# Cowdin Stakes

The Cowdin Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually from 1923 through 2005 at Aqueduct Racetrack and at Belmont Park which at one time was a Grade 1 event.

## Background

The Cowdin was first run in 1923 as the Junior Champion Stakes, a name taken from a very important race for two-year-olds which had been inaugurated in 1898 at Gravesend Race Track. The Junior Champion Stakes at Gravesend ended with the 1908 running when the racetrack was forced to close after the administration of Republican Governor Charles Evans Hughes signed into law the Hart–Agnew bill which effectively banned all racetrack wagering in New York State. The new Junior Champion Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack was renamed the Cowdin Stakes in 1941 to honor John Cheever Cowdin, former president of the racetrack.
At its peak, the Cowdin Stakes was one of the important East Coast races for two-year-olds, a number of which would earn American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors. As well, 1929 winner Gallant Fox went on to win the 1930 U.S. Triple Crown and would be inducted into the U. S. Racing Hall of Fame. Other winners who would become Hall of Fame members were Twenty Grand (1930), Hill Prince (1949), Dr. Fager (1966), Foolish Pleasure (1974), Easy Goer (1988).
The race was split into two divisions in 1963, 1973, and 1976.
The Cowdin Stakes was held at:
* Aqueduct Racetrack : 1923–1956, 1959, 1962–1967, 1991–1997
* Belmont Park : 1956 to 1958, 1960 to 1962, from 1968 to 1990, 1998 to 2005

## Records

Speed record:
* 1:14.35 @ 6.5 furlongs – Coronado's Quest (1997)
* 1:21.40 @ 7 furlongs – Devil's Bag (1983)
* 1:36.60 @ 1 mile (8 furlongs) – Sailor Beware (1934) & Chief's Crown (1984)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 5 – Jorge Velásquez (1971, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1985)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 6 – James E. Fitzsimmons (1926, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1939, 1940)
* 6 – Woody Stephens (1950, 1962, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1983)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – Wheatley Stable (1927, 1939, 1968)
* 3 – Greentree Stable (1930, 1933, 1934)
* 3 – Ogden Phipps (1940, 1986, 1988)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. (Furlongs/ Miles) | Time | Gr. |
| 2005 | He's Got Grit | 2 | Jerry Bailey | Steve Asmussen | Curtis C. Green | 6.5 f | 1:17.75 | L/R |
| 2004 | Flamenco | 2 | Jerry Bailey | Todd Pletcher | Peachtree Stable (John Fort) | 6.5 f | 1:17.20 | L/R |
| 2003 | Smokume | 2 | Shannon Uske | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 6.5 f | 1:17.05 | L/R |
| 2002 | Boston Bull | 2 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Dogwood Stable | 6.5 f | 1:16.37 | G3 |
| 2001 | Sunray Spirit | 2 | Eibar Coa | Eoin G. Harty | Godolphin | 6.5 f | 1:19.16 | G3 |
| 2000 | Fistfite | 2 | Richard Migliore | William Badgett Jr. | Peter Callahan | 6.5 f | 1:15.63 | G3 |
| 1999 | Twilight Time | 2 | Mike Luzzi | Linda L. Rice | Char-Mari Stable (Charles & Marianne Hesse) | 6.5 f | 1:17.00 | G2 |
| 1998 | Successful Appeal | 2 | Richard Migliore | John C. Kimmel | Starview Stable (racing partnership) | 6.5 f | 1:17.11 | G2 |
| 1997 | Coronado's Quest | 2 | Mike E. Smith | C. R. McGaughey III | Stuart S. Janney III | 6.5 f | 1:14.35 | G2 |
| 1996 | Just A Cat | 2 | Joe Bravo | James T. Ryerson | Noreen Carpenito | 7 f | 1:23.00 | G2 |
| 1995 | Gator Dancer | 2 | Eddie Maple | Patrick J. Kelly | Fox Ridge Farm, Inc. (Rick Porter) | 1 m | 1:37.09 | G2 |
| 1994 | Old Tascosa | 2 | Carlos Lopez Jr. | Walter C. Reese | Noreen Carpenito | 7 f | 1:24.60 | G2 |
| 1993 | You And I | 2 | Craig Perret | Stanley M. Hough | Triumviri Stable (Einar Robsham) | 7 f | 1:22.60 | G2 |
| 1992 | Wallenda | 2 | Herb McCauley | Frank A. Alexander | Dogwood Stable | 7 f | 1:24.00 | G2 |
| 1991 | Salt Lake | 2 | Mike E. Smith | D. Wayne Lukas | William T. Young | 7 f | 1:22.60 | G2 |
| 1990 | Scan | 2 | Jerry Bailey | Flint S. Schulhofer | William Haggin Perry | 7 f | 1:23.40 | G2 |
| 1989 | Adjudicating | 2 | Jacinto Vásquez | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 7 f | 1:23.60 | G1 |
| 1988 | Easy Goer | 2 | Pat Day | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 7 f | 1:23.60 | G1 |
| 1987 | Tejano | 2 | Jacinto Vásquez | D. Wayne Lukas | Lloyd R. French Jr. | 7 f | 1:23.40 | G1 |
| 1986 | Polish Navy | 2 | Randy Romero | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 7 f | 1:22.80 | G1 |
| 1985 | Ketoh | 2 | Jorge Velásquez | D. Wayne Lukas | Helen C. Alexander | 7 f | 1:23.80 | G1 |
| 1984 | Chief's Crown | 2 | Don MacBeth | Roger Laurin | Star Crown Stable (Andrew Rosen, et al.) | 1 m | 1:36.60 | G1 |
| 1983 | Devil's Bag | 2 | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Hickory Tree Stable | 7 f | 1:21.40 | G2 |
| 1982 | What's Dat | 2 | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Hickory Tree Stable | 7 f | 1:24.40 | G2 |
| 1981 | Native Raja | 2 | Chris McCarron | Joseph S. Nash | Grandview Stable (Harry Massey) | 7 f | 1:23.80 | G2 |
| 1980 | Lord Avie | 2 | Jorge Velásquez | Daniel Perlsweig | David Simon | 7 f | 1:23.60 | G2 |
| 1979 | Rockhill Native | 2 | John Oldham | Herbert K. Stevens | Harry A. Oak | 7 f | 1:23.60 | G2 |
| 1978 | Tim The Tiger | 2 | Jeffrey Fell | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 7 f | 1:22.60 | G2 |
| 1977 | Quadratic | 2 | Jorge Velásquez | Woody Stephens | August Belmont IV | 7 f | 1:24.60 | G2 |
| 1976 | Sail To Rome | 2 | Jeffrey Fell | Woody Stephens | Lucille Stephens | 7 f | 1:22.80 | G2 |
| 1976 | For The Moment | 2 | Eddie Maple | LeRoy Jolley | Gerald Robins | 7 f | 1:22.40 | G2 |
| 1975 | Honest Pleasure | 2 | Jorge Velásquez | LeRoy Jolley | Bertram R. Firestone | 7 f | 1:22.60 | G2 |
| 1974 | Foolish Pleasure | 2 | Jacinto Vásquez | LeRoy Jolley | John L. Greer | 7 f | 1:22.60 | G2 |
| 1973-1 | Protagonist | 2 | Angel Santiago | John P. Campo | Elmendorf Farm | 7 f | 1:23.00 | G2 |
| 1973-2 | Lord Rebeau | 2 | Heliodoro Gustines | William Hightower | Paul Cresci | 7 f | 1:22.80 | G2 |
| 1972 | Step Nicely | 2 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 7 f | 1:22.60 |
| 1971 | Loquacious Don | 2 | Jorge Velásquez | John W. Jacobs | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 7 f | 1:24.20 |
| 1970 | Hoist The Flag | 2 | Jean Cruguet | Sidney Watters Jr. | Jane Forbes Clark | 7 f | 1:22.40 |
| 1969 | Silent Screen | 2 | John L. Rotz | J. Bowes Bond | Elberon Farm | 7 f | 1:23.80 |
| 1968 | King Emperor | 2 | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable | 7 f | 1:22.60 |
| 1967 | Iron Ruler | 2 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Edward J. Yowell | October House Farm | 7 f | 1:21.60 |
| 1966 | Dr. Fager | 2 | Bill Shoemaker | John A. Nerud | Tartan Stable | 7 f | 1:24.80 |
| 1965 | Advocator | 2 | Eldon Nelson | Clyde Troutt | Ada L. Rice | 7 f | 1:23.60 |
| 1964 | Tom Rolfe | 2 | Ron Turcotte | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Powhatan Stable | 7 f | 1:23.80 |
| 1963 | Chieftain | 2 | Bill Hartack | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Powhatan Stable | 7 f | 1:23.80 |
| 1963 | Dunfee | 2 | Ray Broussard | Joseph M. Bollero | Dorothy Comiskey Rigney | 7 f | 1:24.20 |
| 1962 | Never Bend | 2 | Manuel Ycaza | Woody Stephens | Cain Hoy Stable | 7 f | 1:23.20 |
| 1961 | Jaipur | 2 | Eddie Arcaro | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 7 f | 1:22.60 |
| 1960 | Carry Back | 2 | Bill Hartack | Jack A. Price | Katherine Price | 7 f | 1:24.00 |
| 1959 | Warfare | 2 | Ismael Valenzuela | Hack Ross | Bellehurst Stable (Clifton Jones Jr.) | 7 f | 1:22.60 |
| 1958 | Crafty Skipper | 2 | Bobby Ussery | Lucien Laurin | Charfran Stable (Charles & Frances Cohen) | 7 f | 1:23.00 |
| 1957 | Jewel's Reward | 2 | Bill Hartack | Ivan H. Parke | Maine Chance Farm | 6.5 f | 1:17.60 |
| 1956 | Mister Jive | 2 | Hedley Woodhouse | George M. Carter | John L. Applebaum | 6.5 f | 1:17.20 |
| 1955 | Noorsaga* | 2 | Eric Guerin | Sherrill W. Ward | Mrs. C. Ulrick Bay | 6.5 f | 1:17.60 |
| 1954 | Summer Tan | 2 | Eric Guerin | Sherrill W. Ward | Dorothy Firestone Galbreath | 6.5 f | 1:16.00 |
| 1953 | Fisherman | 2 | Hedley Woodhouse | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 6.5 f | 1:17.00 |
| 1952 | Invigorator | 2 | Dave Gorman | Norman R. McLeod | Saxon Stable | 6.5 f | 1:17.60 |
| 1951 | Eternal Moon | 2 | Conn McCreary | Daverne Emery | Emerald Hill Stable | 6.5 f | 1:18.60 |
| 1950 | Away Away | 2 | Ovie Scurlock | Woody Stephens | Woodvale Farm | 6.5 f | 1:18.80 |
| 1949 | Hill Prince | 2 | Eddie Arcaro | Casey Hayes | Christopher Chenery | 6.5 f | 1:16.60 |
| 1948 | Algasir | 2 | Ted Atkinson | John H. Skirvin | Florence L. Clark | 6.5 f | 1:19.80 |
| 1947 | My Request | 2 | Eddie Arcaro | James P. Conway | Ben F. Whitaker | 6.5 f | 1:18.00 |
| 1946 | Cosmic Bomb | 2 | Ruperto Donoso | Willie Booth | William G. Helis Sr. | 6.5 f | 1:19.80 |
| 1945 | Knockdown | 2 | Douglas Dodson | R. Thomas Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 6.5 f | 1:18.00 |
| 1944 | Best Effort | 2 | Ted Atkinson | Ray Kindred | Claud C. Tanner | 6.5 f | 1:18.60 |
| 1943 | Alorter | 2 | John Deering | John H. Skirvin | Alwin C. Ernst | 6.5 f | 1:18.40 |
| 1942 | Slide Rule | 2 | Conn McCreary | Cecil Wilhelm | William E. Boeing | 6.5 f | 1:17.20 |
| 1941 | Requested | 2 | Jack Westrope | J. H. "Blackie" McCoole | Ben F. Whitaker | 6.5 f | 1:17.60 |
| 1940 | King Cole | 2 | James Stout | James E. Fitzsimmons | Ogden Phipps | 6.5 f | 1:17.00 |
| 1939 | Merry Knight | 2 | Ronnie Nash | James E. Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 6.5 f | 1:18.40 |
| 1938 | El Chico | 2 | Nick Wall | Matthew Peter Brady | William Ziegler Jr. | 6.5 f | 1:18.00 |
| 1937 | Can't Wait | 2 | Lester Balaski | J. Thomas Taylor | Myron Selznick | 6.5 f | 1:18.00 |
| 1936 | Pompoon | 2 | Harry Richards | Cyrus F. Clarke | Jerome H. Louchheim | 6.5 f | 1:18.20 |
| 1935 | Ned Reigh | 2 | Raymond Workman | Henry McDaniel | Willis Sharpe Kilmer | 6.5 f | 1:18.60 |
| 1934 | Sailor Beware | 2 | Raymond Workman | William Brennan | Greentree Stable | 1 m | 1:36.60 |
| 1933 | First Minstrel | 2 | Silvio Coucci | William Brennan | Greentree Stable | 1 m | 1:38.60 |
| 1932 | Repaid | 2 | Pete Walls | Edward Phelan | Quincy Stable (James Francis Johnson) | 1 m | 1:39.00 |
| 1931 | Faireno | 2 | Tommy Malley | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1 m | 1:38.60 |
| 1930 | Twenty Grand | 2 | Charley Kurtsinger | Thomas W. Murphy | Greentree Stable | 1 m | 1:38.00 |
| 1929 | Gallant Fox | 2 | John Maiben | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1 m | 1:38.00 |
| 1928 | Perkins | 2 | Harold Thurber | George M. Odom | Marshall Field III | 1 m | 1:39.00 |
| 1927 | Nixie | 2 | Phil Goodwin | James E. Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 1 m | 1:38.40 |
| 1926 | Bonnie Maginn | 2 | Danny McAuliffe | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1 m | 1:42.20 |
| 1925 | Mars | 2 | Harry Richards | Robert A. Smith | Walter M. Jeffords Sr. | 1 m | 1:37.00 |
| 1924 | Star Lore | 2 | Clyde Ponce | William J. Spiers | William Ziegler Jr. | 6.5 f | 1:18.60 |
| 1923 | Mr. Mutt | 2 | Harold Thurber | Albert B. Gordon | Bud Fisher | 1 m | 1:38.80 |
* In 1955, Busher Fantasy finished first, but was disqualified.