# Sapling Stakes

The Sapling Stakes is an American Ungraded Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early September at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey. Open to 2-year-olds, it was raced on dirt over a distance of six furlongs for a current purse of $100,000. In 2014, its distance was set at 1 mile or 8 furlongs.
First run in 1883, the New Jersey Legislature passed a law in 1894 that banned parimutuel betting in the state and the track closed. In 1946, the state legislature passed a bill providing for state regulation of horse racing and the Sapling Stakes was revived.
In 1952, the race was run in two divisions.
This race was downgraded to a Listed Status for its 2014 running.

## Records

Time record:
* 1:07.84 – Gilded Time (1992) (6 furlongs)
* 1:37.20 - Lost Ark (2022) (8 furlongs)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – James Cox Brady Jr. (1949, 1952, 1953)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 – Paco Lopez (2012, 2014, 2016, 2021)
* 3 – Braulio Baeza (1964, 1965, 1968)
* 3 – Craig Perret (1980, 1982, 1996)
* 3 – Joe Bravo (1997, 2000, 2006)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 8 – D. Wayne Lukas (1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998)

## Winners of the Sapling stakes

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2023 | Noted | Jairo Rendon | Todd Pletcher | Repole Stable | 1:38.91 |
| 2022 | Lost Ark | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | Harrell Ventures LLC | 1:37.20 |
| 2021 | Double Thunder | Paco Lopez | Todd Pletcher | Phoenix Thoroughbred III | 1:38.76 |
| 2016 | Tip Tap Tapizar | Paco Lopez | Steve Asmussen | Whispering Oaks Farm | 1:39.00 |
| 2015 | Sunny Ridge | Nik Juarez | Jason Servis | Dennis Drazin | 1:39.80 |
| 2014 | Souper Colossal | Paco Lopez | Edward Plesa Jr. | Live Oak Plantation | 1:38.44 |
| 2013 | Dunkin Bend | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Steve Asmussen | Michael Langford | 1:11.82 |
| 2012 | Brave Dave | Paco Lopez | Edward Plesa Jr. | Melin/Plesa | 1:10.44 |
| 2011 | She Digs Me | Elvis Trujillo | Steve Asmussen | Kirk & Judy Robison | 1:10.10 |
| 2010 | Madman Diaries | Jeffrey Sanchez | Wesley A. Ward | Robert Teel & Wesley A. Ward | 1:11.64 |
| 2009 | Western Smoke | Elvis Trujillo | Steve Asmussen | Kirk & Judy Robison | 1:09.55 |
| 2008 | Silent Valor | Stewart Elliott | Todd Pletcher | Let's Go Stable | 1:10.26 |
| 2007 | Lantana Mob | Stewart Elliott | Steve Asmussen | Vinery Stables | 1:09.97 |
| 2006 | Xchanger | Joe Bravo | Mark Shuman | Circle Z Stables | 1:10.68 |
| 2005 | He's Got Grit | Aaron Gryder | Steve Asmussen | Curtis C. Greene | 1:09.69 |
| 2004 | Evil Minister | Julian Pimentel | Erik Juvonen | Namcook Stables | 1:11.21 |
| 2003 | Dashboard Drummer | José C. Ferrer | Allen Iwinski | Edwin Wachtel et al. | 1:10.84 |
| 2002 | Valid Video | Chuck C. Lopez | Dennis Manning | Mac Fehsenfeld | 1:09.88 |
| 2001 | Pure Precision | Eibar Coa | John J. Tammaro III | Kinsman Stable | 1:10.82 |
| 2000 | Shooter | Joe Bravo | John F. Dowd | L. & R. Hurley & D J Stable | 1:10.63 |
| 1999 | Dont Tell the Kids | Jorge Tejeira | Robert J. Durso | O. Wayne Link | 1:10.18 |
| 1998 | Yes It's True | Shane Sellers | D. Wayne Lukas | Padua Stables | 1:10.09 |
| 1997 | Double Honor | Joe Bravo | D. Wayne Lukas | Ahmed bin Salman | 1:09.75 |
| 1996 | Smoke Glacken | Craig Perret | Henry L. Carroll | Karkenny Levy et al. | 1:10.16 |
| 1995 | Hennessy | Donna Barton | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 1:10.84 |
| 1994 | Boone's Mill | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | William T. Young | 1:10.40 |
| 1993 | Sacred Honour | Carlos Lopez Sr. | Ben Perkins Jr. | John A. Franks | 1:11.00 |
| 1992 | Gilded Time | Chris McCarron | Darrell Vienna | Milch, Silverman & Silverman | 1:07.80 |
| 1991 | Big Sur | Richard Migliore | D. Wayne Lukas | Kaskel, Lukas & Young | 1:10.80 |
| 1990 | Deposit Ticket | Gary Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm & Lukas | 1:11.00 |
| 1989 | Carson City | Julie Krone | D. Wayne Lukas | William T. Young | 1:10.40 |
| 1988 | Bio | Patrick A. Johnson | Steven C. Penrod | W. W. Hancock III | 1:10.40 |
| 1987 | Tejano | Jacinto Vásquez | D. Wayne Lukas | Lloyd R. French Jr. | 1:09.00 |
| 1986 | Bet Twice | Chris Antley | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Levy & Cisley Stable | 1:10.20 |
| 1985 | Hilco Scamper | Gary Stevens | Mike Chambers | Wright-Cross-Roch | 1:10.80 |
| 1984 | Doubly Clear | Joseph Garcia | Stephen C. Rowan | Judy Bujnicki | 1:10.40 |
| 1983 | Smart n Slick | Donnie Miller Jr. | Jerry C. Meyer | A. Hawk | 1:10.80 |
| 1982 | O.K. by You | Craig Perret | Walter Reese | Timber Creek Farm | 1:10.80 |
| 1981 | Out of Hock | Don Brumfield | Stanley M. Rieser | Charles J. Cella | 1:10.20 |
| 1980 | Travelling Music | Craig Perret | J. Bowes Bond | Elberon Farm | 1:11.00 |
| 1979 | Rockhill Native | John Oldham | Herbert K. Stevens | Harry A. Oak | 1:08.80 |
| 1978 | Tim the Tiger | Jeffrey Fell | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 1:11.80 |
| 1977 | Alydar | Eddie Maple | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 1:10.60 |
| 1976 | Ali Oop | Larry Saumell | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Jaclyn Stable | 1:09.80 |
| 1975 | Full Out | Buck Thornburg | Odie Lee | Buckland Farm | 1:11.60 |
| 1974 | Foolish Pleasure | Jacinto Vásquez | LeRoy Jolley | John L. Greer | 1:10.40 |
| 1973 | Tisab | Walter Blum | James E. O'Bryant | Mill Ridge Farm | 1:10.20 |
| 1972 | Assagai Jr. | Joseph Imparato | Cy Butler | Herbert Marant & John Sessa | 1:10.80 |
| 1971 | Chevron Flight | Martin Fromin | Tommy Heard Jr. | Caesar P. Kimmel | 1:11.80 |
| 1970 | Staunch Avenger | David E. Whited | Gin L. Collins | Annette Mann | 1:11.40 |
| 1969 | Ring For Nurse | Michael Miceli | Don Levine | Red Brick Stable | 1:11.80 |
| 1968 | Reviewer | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps | 1:10.40 |
| 1967 | Subpet | Ray Broussard | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Tom LeClair | 1:10.40 |
| 1966 | Great Power | Bill Shoemaker | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable | 1:09.40 |
| 1965 | Buckpasser | Braulio Baeza | William C. Winfrey | Ogden Phipps | 1:10.60 |
| 1964 | Bold Lad | Braulio Baeza | William C. Winfrey | Wheatley Stable | 1:09.40 |
| 1963 | Mr. Brick | Larry Adams | Charles A. DuBois | Roy Sturgis | 1:10.60 |
| 1962 | Delta Judge | Ray Broussard | Clyde Troutt | Ada L. Rice | 1:10.60 |
| 1961 | Sir Gaylord | Ismael Valenzuela | Casey Hayes | Meadow Stable | 1:10.60 |
| 1960 | Hail To Reason | Bobby Ussery | Hirsch Jacobs | Patrice Jacobs | 1:10.40 |
| 1959 | Sky Clipper | Willie Harmatz | Howard Hausner | William G. Helis Jr. | 1:11.40 |
| 1958 | Watch Your Step | Eric Guerin | C. W. Parish | Circle M Farm | 1:10.60 |
| 1957 | Plion | Nick Shuk | Tom Jolley | Edward J. Potter Jr. | 1:11.40 |
| 1956 | King Hairan | Eddie Arcaro | Leonard H. Hunt | Massey & Edwards | 1:10.80 |
| 1955 | Needles | John Choquette | Hugh L. Fontaine | D-H Stables | 1:10.60 |
| 1954 | Royal Coinage | Jack Skelly | Anthony J. Pupino | Clearwater Stable | 1:11.00 |
| 1953 | Artismo | James Stout | Robert L. Dotter | James Cox Brady Jr. | 1:11.00 |
| 1952 | Landlocked | Fernando Fernandez | Robert L. Dotter | James Cox Brady Jr. | 1:13.00 |
| 1952 | Laffango | Fred Pannell | Merritt A. Buxton | Trio Stable | 1:12.80 |
| 1951 | Landseair | James Stout | J. Bowes Bond | High Ground Stable | 1:12.60 |
| 1950 | Battlefield | Eddie Arcaro | Jack Creevy | George D. Widener Jr. | 1:10.80 |
| 1949 | Casemate | John Gilbert | Robert L. Dotter | James Cox Brady Jr. | 1:11.60 |
| 1948 | Blue Peter | Eric Guerin | Andy Schuttinger | Joseph M. Roebling | 1:12.80 |
| 1947 | Task | Robert J. Martin | William J. Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:11.60 |
| 1946 | Donor | Job Dean Jessop | Preston M. Burch | W. Deering Howe | 1:12.20 |

## Earlier winners

* 1883 – Duchess (W. Donohue) 1:18.75
* 1884 – Brookwood (Edward Feakes) 1:15.50
* 1885 – Savanac (R. Olney) 1:17 .00
* 1886 – Hanover (Jim McLaughlin) 1:17.50
* 1887 – Fitz James (Edward H. Garrison) 1:16.50
* 1888 – Tipstaff (Eilke) 1:15.25
* 1889 – Devotee (W. Hayward) 1:15.25
* 1890 – Sorcerer (F. Reagan) 1:16.25
* 1891 – Air Plant (Anthony Hamilton) 1:12.75
* 1892 – Don Alonzo (Fred Taral) 1:13.75
* 1893 – Senator Grady (W. Midgley) 1:05.00
Note: the 1893 race was run at 5+1⁄2 furlongs on the straight course.