# Sanford Stakes

The Sanford Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week of July at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. A six furlong sprint race, the Grade III event is open to two-year-old horses.
Inaugurated in 1913 as the Sanford Memorial Stakes, it was modified to its present name in 1927. The race is named for Stephen Sanford and his son John, Amsterdam, New York businessmen from one of Saratoga's original horse racing families. Their horses first appeared in the Saratoga races in 1880. Stephen Sanford named all his best horses after members of the Mohawk nation.
The race was hosted by Belmont Park from 1943 through 1945. It was contested at 5+1⁄2 furlongs from 1962 through 1968. Held for almost a hundred years, the only three years in which it did not take place was 1961, 2005, and 2020.
Only four horses have ever won all three Saratoga Racecourse events for two-year-olds. Regret (1914), Campfire (1916), Dehere (1993), and City Zip (2000) each swept the Sanford Stakes, Saratoga Special Stakes, and Hopeful Stakes.
It was in the seventh running of the Sanford in 1919 that Man o' War lost his only race to the Harry Payne Whitney colt, Upset.
This race was downgraded to a Grade III for its 2014 running.

## Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 6 furlongs)
* 1:09.32 – Afleet Alex (2004)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 7 – John Velazquez (1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2015)
Most wins by a Trainer
* 8 –Todd A. Pletcher (1999, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2021)
Most wins by an owner:
* 8 – Greentree Stable (1933, 1941, 1950, 1951, 1956, 1959, 1963, 1978)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2024 | Mo Plex | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Jeremiah C. Englehart | R and H Stable | 1:11.72 |
| 2023 | Yo Yo Candy | Angel Castillo | Daniel Velazquez | Happy Tenth Stable | 1:11.83 |
| 2022 | Mo Strike | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Nasser Bin Omairah | 1:11.35 |
| 2021 | Wit | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, & Gainesway Farm | 1:11.12 |
| 2019 | By Your Side | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Eddie Kenneally | Anderson Stables, LLC | 1:10.22 |
| 2018 | Sombeyay | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Racing | 1:10.35 |
| 2017 | Firenze Fire | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Jason Servis | Mr. Amore Stable | 1:11.50 |
| 2016 | Bitumen | Javier Castellano | Eddie Kenneally | Joseph W. Sutton | 1:10.68 |
| 2015 | Uncle Vinny | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Starlight Racing | 1:10.92 |
| 2014 | Big Trouble | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Anthony W. Dutrow | Team D | 1:10.64 |
| 2013 | Wired Bryan | Shaun Bridgmohan | Michael Dilger | Anstu Stables | 1:11.06 |
| 2012 | Bern Identity | Rosie Napravnik | Kelly J. Breen | George & Lori Hall | 1:11.13 |
| 2011 | Overdriven | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable | 1:10.60 |
| 2010 | Maybesomaybenot | Elvis Trujillo | Michael J. Maker | Carolyn Scisney & Karen Scisney | 1:10.97 |
| 2009 | Backtalk | Miguel Mena | Thomas M. Amoss | GoldMark Farm | 1:10.07 |
| 2008 | Desert Party | Edgar Prado | Eoin G. Harty | Darley Stable | 1:12.23 |
| 2007 | Ready's Image | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | James T. Scatuorchio | 1:09.90 |
| 2006 | Scat Daddy | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | James T. Scatuorchio | 1:11.18 |
| 2005 | no race | no race | no race | no race | no race |
| 2004 | Afleet Alex | Jeremy Rose | Timothy F. Ritchey | Cash is King Stable | 1:09.32 |
| 2003 | Chapel Royal | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Derrick Smith & Michael Tabor | 1:10.74 |
| 2002 | Whywhywhy | Edgar Prado | Patrick Biancone | Biancone and Ouaki | 1:10.40 |
| 2001 | Buster's Daydream | John Velazquez | Timothy J. Tullock Jr. | S J Bee Stable | 1:10.55 |
| 2000 | City Zip | José A. Santos | Linda L. Rice | Bowling & Thompson | 1:10.69 |
| 1999 | More Than Ready | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | James T. Scatuorchio | 1:09.65 |
| 1998 | Time Bandit | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Padua Stables | 1:11.40 |
| 1997 | Polished Brass | Pat Day | Patrick B. Byrne | Joseph LaCombe | 1:10.23 |
| 1996 | Kelly Kip | Jean-Luc Samyn | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 1:10.20 |
| 1995 | Maria's Mon | Robbie Davis | Richard E. Schosberg | Mrs. Morton Rosenthal | 1:10.80 |
| 1994 | Montreal Red | José A. Santos | Flint S. Schulhofer | Vendome Stables | 1:10.56 |
| 1993 | Dehere | Chris McCarron | Reynaldo H. Nobles | Due Process Stable | 1:10.48 |
| 1992 | Mountain Cat | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | William T. Young | 1:10.60 |
| 1991 | Caller I. D. | Jerry D. Bailey | Stanley M. Hough | Triumviri Stable | 1:10.92 |
| 1990 | Formal Dinner | José A. Santos | D. Wayne Lukas | Leonard D. Mathis | 1:10.20 |
| 1989 | Bite The Bullet | José A. Santos | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 1:09.80 |
| 1988 | Mercedes Won | Robbie Davis | Arnold Fink | Christopher Spencer | 1:10.00 |
| 1987 | Forty Niner | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 1:10.00 |
| 1986 | Persevered | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Laz Barrera | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1:10.60 |
| 1985 | Sovereign Don | Jorge Velásquez | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 1:10.60 |
| 1984 | Tiffany Ice | Gregg McCarron | Joseph B. Cantey | Mrs. Charles H. Thieriot | 1:10.80 |
| 1983 | Big Walt | Jeffrey Fell | Joseph Nash | Grandview Stable | 1:11.00 |
| 1982 | Copelan | Jerry D. Bailey | Mitchell Griffin | Fred W. Hooper | 1:10.40 |
| 1981 | Mayanesian | Jacinto Vásquez | Nick Zito | Ernest B. Wright | 1:11.20 |
| 1980 | Tap Shoes | Ruben Hernandez | Howard M. Tesher | Leone J. Peters | 1:10.00 |
| 1979 | I Speedup | Jeffrey Fell | Edward I. Kelly Sr. | Brookfield Farm | 1:10.40 |
| 1978 | Fuzzbuster | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Gaver Jr. | Greentree Stable | 1:10.80 |
| 1977 | Affirmed | Steve Cauthen | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 1:09.60 |
| 1976 | Turn Of Coin | Ángel Cordero Jr. | William O. Hicks | William O. Hicks | 1:10.20 |
| 1975 | Turn To Turia | Eddie Maple | Reggie Cornell | Calumet Farm | 1:10.80 |
| 1974 | Ramahorn | Chuck Baltazar | Pancho Martin | Sigmund Sommer | 1:11.00 |
| 1973 | Az Igazi | Michael Venezia | Homer C. Pardue | Joseph R. Straus | 1:10.60 |
| 1972 | Secretariat | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable | 1:10.00 |
| 1971 | Cohasset Tribe | Manuel Ycaza | Woody Stephens | Louis L. Haggin II | 1:10.60 |
| 1970 | Executioner | Jacinto Vásquez | Edward J. Yowell | October House Farm | 1:09.40 |
| 1969 | Walker's | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Frank I. Wright | Oxford Stable | 1:10.40 |
| 1968 | King Emperor | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable | 1:03.40 |
| 1967 | Exclusive Native | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Ivan H. Parke | Harbor View Farm | 1:03.60 |
| 1966 | Yorkville | John L. Rotz | Sylvester Veitch | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:05.00 |
| 1965 | Flame Tree | Bobby Ussery | Buddy Jacobson | Samuel J. Lefrak | 1:04.60 |
| 1964 | Cornish Prince | Donald Pierce | Sylvester Veitch | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:04.40 |
| 1963 | Delirium | Braulio Baeza | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:05.40 |
| 1962 | Rash Prince | Ismael Valenzuela | Walter A. Kelley | Elmendorf Farm | 1:04.60 |
| 1961 | no race | no race | no race | no race | no race |
| 1960 | Hail To Reason | Bobby Ussery | Hirsch Jacobs | Patrice Jacobs | 1:11.00 |
| 1959 | Weatherwise | John Ruane | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:12.40 |
| 1958 | Pilot | Eddie Arcaro | William O. Hicks | Cambridge Stable | 1:13.40 |
| 1957 | Louis d'Or | Raul Sterling | Jake Byer | Mrs. W. Thorn Kissel | 1:13.20 |
| 1956 | Thin Ice | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:12.60 |
| 1955 | Head Man | Paul J. Bailey | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 1:11.80 |
| 1954 | Brother Tex | Conn McCreary | Woody Stephens | Woody Stephens | 1:12.80 |
| 1953 | Bobby Brocato | Ovie Scurlock | John B. Theall | Joe W. Brown | 1:13.20 |
| 1952 | Bradley | Jimmy Nichols | William Post | Hope Goddard Iselin | 1:14.60 |
| 1951 | Tom Fool | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:12.60 |
| 1950 | Big Stretch | Eddie Arcaro | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:11.60 |
| 1949 | Detective | Ted Atkinson | George P. "Maj" Odom | Mrs. Aksel Wichfield | 1:12.80 |
| 1948 | Slam Bang | Warren Mehrtens | Morris H. Dixon | C. Mahlon Kline | 1:12.00 |
| 1947 | Inseparable | Job Dean Jessop | Preston M. Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 1:11.80 |
| 1946 | Donor | Job Dean Jessop | George P. "Maj" Odom | W. Deering Howe | 1:11.60 |
| 1945 | Pellicle | Conn McCreary | Knox Osborne | Hal Price Headley | 1:10.80 |
| 1944 | The Doge | Ferrill Zufelt | Frank A. Bonsal | Pentagon Stable | 1:10.40 |
| 1943 | Rodney Stone | Ted Atkinson | Preston M. Burch | Harry La Montagne | 1:11.20 |
| 1942 | Devil's Thumb | Conn McCreary | Cecil Wilhelm | William E. Boeing | 1:12.80 |
| 1941 | Devil Diver | Don Meade | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:12.80 |
| 1940 | Good Turn | Basil James | Lee McCoy | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1:13.20 |
| 1939 | Boy Angler | Fred A. Smith | William A. Hurley | Mr. French † | 1:12.20 |
| 1938 | Birch Rod † | Wayne D. Wright | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:14.20 |
| 1937 | Spillway | Danny Dubois | John B. Theall | Joe W. Brown | 1:14.00 |
| 1936 | Maedic | Eddie Litzenberger | George E. Phillips | Maemere Farm | 1:13.00 |
| 1935 | Crossbow II | Eddie Arcaro | Frank J. Kearns | Calumet Farm | 1:12.40 |
| 1934 | Psychic Bid | Mack Garner | Robert A. Smith | Brookmeade Stable | 1:12.20 |
| 1933 | First Ministrel | Robert Jones | William Brennan | Greentree Stable | 1:15.00 |
| 1932 | Sun Archer | Raymond Workman | Jack Whyte | Willis Sharpe Kilmer | 1:12.80 |
| 1931 | Mad Pursuit | Thomas Malley | Jack R. Pryce | Walter J. Salmon Sr. | 1:12.20 |
| 1930 | Sun Meadow | Eddie Watters | Tommy Rodrock | Katherine E. Hitt | 1:12.60 |
| 1929 | Hi-Jack | Linus McAtee | A. Jack Joyner | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:12.00 |
| 1928 | Chestnut Oak | James H. Burke | Johnny Loftus | Oak Ridge Stable | 1:13.00 |
| 1927 | Nassak | Laverne Fator | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 1:12.60 |
| 1926 | Northland | John Maiben | Thomas J. Healey | Walter J. Salmon Sr. | 1:13.00 |
| 1925 | Canter | Clarence Turner | Harry Rites | J. Edwin Griffith | 1:12.60 |
| 1924 | Nicholas | Linus McAtee | William J. Knapp | Frank J. Farrell | 1:15.60 |
| 1923 | Parasol | Earl Sande | A. Jack Joyner | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:12.80 |
| 1922 | Bo McMillan | Fred A. Smith | Louis Cahn | Thomas J. Pendergast | 1:18.00 |
| 1921 | Sir Hugh | Mack Garner | J. Cal Milam | Johnson N. Camden Jr. | 1:13.00 |
| 1920 | Pluribus | José Rodriguez | Thomas J. Shannon | Thomas W. O'Brien | 1:15.20 |
| 1919 | Upset | Willie Knapp | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney | 1:11.20 |
| 1918 | Billy Kelly | Earl Sande | H. Guy Bedwell | J. K. L. Ross | 1:14.60 |
| 1917 | Papp | Lawrence Allen | Max Hirsch | George W. Loft | 1:15.60 |
| 1916 | Campfire | John McTaggart | Thomas J. Healey | Richard T. Wilson Jr. | 1:13.40 |
| 1915 | Bulse | Carl Ganz | not found | James W. Parrish | 1:16.80 |
| 1914 | Regret | Joe Notter | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney | 1:13.40 |
| 1913 | Little Nephew | Theo Killingworth | Elza Brown | Michael B. Gruber | 1:14.80 |