# Bessarabian Stakes

The Bessarabian Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1985 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Raced at a distance of seven furlongs, it is held during the latter part of November and is open to fillies and mares, age three and older. It has been a Grade II event since 2013.
Inaugurated in 1985 as the Etobicoke Handicap, in 1996 it was renamed in honor of Eaton Hall Farm's Champion filly, Bessarabian.
Through 1990 the race was contested at six furlongs on dirt. In 2006 the track surface was replaced with a Polytrack synthetic dirt which would be changed again in 2016 to Tapeta synthetic dirt. (both referred to as an "all weather track" in official charts). The purse for the Bessarabian was increased to $200,000 in 2014, plus up to $23,265 for Ontario-bred horses.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1:21.44 - Hillaby (2014) at current distance of 7 furlongs
Most wins:
* 2 - Count On A Change (1991, 1992)
* 2 - Early Blaze (1994, 1995)
* 2 - Moonlit Promise (2017, 2018)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 - Huntington Stud Farm (1990, 1991, 1992)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 - Jim McAleney (1993, 2002, 2006, 2013)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 - Josie Carroll (2008, 2017, 2018, 2023)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2024 | Stormcast | 3 | Rafael Hernandez | Mark E. Casse | KEM Stables | 1:22.43 |
| 2023 | Loyalty | 4 | Kazushi Kimura | Josie Carroll | Gainesway Farm & LNJ Foxwoods | 1:22.27 |
| 2022 | Our Flash Drive | 4 | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | Live Oak Plantation | 1:20.76 |
| 2021 | Lady Speightspeare | 3 | Emma-Jayne Wilson | Roger Attfield | Charles E. Fipke | 1:21.03 |
| 2020 | Artie's Princess | 3 | Kazushi Kimura | Wesley Ward | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 1:20.90 |
| 2019 | Amalfi Coast | 3 | Eurico Rosa da Silva | Kevin Attard | Terra Racing Stable | 1:22.03 |
| 2018 | Moonlit Promise | 5 | Eurico Rosa da Silva | Josie Carroll | Hill 'n' Dale Farms & Windsor Boys | 1:22.28 |
| 2017 | Moonlit Promise | 4 | Gary Boulanger | Josie Carroll | Hill 'n' Dale Farms & Windsor Boys | 1:21.79 |
| 2016 | River Maid | 4 | Gary Boulanger | Robert P. Tiller | The Very Dry Stable | 1:21.85 |
| 2015 | Miss Mischief | 5 | Eurico Rosa Da Silva | Dale Capuano | Diane Manning | 1:21.72 |
| 2014 | Hillaby | 4 | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | Stonestreet Stables | 1:21.44 |
| 2013 | Part the Seas | 4 | James McAleney | Michael P. De Paulo | Bear Stables | 1:22.31 |
| 2012 | Magic Broomstick | 6 | Emma-Jayne Wilson | Malcolm Pierce | Sam-Son Farms | 1:22.29 |
| 2011 | Atlantic Hurricane | 5 | Emile Ramsammy | Stuart C. Simon | McLellans/Hollick/Simon | 1:21.77 |
| 2010 | Ariana D | 4 | Omar Moreno | Laurie Silvera | William Thompson Jr. | 1:22.97 |
| 2009 | Tribal Belle | 4 | James McAleney | Terry Jordan | Canvasback Farms | 1:22.29 |
| 2008 | Smart Surprise | 4 | Robert Landry | Josie Carroll | John G. Sikura | 1:22.14 |
| 2007 | My List | 3 | Eurico Rosa Da Silva | Nick Gonzalez | Tucci Stables | 1:21.50 |
| 2006 | Financingavailable | 5 | Jim McAleney | Lorne Richards | K. K. Sangara | 1:22.82 |
| 2005 | Miss Concerto | 4 | Corey Fraser | Sid Attard | Tucci Stables | 1:25.00 |
| 2004 | Miss Grindstone | 5 | Ray Sabourin | Frank A. Passero, Jr. | William G. Robbins | 1:23.21 |
| 2003 | Winter Garden | 3 | David Clark | Robert P. Tiller | Frank D. DiGiulio, Jr. | 1:24.14 |
| 2002 | Sheila's Prospect | 4 | Jim McAleney | Lorne Richards | K. K. Sangara | 1:22.98 |
| 2001 | Elektraline | 5 | Gary Boulanger | Michael Wright, Jr. | Richard A. Englander | 1:22.38 |
| 2000 | Feathers | 3 | Mickey Walls | Ralph Biamonte | Tooth & Nail Stable | 1:23.93 |
| 1999 | Barlee Mist | 4 | Patrick Husbands | Wray I. Lawrence | Barlee Farm | 1:23.50 |
| 1998 | Santa Amelia | 5 | Robert Landry | Macdonald Benson | Augustin Stable | 1:22.40 |
| 1997 | Autumn Slew | 4 | Todd Kabel | Macdonald Benson | Augustin Stable | 1:23.40 |
| 1996 | Flat Fleet Feet | 3 | Mike E. Smith | John Kimmel | C. Kimmel/P. & L. Solondz | 1:23.20 |
| 1995 | Early Blaze | 5 | Lloyd Duffy | Brian Ottaway | Ken Ham | 1:23.80 |
| 1994 | Early Blaze | 4 | Lloyd Duffy | Brian Ottaway | Ken Ham | 1:23.20 |
| 1993 | Sing And Swing | 4 | Jim McAleney | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:23.20 |
| 1992 | Count On A Change | 5 | Robin Platts | John A. Ross | Huntington Stud Farm | 1:23.80 |
| 1991 | Count On A Change | 4 | Dave Penna | Debbie England | Huntington Stud Farm | 1:24.40 |
| 1990 | Diva's Debut | 4 | Richard Dos Ramos | Debbie England | Huntington Stud Farm | 1:10.00 |
| 1989 | Blushing Katy | 3 | Gunnar Lindberg | Phil England | Kingsbrook Farm | 1:10.60 |
| 1988 | Zadracarta | 3 | Richard Dos Ramos | Patrick Collins | Knob Hill Stable | 1:10.40 |
| 1987 | Ruling Angel | 3 | Dave Penna | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:10.80 |
| 1986 | Playlist | 3 | Richard Dos Ramos | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:11.20 |
| 1985 | Summer Mood | 4 | Jack Lauzon | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:12.00 |