# Swale Stakes

The Swale Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses at the distance of seven furlongs on the dirt held annually in January at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $125,000.

## History

The race was named in honor of Claiborne Farm's brilliant colt Swale who won the 1984 Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes but who died suddenly of a heart attack eight days after his Belmont victory. In 2021 Claiborne Farm are the sponsors of the event.
The inaugural running of the event was on 2 March 1985 as the tenth race on the Florida Derby racecard over a distance of seven furlongs. The event was won by the 1984 United States Champion 2-year-old colt, Chief's Crown who was resuming after his Breeders' Cup Juvenile victory at Hollywood Park Racetrack victory easily dispatched the field winning by 3+1⁄4 lengths as the 3/10 odds-on favorite.
The event was not held in 1987.
In 1990 the event was upgraded to a Grade III and once again to Grade II in 2006.
For two runnings of the event, in 2007 and 2008 the race was run over the shorter 6+1⁄2 furlongs distance.
In 2009, Big Drama set a new stakes and track record of 1:20.88 but was disqualified and placed second with the race awarded to This Ones for Phil.
This race was upgraded once again to a Grade II for its 2014 running but then downgraded again to Grade III in 2018.
In 2024 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status

## Records

Speed record:
* 7 furlongs – 1:20.88 This Ones For Phil (2009)
* 6+1⁄2 furlongs – 1:15.06 Eaton's Gift (2008)
Margins:
* 10+1⁄2 lengths – D'wildcat (2001)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 5 – Luis Saez (2013, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2023)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 – Claude R. McGaughey III (1988, 1989, 1996, 2023)
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 – Ogden Phipps (1988, 1989)
* 2 – Dogwood Stable (1994, 2000)
* 2 – Paul P. Pompa Jr. (2009, 2010)
* 2 – Michael Dubb (2009, 2019)
* 2 – Courtlandt Farms (2018, 2023)

### Notes

* ↑ The winning time of 1:20.88 was actually set by Big Drama, who was disqualified to second place for interference

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| 2024 | Frankie's Empire | Miguel Vasquez | Michael Yates | Frank DeLuca | 7 furlongs | 1:24.22 | $125,000 | Listed | |
| 2023 | General Jim | Luis Saez | Claude R. McGaughey III | Courtlandt Farms | 7 furlongs | 1:23.34 | $125,000 | III | |
| 2022 | My Prankster | Luis Saez | Todd A. Pletcher | Lawana L. & Robert E. Low | 7 furlongs | 1:23.13 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2021 | Drain the Clock | Edgard Zayas | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables & Michael Nentwig | 7 furlongs | 1:23.29 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2020 | Mischevious Alex | Irad Ortiz Jr. | John C. Servis | Cash is King & LC Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:22.83 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2019 | Call Paul | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Jason Servis | Michael Dubb, David Simon, Bethlehem Stables & Bruce Irom | 7 furlongs | 1:23.43 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2018 | Strike Power | Luis Saez | Mark A. Hennig | Courtlandt Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:22.68 | $200,000 | III | |
| 2017 | Favorable Outcome | Javier Castellano | Chad C. Brown | Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence | 7 furlongs | 1:23.03 | $200,000 | II | |
| 2016 | Awesome Banner | Jose C. Caraballo | Stanley I. Gold | Jacks or Better Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:21.81 | $200,000 | II | |
| 2015 | Ready for Rye | Luis Saez | Thomas Albertrani | Chalk Racing | 7 furlongs | 1:22.39 | $200,000 | II | |
| 2014 | Spot | Jose Lezcano | Nicholas P. Zito | Joseph H. Moss | 7 furlongs | 1:22.44 | $200,000 | II | |
| 2013 | Clearly Now | Luis Saez | Brian A. Lynch | Up Hill Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:23.19 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2012 | Trinniberg | Willie Martinez | Bisnath Parboo | Shivananda Parbhoo | 7 furlongs | 1:21.69 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2011 | Travelin Man | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | E. Paul Robsham Stables | 7 furlongs | 1:21.94 | $147,000 | II | |
| 2010 | D' Funnybone | Edgar S. Prado | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | Paul P. Pompa Jr. | 7 furlongs | 1:21.98 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2009 | † This Ones for Phil | Garrett K. Gomez | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | Paul P. Pompa Jr., Jack Mandato & Michael Dubb | 7 furlongs | 1:20.88 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2008 | Eaton's Gift | Kent J. Desormeaux | Dale L. Romans | Zayat Stables | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.63 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2007 | Adore the Gold | Cornelio Velasquez | Michael E. Gorham | John D. Murphy Sr. | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.86 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2006 | Sharp Humor | Mark Guidry | Dale L. Romans | Purdedel Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:22.14 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2005 | Lost in the Fog | Russell Baze | Greg Gilchrist | Harry J. Aleo | 7 furlongs | 1:22.21 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2004 | Wynn Dot Comma | Edgar S. Prado | Martin D. Wolfson | Martin Cherry | 7 furlongs | 1:22.87 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2003 | Midas Eyes | Jerry D. Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 7 furlongs | 1:21.06 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2002 | Ethan Man | Pat Day | Patrick B. Byrne | West Point Thoroughbreds | 7 furlongs | 1:22.29 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2001 | D'wildcat | Corey Nakatani | Robert B. Hess Jr. | Fog City Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:22.25 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2000 | Trippi | Jerry D. Bailey | Todd A. Pletcher | Dogwood Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:23.43 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1999 | Yes It's True | Jerry D. Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Padua Stables | 7 furlongs | 1:22.29 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1998 | Favorite Trick | Pat Day | William I. Mott | Joseph P. LaCombe | 7 furlongs | 1:22.86 | $100,000 | III | |
| 1997 | Confide | Mike E. Smith | Ben W. Perkins Sr. | New Farm | 7 furlongs | 1:23.35 | $75,000 | III | |
| 1996 | Roar | Mike E. Smith | Claude R. McGaughey III | Claiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider | 7 furlongs | 1:22.46 | $75,000 | III | |
| 1995 | Mr. Greeley | Julie Krone | Nicholas P. Zito | William J. Condren & Joseph Cornacchia | 7 furlongs | 1:22.18 | $75,000 | III | |
| 1994 | Arrival Time | Chris McCarron | Frank A. Alexander | Dogwood Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:22.53 | $75,000 | III | |
| 1993 | Premier Explosion | Dave Penna | David R. Bell | John Franks | 7 furlongs | 1:23.23 | $89,200 | III | |
| 1992 | D. J. Cat | Jerry D. Bailey | Happy Alter | Bea Oxenberg & Atler's Racing Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:23.39 | $118,750 | III | |
| 1991 | Chihuahua | Jose O. Alferez | Mario Martinez Jr. | Mar-deb-ron Farms | 7 furlongs | 1:23.47 | $75,000 | III | |
| 1990 | Housebuster | Craig Perret | Jimmy Croll | Robert P. Levy | 7 furlongs | 1:22.20 | $57,250 | III | |
| 1989 | Easy Goer | Pat Day | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 7 furlongs | 1:22.20 | $57,150 | | |
| 1988 | Seeking the Gold | Randy Romero | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 7 furlongs | 1:21.60 | $58,500 | | |
| 1987 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1986 | One Magic Moment | Craig Perret | Joseph H. Pierce Jr. | Sheila Pierce & H. Kligman | 7 furlongs | 1:25.40 | $52,250 | | |
| 1985 | Chief's Crown | Donald MacBeth | Roger Laurin | Star Crown Stable | 7 furlongs | 1:22.40 | $51,320 | | |
Notes:
† In the 2009 Big Drama was first past the post but was disqualified for bumping This Ones for Phil twice in the straight thus This Ones for Phil was declared the winner.