# Nearctic Stakes

The Nearctic Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. The Grade II sprint is raced on turf over a distance of six furlongs and currently offers a purse of $232,290.
Previously a Grade II race, it was upgraded to Grade I status for 2010 but has returned to Grade II.
Inaugurated in 1973 to honor Windfield's Farms champion Nearctic, the 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee, and sire of the 20th Century's most important sire, Northern Dancer.
The Nearctic Stakes was raced on dirt until 1995 when it was shifted to the Turf.

## Records

Speed record on turf:
* 1:07.60 - Wild Zone (1996)
Speed record on dirt:
* 1:09.00 - Megas Vukefalos (1992)
Most wins:
* 2 - Play The King (1987, 1988)
* 2 - Wild Zone (1995, 1996)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 - Sam-Son Farm (1978, 1989, 2003)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 - Robin Platts (1973, 1974, 1975, 1979)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 3 - Daniel J. Vella (1990, 1994, 1995)

## Winners of the Nearctic Stakes

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2023 | Big Invasion | 4 | Dylan Davis | Christophe Clement | Reeves Thoroughbred Racing | 1:11.31 |
| 2022 | Cazadero | 4 | Patrick Husbands | Brendan P. Walsh | Marc Detampel | 1:09.11 |
| 2021 | Avie's Flatter | 5 | Luis Contreras | Josie Carroll | Ivan Dalos | 1:10.52 |
| 2020 | Silent Poet | 5 | Justin Stein | Nicholas J. Gonzalez Jr. | Stronach Stables | 1:08.57 |
| 2019 | City Boy | 5 | Jesse Campbell | Michael Keogh | Est of Gustav Schickedanz & Donald Howard | 1:08.18 |
| 2018 | Hembree | 4 | Irad Ortiz | Michael Maker | Three Diamonds Farm | 1:08.95 |
| 2017 | Field of Courage | 5 | Luis Contreras | Mark E. Casse | Quintessential Racing, FL | 1:12.07 |
| 2016 | Calgary Cat | 6 | Luis Contreras | Kevin Attard | Steven Chesney & Cory Hoffman | 1:08.32 |
| 2015 | Bye Bye Bernie | 5 | Rafael M. Hernandez | Brendan P. Walsh | DARRS Inc | 1:09.00 |
| 2014 | Caspar Netscher (GB) | 5 | Andrew Mullen | David Simcock | Charles Wentworth | 1:08.97 |
| 2013 | Phil's Dream | 5 | Justin Stein | Paul M. Buttigieg | Buttigieg Training Centre | 1:10.83 |
| 2012 | Next Question | 4 | Ramon Dominguez | Michael J. Trombetta | Three Diamonds Farm | 1:09.32 |
| 2011 | Regally Ready | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Steve Asmussen | Vinery Stable | 1:11.35 |
| 2010 | Serious Attitude | 4 | Garrett Gomez | Rae Guest | Derek J. Willis & Rae Guest | 1:09.1 |
| 2009 | Field Commission | 4 | Julien Leparoux | Daniel J. Vella | E. Selzer & D. J. Vella | 1:09.23 |
| 2008 | True to Tradition | 6 | Kendrick Carmouche | Scott A. Lake | Ben Mondello & Adam Russo | 1:09.11 |
| 2007 | Heros Reward | 5 | Javier Castellano | Dale Capuano | Rob Ry Farm & Jayne Marie Slysz | 1:08.04 |
| 2006 | Fast Parade | 3 | Patrick Valenzuela | Peter Miller | Gary & Cecil Barber | 1:12.41 |
| 2005 | Steel Light | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Christophe Clement | Moyglare Stud | 1:12.14 |
| 2004 | I Thee Wed | 4 | Jim McAleney | David R. Bell | Pin Oak Stable | 1:09.36 |
| 2003 | Soaring Free | 4 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 1:07.73 |
| 2002 | Nuclear Debate | 7 | David R. Flores | Darrell Vienna | Herrick Racing | 1:07.86 |
| 2001 | Mr. Epperson | 6 | James McKnight | Scott H. Fairlie | R & S. Fairlie et al. | 1:08.86 |
| 2000 | Kahal | 6 | Brice Blanc | Neil D. Drysdale | Shadwell Racing | 1:11.07 |
| 1999 | Clever Response | 4 | Emile Ramsammy | Michael Keogh | Gus Schickedanz | 1:10.19 |
| 1998 | Rushiscomingup | 5 | Richard Dos Ramos | Paul Buttigieg | Farrugia & Buttigieg | 1:08.20 |
| 1997 | Jilin | 5 | David Clark | John P. MacKenzie | Greenoaks Farm | 1:08.60 |
| 1996 | Wild Zone | 6 | Robert Landry | Frank Passero Jr. | Mrs. Augustus Riggs IV & Stronach | 1:07.60 |
| 1995 | Wild Zone | 5 | Shane Sellers | Daniel J. Vella | Mrs. Augustus Riggs IV & Stronach | 1:08.40 |
| 1994 | King Ruckus | 4 | Todd Kabel | Daniel J. Vella | Frank Stronach | 1:09.60 |
| 1993 | British Banker | 5 | Dave Penna | Michael J. Doyle | Dogwood Stable | 1:09.40 |
| 1992 | Megas Vukefalos | 4 | Don Seymour | Phil England | Knob Hill Stable | 1:09.00 |
| 1991 | Hadif | 5 | Dave Penna | Tom Skiffington, Jr. | Shadwell Racing | 1:10.00 |
| 1990 | Dargai | 4 | Brian Swatuk | Daniel J. Vella | Knob Hill Stable | 1:10.00 |
| 1989 | Regal Intention | 4 | Jack Lauzon | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:10.20 |
| 1988 | Play The King | 5 | Don Seymour | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:10.00 |
| 1987 | Play The King | 4 | Don Seymour | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:09.80 |
| 1986 | New Connection | 5 | Dave Penna | Trevor Swan | J. Douglas Cameron | 1:10.60 |
| 1985 | Dancer's Bo Jin | 4 | Daniel David | Jerry G. Lavigne | Gerry E. Going | 1:11.40 |
| 1984 | Diapason | 4 | Gary Stahlbaum | Jacques Dumas | Jean Lapointe | 1:09.80 |
| 1983 | Ask Muhammad | 4 | Richard Dos Ramos | Michael Silvera | Gordon F. Hall | 1:11.20 |
| 1982 | Reddy Roadster | 7 | Brian Swatuk | Conrad J. Cohen | Susan Cohen | 1:10.20 |
| 1981 | Solo Guy | 3 | George HoSang | Laurie Silvera | Gordon F. Hall | 1:10.60 |
| 1980 | La Voyageuse | 5 | J. Paul Souter | Yonnie Starr | Jean-Louis Levesque | 1:09.80 |
| 1979 | Ocean Emperor | 4 | Robin Platts | J. Mack | Pel-Gam-Ski Stable | 1:10.20 |
| 1978 | Stutz Bearcat | 3 | George HoSang | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:09.80 |
| 1977 | Jilting Jim | 4 | Sandy Hawley | Jake Nemett | Roger E. Leslie | 1:10.60 |
| 1976 | Park Romeo | 5 | Lloyd Duffy | Jerry G. Lavigne | Parkview Stable | 1:12.60 |
| 1975 | Gurkhas Band | 3 | Robin Platts | Gil Rowntree | Stafford Farms | 1:11.00 |
| 1974 | Henry Tudor | 5 | Robin Platts | Lou Cavalaris, Jr. | Gardiner Farm | 1:11.20 |
| 1973 | Rare Adventure | 4 | Robin Platts | Lou Cavalaris, Jr. | Gardiner Farm | 1:10.40 |