# Gazelle Stakes

The Gazelle Stakes (formerly Gazelle Handicap until 2004) is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, New York. It is a Grade III event run over a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles on dirt that is open to three-year-old fillies. The race was previously run in the Fall at Belmont Park and often used as a stepping stone to the Breeders' Cup Distaff. As of 2013, the race is now run in the Spring at Aqueduct, typically on the same day as the Wood Memorial, and is now used as a prep race for the Kentucky Oaks.

## Race transition

Race name
* Gazelle Handicap: 1887–2004
* Gazelle Stakes: since 2005
Grading
* Grade I: 1984–2012
* Grade II: 1973–1983 and since 2013
Distance
* 1987–1900: unknown
* 1900–1958: 1 1⁄16 miles
* 1959 and 1960: 1 mile
* since 1961: 1 1⁄8 miles
Qualification
* Three-year-old fillies
* Only 1917–1920 Three-years-old and up fillies
Venue
* Gravesend Race Track: 1887–1916
* Belmont Park: 1956–1959, 1961, 1969–2008
* Aqueduct Racetrack: 1917–1955, 1960, 1962–1968, since 2009
There were no races in 1911–1916, and 1933–1935.

## Records

Time record: (at current distance of 1+1⁄8 miles)
* 1:46.80 – Maud Muller (1974)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1974, 1976, 1985, 1991)
* 4 – Javier Castellano (2001, 2006, 2008, 2014)
Most wins by an trainer:
* 6 – James G. Rowe Sr. (1890, 1903, 1907, 1909, 1917, 1923)
* 6 – Claude R. McGaughey III (1986, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2006)
* 6 – James E. Fitzsimmons (1924, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1942, 1960)
Most wins by an owner:
* 4 – Greentree Stable (1923, 1941, 1967, 1987)
* 4 – Sarah & Walter Jeffords (1928, 1937, 1945, 1951)
* 4 – Godolphin Racing (2002, 2009, 2012, 2021)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2023 | Promiseher America | Jorge A. Vargas Jr. | Ray Handel | Tom F. McCrocklin & Hoffman Thoroughbreds | 1:51.41 |
| 2022 | Nostalgic | José Ortiz | William I. Mott | Godolphin Racing | 1:50.41 |
| 2021 | Search Results | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables | 1:54.14 |
| 2020 | Race Not Held | Race Not Held | Race Not Held | Race Not Held | Race Not Held |
| 2019 | Always Shopping | Manuel Franco | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable | 1:52.91 |
| 2018 | My Miss Lilly | Joe Bravo | Mark A. Hennig | Courtlandt Farms (Donald & Donna Adam) | 1:50.42 |
| 2017 | Miss Sky Warrior | Paco Lopez | Kelly J. Breen | Arlene's Sun Star Stable | 1:51.71 |
| 2016 | Lewis Bay | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Alpha Delta Stables | 1:52.60 |
| 2015 | Condo Commando | Joel Rosario | Rudy R. Rodriguez | Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stable & The Elkstone Group | 1:52.17 |
| 2014 | My Miss Sophia | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Mathis Stable | 1:50.48 |
| 2013 | Close Hatches | Joel Rosario | William I. Mott | Juddmonte Farms | 1:50.53 |
| 2012 | Dance Card | Ramon Domínguez | Kiaran McLaughlin | Godolphin Racing | 1:50.39 |
| 2011 | Awesome Feather | Jeffrey Sanchez | Chad C. Brown | Stronach Stables | 1:50.01 |
| 2010 | No Such Word | Terry J. Thompson | Cindy Jones | Brereton C. Jones | 1:51.05 |
| 2009 | Flashing | Richard Migliore | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing | 1:50.94 |
| 2008 | Music Note | Javier Castellano | Saeed bin Suroor | Gainsborough Farm | 1:50.20 |
| 2007 | Lear's Princess | Eibar Coa | Kiaran McLaughlin | West Point Thoroughbreds | 1:47.86 |
| 2006 | Pine Island | Javier Castellano | Claude R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 1:48.93 |
| 2005 | In The Gold | Gary Stevens | Nick Zito | Live Oak Plantation | 1:49.75 |
| 2004 | Stellar Jayne | Robby Albarado | D. Wayne Lukas | Spendthrift Farm, Chuck Kidder, Nancy Cole & Nick Strong | 1:48.25 |
| 2003 | Buy the Sport | Pat Day | Brian J. Meehan | Georgica Stable | 1:48.57 |
| 2002 | Imperial Gesture | José A. Santos | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing | 1:47.12 |
| 2001 | Exogenous | Javier Castellano | Scotty Schulhofer | Centaur Farms | 1:47.68 |
| 2000 | Critical Eye | Mike E. Smith | Scott Schwartz | H. & C. Schwartz | 1:48.54 |
| 1999 | Silverbulletday | Jerry D. Bailey | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 1:47.71 |
| 1998 | Tap to Music | Pat Day | Joseph Orseno | Stronach Stable | 1:49.72 |
| 1997 | Royal Indy | Pat Day | H. Allen Jerkens | Georgia Hofmann | 1:49.11 |
| 1996 | My Flag | Jerry D. Bailey | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1:48.08 |
| 1995 | Serena's Song | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 1:47.29 |
| 1994 | Heavenly Prize | Mike E. Smith | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1:47.20 |
| 1993 | Dispute | Jerry D. Bailey | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 1:47.00 |
| 1992 | Saratoga Dew | Herb McCauley | Gary Sciacca | Charles F. Engel | 1:47.63 |
| 1991 | Versailles Treaty | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Claude R. McGaughey III | Cynthia Phipps | 1:47.00 |
| 1990 | Highland Talk | Jean-Luc Samyn | Philip G. Johnson | Cobble View Stable | 1:50.00 |
| 1989 | Tactile | Richard Migliore | Richard W. Small | Robert E. Myerhoff | 1:48.00 |
| 1988 | Classic Crown | Randy Romero | D. Wayne Lukas | Star Crown Stable | 1:49.00 |
| 1987 | Single Blade | Chris Antley | Robert Reinacher | Greentree Stable | 1:48.00 |
| 1986 | Classy Cathy | Earlie Fires | Claude R. McGaughey III | Edward A. Cox Jr. | 1:48.00 |
| 1985 | Kamikaze Rick | Ángel Cordero Jr. | John Parisella | Theodore M. Sabarese | 1:48.00 |
| 1984 | Miss Oceana | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Newstead Farm | 1:47.00 |
| 1983 | High Schemes | Jean-Luc Samyn | Philip G. Johnson | J. O. Morrisey Jr. | 1:48.00 |
| 1982 | Broom Dance | Gregg McCarron | James W. Maloney | Christiana Stables | 1:47.00 |
| 1981 | Discorama | Ruben Hernandez | James W. Maloney | Christiana Stables | 1:48.00 |
| 1980 | Love Sign | Ruben Hernandez | Sidney Watters Jr. | Stephen C. Clark Jr. | 1:49.20 |
| 1979 | Himalayan | Eddie Maple | George M. Baker | Louis Lee Haggin II | 1:48.40 |
| 1978 | Tempest Queen | Jorge Velásquez | Thomas L. Rondinello | Darby Dan Farm | 1:49.80 |
| 1977 | Pearl Necklace | Steve Cauthen | Roger Laurin | Reginald N. Webster | 1:48.00 |
| 1976 | Revidere | Ángel Cordero Jr. | David A. Whiteley | William Haggin Perry | 1:47.80 |
| 1975 | Land Girl | Jacinto Vásquez | John A. Nerud | Tartan Stable | 1:49.40 |
| 1974 | Maud Muller | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Thomas L. Rondinello | Darby Dan Farm | 1:46.80 |
| 1973 | Desert Vixen | Jorge Velásquez | Thomas F. Root Sr. | Harry T. Mangurian Jr. | 1:47.40 |
| 1972 | Susan's Girl | Laffit Pincay Jr. | John W. Russell | Fred W. Hooper | 1:48.00 |
| 1971 | Forward Gal | Michael Hole | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Aisco Stable | 1:48.60 |
| 1970 | Missile Belle | Pete D. Anderson | Woody Stephens | John A. Morris | 1:50.80 |
| 1969 | Gallant Bloom | John L. Rotz | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:49.00 |
| 1968 | Another Nell | Craig Perret | Paul L. Kelley | Bruce A. Norris | 1:50.80 |
| 1967 | Sweet Folly | Heliodoro Gustines | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:50.20 |
| 1966 | Prides Profile | Manuel Ycaza | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1:52.40 |
| 1965 | What a Treat | John L. Rotz | Sylvester E. Veitch | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:51.40 |
| 1964 | Face The Facts | Larry Adams | James W. Maloney | William Haggin Perry | 1:51.60 |
| 1963 | Lamb Chop | Braulio Baeza | James W. Maloney | William Haggin Perry | 1:50.00 |
| 1962 | Bramalea | Braulio Baeza | James P. Conway | Darby Dan Farm | 1:50.00 |
| 1961 | Shimmy Dancer | Manuel Ycaza | not found | Anne Minor Stone | 1:49.00 |
| 1960 | Berlo | Eric Guerin | Richard E. Handlen | Foxcatcher Farm | 1:35.80 |
| 1960 | Sarcastic | Henry Moreno | James E. Fitzsimmons | Ogden Phipps | 1:35.40 |
| 1959 | Sunset Glow | Bill Shoemaker | Charles V. Reynolds | Sidney M. Barton | 1:36.80 |
| 1959 | Cee Zee | Henry Moreno | MacKenzie Miller | Rockburn Farm | 1:36.00 |
| 1958 | Idun | Bill Hartack | Sherrill W. Ward | Josephine Bay | 1:43.20 |
| 1957 | Bayou | Eddie Arcaro | Moody Jolley | Claiborne Farm | 1:43.20 |
| 1956 | Scampering | Angel Valenzuela | Victor J. Nickerson | Victor J. Nickerson | 1:43.80 |
| 1955 | Manotick | Angel Valenzuela | Casey Hayes | Christopher T. Chenery | 1:45.60 |
| 1954 | On Your Own | William Boland | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:46.60 |
| 1953 | Grecian Queen | Eric Guerin | James P. Conway | Florence Whitaker | 1:45.80 |
| 1952 | Hushaby Baby | Raymond York | Moody Jolley | Cain Hoy Stable | 1:45.60 |
| 1951 | Kiss Me Kate | Warren Mehrtens | Oscar White | Walter M. Jeffords | 1:46.00 |
| 1950 | Next Move | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1:43.00 |
| 1949 | Nell K. | Douglas Dodson | John B. Partridge | Spring Hill Farm | 1:47.80 |
| 1948 | Sweet Dream | Robert Permane | Don Cameron | Havahome Stable | 1:45.20 |
| 1947 | Cosmic Missile | Harry Pratt | Bert B. Williams | Circle M Farm | 1:46.00 |
| 1946 | Bridal Flower | Abelardo DeLara | James W. Smith | Edward R. Bradley | 1:46.40 |
| 1945 | Ace Card | Eddie Arcaro | Oscar White | Sarah F. Jeffords | 1:45.60 |
| 1944 | Whirlabout | Johnny Longden | George M. Odom | Louis B. Mayer | 1:43.60 |
| 1943 | Anthemion | John Gilbert | Casey Hayes | Christopher T. Chenery | 1:48.20 |
| 1942 | Vagrancy | James Stout | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1:45.00 |
| 1941 | Tangled | Eddie Arcaro | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:45.80 |
| 1940 | Fairy Chant | Basil James | Richard E. Handlen | Foxcatcher Farm | 1:46.00 |
| 1939 | Red Eye | Basil James | J. P. "Sammy" Smith | Falaise Farm | 1:43.20 |
| 1938 | Invoke | James Stout | Andy Schuttinger | Joseph M. Roebling | 1:45.40 |
| 1937 | Regal Lily | James Stout | Oscar White | Walter M. Jeffords | 1:44.00 |
| 1936 | Gold Seeker | Wayne D. Wright | Richard E. Handlen | Foxcatcher Farm | 1:44.60 |
| 1932 | Playfole | Buddy Hanford | Selby L. Burch | Selby L. Burch | 1:45.40 |
| 1931 | Avenger | Raymond Workman | T. J. Healey | Cornelius V. Whitney | 1:46.00 |
| 1930 | Erin | James Burke | James E. Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 1:46.00 |
| 1929 | March Hare | James Burke | James E. Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 1:47.60 |
| 1928 | Bateau | Linus McAtee | Scott P. Harlan | Walter M. Jeffords | 1:45.20 |
| 1927 | Flambino | Danny McAuliffe | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1:45.00 |
| 1926 | Corvette | Laverne Fator | George Conway | Glen Riddle Farm | 1:44.80 |
| 1925 | Nedana | Laverne Fator | Sam Hildreth | Rancocas Stable | 1:44.80 |
| 1924 | Priscilla Ruley | John Maiben | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1:44.40 |
| 1923 | Untidy | Earl Sande | James G. Rowe Jr. | Greentree Stable | 1:45.80 |
| 1922 | Lady Baltimore | Chick Lang | William M. Garth | Joshua S. Cosden | 1:45.80 |
| 1921 | Banksia | B. Kennedy | James N. Evans | Gifford A. Cochran | 1:47.60 |
| 1920 | Pen Rose (4) | Laverne Fator | Orson J. Decker | Triple Springs Farm | 1:46.00 |
| 1919 | Milkmaid (3) | Andy Schuttinger | H. Guy Bedwell | J. K. L. Ross | 1:45.00 |
| 1918 | Fairy Wand (4) | Charles Fairbrother | James N. Evans | Gifford A. Cochran | 1:45.00 |
| 1917 | Regret (5) | Johnny Loftus | James G. Rowe Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney | 1:45.40 |
| 1910 | Ocean Bound | Carroll Shilling | French Brooks | Woodford Clay | 1:52.00 |
| 1909 | Maskette | Richard Scoville | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene | 1:48.00 |
| 1908 | Stamina | Eddie Dugan | John W. Rogers | Harry Payne Whitney | 1:48.00 |
| 1907 | Court Dress | Jack Martin | James G. Rowe Sr. | James R. Keene | 1:47.20 |
| 1906 | Flip Flap | Walter Miller | A. J. Goldsborough | Jack A. Bennet | 1:48.00 |
| 1905 | Tradition | Willie Davis | A. Jack Joyner | Sydney Paget | 1:51.40 |
| 1904 | Beldame | Frank O'Neill | Fred Burlew | Newton Bennington | 1:52.60 |
| 1903 | Stolen Moments | Willie Gannon | James G. Rowe Sr. | Foxhall P. Keene | 1:49.60 |
| 1902 | Blue Girl | Tommy Burns | John W. Rogers | William C. Whitney | 1:49.60 |
| 1901 | Trigger | George M. Odom | Charles F. Hill | Clarence H. Mackay | 1:48.20 |
| 1900 | Indian Fairy | Winfield O'Connor | Julius Bauer | Arthur Featherstone | 1:50.00 |
| 1899 | The Rose | Danny Maher | Matthew M. Allen | William H. Clark | 1:57.50 |
| 1898 | Geisha | Tod Sloan | not found | Arthur White | 1:56.75 |
| 1897 | Casseopia | Fred Littlefield | R. Wyndham Walden | Alfred Hennen Morris & Dave Morris | 1:59.25 |
| 1896 | Intermission | Fred Taral | Henry Harris | John E. McDonald | 1:58.50 |
| 1895 | The Butterflies | Henry Griffin | John J. Hyland | John Daly | 1:59.50 |
| 1894 | Nahma | Fred Littlefield | R. Wyndham Walden | John Albert Morris, Alfred Hennen Morris & Dave Morris | 2:03.00 |
| 1893 | Naptha | Willie Simms | William J. Speirs | William J. Speirs | 1:59.50 |
| 1892 | Yorkville Belle | Isaac Murphy | Matthew M. Allen | Frank A. Ehret | 2:04.00 |
| 1891 | Ambulance | Fred Littlefield | R. Wyndham Walden | John Albert Morris & Alfred Morris | 1:59.75 |
| 1890 | Amazon | Anthony Hamilton | James G. Rowe Sr. | August Belmont | 1:58.50 |
| 1889 | Gypsy Queen | William J. Fitzpatrick | James Dumas | Excelsior Stable | 2:00.50 |
| 1888 | Winona | Willie Martin | Robert W. Thomas | Santa Anita Stable | 2:03.00 |
| 1887 | Firenze | Anthony Hamilton | Matthew Byrnes | James Ben Ali Haggin | 1:56.50 |