September 1981). "Win in Ruffian puts Relaxing near away– (race 8: held 27 September 1981)". New York Daily News. p. 52. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  47. Gaffer, Wes (28 September 1980). "Risk nips Misty by nose in best race of season – (race 8: held 27 September 1980)". New York Daily News. p. 69. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  48. Gaffer, Wes (30 September 1979). "It's in the Air 1st; injured Pearl Necklace retired – (race 8: held 29 September 1979)". New York Daily News. p. 174. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  49. "Bloomer Blossoms – (race 8: held 23 September 1978)". Hackensack Record. The Associated Press. 24 September 1978. p. 16. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  50. Gaffer, Wes (25 September 1977). "Cum Laude Laurie Ruffed While Winning Ruffian – (race 8: held 24 September 1977)". New York Daily News. p. 11. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
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