# Hillsborough Stakes

The Hillsborough Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older, over a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles on turf, held annually in March at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack in Oldsmar, Florida. The purse is currently $225,000.

## History

The event was inaugurated on 21 March 1999 at a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles with conditions for fillies and mares three-year-old and older and was won by the 7-10 odds-on favorite Pleasant Temper who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day in a time of 1:42.62.
In 2004 the distance of the event was increased to 1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs). That same year the event was upgraded to Grade III.
The event was upgraded to Grade II status in 2016.
The winner of the 2012 Hillsborough, Zagora, won the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and was voted an Eclipse Award in her category. Tepin, a two-time Eclipse Award winner, set a new course record when winning the race in 2016.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1+1⁄8 miles – 1:46.26 Tepin (2016)
* 1+1⁄16 miles – 1:41.14 Strait From Texas (2003)
Margins:
* 6+3⁄4 lengths – Dreaming of Anna (2008)
Most wins:
* No horse has won this race more than once.
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 – Godolphin Racing (2017, 2021)
* 2 – Madakat Stables (2019, 2023)
* 2 – Michael Dubb (2018, 2023)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 – John Velazquez (2006, 2007, 2015)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 6 – Chad C. Brown (2012, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade |
| 2024 | Sparkle Blue | 5 | Jorge Ruiz | H. Graham Motion | Augustin Stable & Catherine Parke | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.62 | $200,000 | II |
| 2023 | Shantisara | 5 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Madakat Stables, Michael Dubb and Robert LaPenta | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.14 | $225,000 | II |
| 2022 | Bleecker Street | 4 | Hector Diaz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.21 | $200,000 | II |
| 2021 | Micheline | 4 | Luis Saez | Michael Stidham | Godolphin Racing | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.19 | $200,000 | II |
| 2020 | Starship Jubilee | 7 | Javier Castellano | Kevin Attard | Blue Heaven Farm | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.83 | $225,000 | II |
| 2019 | Rymska (FR) | 5 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Madaket Stables, Tom Coleman, Team Hanley & Elayne Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.18 | $200,000 | II |
| 2018 | Fourstar Crook | 6 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables & Gary Aisquith | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.43 | $200,000 | II |
| 2017 | Dickinson | 5 | Paco Lopez | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Godolphin Racing | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1.46.75 | $200,000 | II |
| 2016 | Tepin | 5 | Julien R. Leparoux | Mark E. Casse | Robert E. Masterson | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:46.26 | $200,000 | II |
| 2015 | Stephanie's Kitten | 6 | John R. Velazquez | Chad C. Brown | Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.05 | $150,000 | III |
| 2014 | Cloud Scapes | 5 | Erick D. Rodriguez | H. Graham Motion | Pin Oak Stud | abt. 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.56 | $150,000 | III |
| 2013 | Old Tune (BRZ) | 5 | Joel Rosario | Todd A. Pletcher | Stud TNT | abt. 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.92 | $150,000 | III |
| 2012 | Zagora (FR) | 5 | Javier Castellano | Chad C. Brown | Martin S. Schwartz | abt. 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:46.97 | $150,000 | III |
| 2011 | Denomination | 5 | Frederic Lenclud | Christophe Clement | Ghislaine Head | abt. 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.69 | $150,000 | III |
| 2010 | Phola | 4 | Ramon A. Dominguez | Todd A. Pletcher | George Saufley, J.J. Pletcher, Graydon & William Patterson | abt. 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.51 | $150,000 | III |
| 2009 | Backseat Rhythm | 4 | Eibar Coa | Patrick L. Reynolds | Paul P. Pompa Jr. | abt. 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:51.43 | $175,000 | III |
| 2008 | Dreaming of Anna | 4 | Cornelio Velasquez | Wayne M. Catalano | Frank Carl Calabrese | abt. 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.18 | $175,000 | III |
| 2007 | Cassydora (GB) | 5 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Green Hills Farm | abt. 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.90 | $150,000 | III |
| 2006 | Ready's Gal | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | James T. Scatuorchio | abt. 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.50 | $137,500 | III |
| 2005 | Rizzi Girl | 7 | Oliver Castillo | William Downing | Joshua & Marnie Whitney | abt. 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:52.59 | $125,000 | III |
| 2004 | Coney Kitty (IRE) | 6 | Jose A. Santos | James J. Toner | William J. Betz, Steve Humphrey & Arthur Seelbinder | abt. 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.83 | $100,000 | III |
| 2003 | Strait From Texas | 4 | Jesus Lopez Castanon | James A. Michael | J & J Investments | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.14 | $100,000 | Listed |
| 2002 | Platinum Tiara | 4 | Manoel R. Cruz | Joseph J. Waunsch | M375 Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.34 | $100,000 | Listed |
| 2001 | Song for Annie | 5 | Larry Melancon | Henry S. Cochran | Live Oak Plantation | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.23 | $100,000 | Listed |
| 2000 | St Clair Ridge (IRE) | 4 | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | Thomas F. Van Meter II, Douglas Hendrickson & Mike Lowenbaum | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.17 | $75,000 | Listed |
| 1999 | Pleasant Temper | 5 | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | Mark H. Stanley | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.62 | $58,000 | Listed |