# Selima Stakes

The Selima Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. Raced in late November, it is open to two-year-old fillies and is raced on turf.

## History

Inaugurated in 1926, it is named for Selima, who was imported to Maryland in 1750 and became a foundation mare by Benjamin Tasker Jr. at the Belair Stud Farm in Prince George County. Selima was the daughter of the Godolphin Arabian, she was considered "queen of the turf", she also gained fame as one of the country's greatest broodmares in American history. Referring to the 1959 Selima Stakes, in his book Legacies of the Turf, author Edward L. Bowen says that it was "then one of the most important autumn races for juvenile fillies."

## Modern times

The race was run as a grade one race from 1973 through 1988. It was a grade two race in 1989 and a grade three race from 1990 through 1999. Since 2002 it has been contested over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs). The race was cancelled in 2008 for economic reasons. It was announced by Laurel Park that the famed race would be restored in 2011 and run on October 15 at 6 furlongs.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1+1⁄8 miles – 1:52.16 – Jostle (1999)
* 1+1⁄16 miles – 1:41.87 – J'Ray (2005)
* 1 mile – 1:38.00 – Nellie Flag (1934)
* 7+1⁄2 furlongs – 1:30.20 – Stormy Blues (1994)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 6 – Woody Stephens (1973, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983)
* 4 – Max Hirsch (1935, 1946, 1959 & 1961)
* 3 – Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons (1932, 1954 & 1962)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 5 – Edgar Prado (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997 & 1998)
* 3 – Laffit Pincay Jr. (1970, 1973 & 1980)
* 3 – Eddie Arcaro (1934, 1935 & 1944)
Most wins by an owner:
* 4 – King Ranch (1935, 1946, 1959 & 1961)
* 4 – Wheatley Stable (1932, 1954, 1962 & 1969)
* 3 – Calumet Farm (1934, 1943 & 1947)

## Winners of the Selima Stakes since 1926

| Yr | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. | Time | Purse | Gr |
| 2020 | Fluffy Sox | 2 | Trevor McCarthy | Chad Brown | Head of Plains Partne | 1-1/16 | 1:50.74 | $200,000 | |
| 2019 | Sharing | 2 | Manuel Franco | H. Graham Motion | Gainesway Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:42.61 | $200,000 | |
| 2018 | Monkeys Uncle | 2 | Daniel Centeno | Arnaud Delacour | Lael Stables | 6 fur. | 1:16.11 | $100,000 | |
| 2017 | Wise Gal | 2 | Steve D. Hamilton | Dove P. Houghton | Eric J Wirth | 6 fur. | 1:09.43 | $100,000 | |
| 2016 | Happy Mesa | 2 | Sheldon Russell | Hamilton A. Smith | Winchell Thoroughbreds | 5.5 fur. | 1:02.22 | $100,000 | |
| 2015 | Ruby Notion | 2 | Trevor McCarthy | Wesley A. Ward | Silverton Hill | 5.5 fur. | 1:05.06 | $100,000 | |
| 2014 | Miss Bullistic | 2 | Xavier Perez | Hamilton A. Smith | Kathleen Willier | 5.5 fur. | 1:02.94 | $100,000 | |
| 2013 | Aibhilin | 2 | Edwin Rivera | Cathal A. Lynch | Dave & Marg Wimer | 5.5 fur. | 1:02.25 | $100,000 | |
| 2012 | Mystic Love | 2 | Elvis Trujillo | Francis Campitelli | John Davison | 5.5 fur. | 1:02.23 | $150,000 | |
| 2011 | Softly Lit | 2 | Sarah Rook | Dane Kobiskie | PTK, LLC | 6 fur. | 1:14.83 | $75,000 | |
| 2008 | – 2010 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 2007 | Bsharpsonata | 2 | Eric Camacho | Timothy Salzman | Cloverleaf Farm II | 1-1/16 | 1:43.66 | $100,000 | |
| 2006 | Street Sounds | 2 | Ramon Domínguez | Michael Matz | Hidden Creek Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:46.35 | $100,000 | |
| 2005 | J'ray | 2 | Jerry Bailey | Todd Pletcher | Lawrence Goichman | 1-1/16 | 1:41.87 | $125,000 | |
| 2004 | Hear Us Roar | 2 | Stewart Elliott | Fran Campitelli | John Davison | 1-1/16 | 1:46.24 | $125,000 | |
| 2003 | Richetta | 2 | Rick Wilson | Robin Graham | Bowman Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:44.76 | $100,000 | |
| 2002 | Makin Heat | 2 | Mark Johnston | Jerry Robb | Michael Gill | 1-1/16 | 1:47.60 | $100,000 | |
| 2001 | 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 |
| 2000 | Haitian Vacation | 2 | Rick Wilson | Eddie Kenneally | Everest Stables | 1-1/8 | 1:53.81 | $100,000 | |
| 1999 | Jostle | 2 | Stewart Elliott | John Servis | Fox Hill Farms | 1-1/8 | 1:52.16 | $100,000 | III |
| 1998 | Magic Broad | 2 | Edgar Prado | Richard W. Small | Robert E. Meyerhoff | 1-1/8 | 1:52.60 | $100,000 | III |
| 1997 | Clark Street | 2 | Edgar Prado | William Badgett Jr. | Shortleaf Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:56.00 | $100,000 | III |
| 1996 | Reach the Top | 2 | Edgar Prado | Mary E. Eppler | Samuel Rogers | 1-1/8 | 1:52.40 | $100,000 | III |
| 1995 | River of Rum | 2 | Herb McCauley | Richard Schosberg | R. C. Halvorson | 7.5 fur. | 1:32.40 | $100,000 | III |
| 1994 | Stormy Blues | 2 | José A. Santos | Flint S. Schulhofer | Harriet Finkelstein | 7.5 fur. | 1:30.20 | $100,000 | III |
| 1993 | Irish Forever | 2 | Edgar Prado | J. William Boniface | Roger Schipke | 1-1/16 | 1:48.40 | $145,400 | III |
| 1992 | Booly | 2 | Mike Luzzi | Vincent L. Blengs | Sy Cohen | 1-1/16 | 1:45.20 | $200,000 | III |
| 1991 | Ken de Saron | 2 | Edgar Prado | Maurice Zilber | E.M. Fares | 1-1/16 | 1:49.80 | $200,000 | III |
| 1990 | Tycoon's Drama | 2 | Cash Asmussen | Robert Collet | Richard C. Straus & Robert M. Aubert | 1-1/16 | 1:44.60 | $300,000 | III |
| 1989 | Sweet Roberta | 2 | Kent Desormeaux | William I. Mott | Diana M. Firestone | 1-1/16 | 1:46.00 | $300,000 | II |
| 1988 | Capades | 2 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Richard O'Connell | Poma Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:44.80 | $300,000 | I |
| 1987 | Minstrel's Lassie | 2 | Freddy Head | François Boutin | Allen E. Paulson | 1-1/16 | 1:45.60 | $250,000 | I |
| 1986 | Collins | 2 | George Martens | Flint S. Schulhofer | Frances A. Genter | 1-1/16 | 1:43.80 | $260,000 | I |
| 1985 | I'm Splendid | 2 | Vincent Bracciale | James J. Toner | Caesar P. Kimmel | 1-1/16 | 1:43.00 | $235,000 | I |
| 1984 | Mom's Command | 2 | Gregg McCarron | Edward T. Allard | Peter D. Fuller | 1-1/16 | 1:43.60 | $253,000 | I |
| 1983 | Miss Oceana | 2 | Eddie Maple | Woody Stephens | Newstead Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:44.00 | $215,000 | I |
| 1982 | Bemissed | 2 | Frank Lovato Jr. | Woody Stephens | Ryehill Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:44.00 | $227,000 | I |
| 1981 | Snow Plow | 2 | Jack Kaenel | Leon Blusiewicz | Joanne Blusiewicz | 1-1/16 | 1:46.20 | $210,000 | I |
| 1980 | Heavenly Cause | 2 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Woody Stephens | Ryehill Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:43.40 | $160,000 | I |
| 1979 | Smart Angle | 2 | Sam Maple | Woody Stephens | Ryehill Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:45.20 | $170,000 | I |
| 1978 | Candy Éclair | 2 | Anthony Black | S. Allen King | Adele W. Paxson | 1-1/16 | 1:45.60 | $140,000 | I |
| 1977 | Lakeville Miss | 2 | Ruben Hernandez | Jose A. Martin | Randolph Weinsier | 1-1/16 | 1:45.40 | $125,000 | I |
| 1976 | Sensational | 2 | Jorge Velásquez | Woody Stephens | Mill House Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:43.80 | $130,000 | I |
| 1975 | Optimistic Gal | 2 | Darrel McHargue | LeRoy Jolley | Diana M. Firestone | 1-1/16 | 1:42.80 | $140,000 | I |
| 1974 | Aunt Jin | 2 | Carlos Marquez | Sonny Hightower | Paul Cresci | 1-1/16 | 1:44.00 | $135,000 | I |
| 1973 | Dancealot | 2 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Woody Stephens | Mill House Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:42.80 | $125,000 | I |
| 1972 | La Prevoyante | 2 | John LeBlanc | Yonnie Starr | Jean-Louis Lévesque | 1-1/16 | 1:46.40 | $125,000 | I |
| 1971 | Numbered Account | 2 | Braulio Baeza | Roger Laurin | Ogden Phipps | 1-1/16 | 1:44.40 | $130,000 | |
| 1970 | Patelin | 2 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Sylvester Veitch | George Widener | 1-1/16 | 1:45.40 | $125,000 | |
| 1969 | Predictable | 2 | Robert Ussery | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:43.20 | $125,000 | |
| 1968 | Shuvee | 2 | Ron Turcotte | Willard C. Freeman | Anne Minor Stone | 1-1/16 | 1:44.80 | $112,500 | |
| 1967 | Syrian Sea | 2 | Eddie Belmonte | Casey Hayes | Christopher Chenery | 1-1/16 | 1:44.40 | $112,500 | |
| 1966 | Regal Gleam | 2 | Manuel Ycaza | Hirsch Jacobs | Patrice Jacobs | 1-1/16 | 1:44.80 | $130,500 | |
| 1965 | Moccasin | 2 | Larry Adams | Harry Trotsek | Claiborne Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:45.80 | $100,500 | |
| 1964 | Marshua | 2 | Wayne Chambers | Norman R. McLeod | Mrs. W. Gilroy | 1-1/16 | 1:44.20 | $100,000 | |
| 1963 | My Card | 2 | Buck Thornburg | Oscar White | Sarah F. Jeffords | 1-1/16 | 1:48.20 | $100,000 | |
| 1962 | Fool's Play | 2 | Johnny Sellers | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:46.80 | $60,000 | |
| 1961 | Tamarona | 2 | Johnny Sellers | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1-1/16 | 1:45.60 | $60,000 | |
| 1960 | Good Move | 2 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1-1/16 | 1:44.60 | $62,000 | |
| 1959 | La Fuerza | 2 | Sammy Boulmetis | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1-1/16 | 1:47.80 | $65,000 | |
| 1958 | Rich Tradition | 2 | William Boland | Casey Hayes | Christopher Chenery | 1-1/16 | 1:47.00 | $65,000 | |
| 1957 | Guide Line | 2 | William Boland | Charlie Whittingham | Llangollen Farm Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:45.60 | $75,000 | |
| 1956 | Lebkuchen | 2 | Johnny Longden | MacKenzie Miller | Dr. Eslie Asbury | 1-1/16 | 1:44.40 | $80,000 | |
| 1955 | Levee | 2 | Ray Broussard | Norman R. McLeod | Vernon G. Cardy | 1-1/16 | 1:44.60 | $85,000 | |
| 1954 | High Voltage | 2 | Ray Broussard | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:45.00 | $90,000 | |
| 1953 | Small Favor | 2 | Pete McLean | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 1-1/16 | 1:46.40 | $75,000 | |
| 1952 | Tritium | 2 | Ronnie Nash | Preston M. Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:46.80 | $75,000 | |
| 1951 | Rose Jet | 2 | Eric Guerin | William M. Booth | Maine Chance Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:47.00 | $64,000 | |
| 1950 | Aunt Jinny | 2 | Nick Wall | Duval A. Headley | Duval A. Headley | 1-1/16 | 1:46.40 | $62,000 | |
| 1949 | Bed O' Roses | 2 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Sagamore Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:45.80 | $70,000 | |
| 1948 | Gaffery | 2 | Carson Kirk | Richard E. Handlen | William duPont Jr. | 1-1/16 | 1:46.00 | $70,000 | |
| 1947 | Whirl Some | 2 | Douglas Dodson | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:46.40 | $70,000 | |
| 1946 | Bee Ann Mac | 2 | Abelardo DeLara | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1-1/16 | 1:50.00 | $70,000 | |
| 1945 | Athene | 2 | Warren Mehrtens | William J. Hirsch | Edward Lasker | 1-1/16 | 1:47.40 | $56,500 | |
| 1944 | Busher | 2 | Eddie Arcaro | James W. Smith | Edward R. Bradley | 1-1/16 | 1:49.60 | $45,000 | |
| 1943 | Miss Keeneland | 2 | Fred A. Smith | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:48.40 | $35,000 | |
| 1942 | Askmenow | 2 | Carroll Bierman | Kenneth Osborne | Hal Price Headley | 1-1/16 | 1:46.80 | $36,500 | |
| 1941 | Ficklebush | 2 | Kenneth McCombs | Richard E. Handlen | William duPont Jr. | 1-1/16 | 1:47.20 | $42,000 | |
| 1940 | Valdina Myth | 2 | Harry Richards | John J. Flanigan | Emer. Woodward | 1 mile | 1:41.40 | $40,000 | |
| 1939 | War Beauty | 2 | Alfred Robertson | J. Oliver Keene | J. Oliver Keene | 1 mile | 1:41.80 | $44,000 | |
| 1938 | Big Hurry | 2 | Fred A. Smith | William A. Hurley | Edward R. Bradley | 1 mile | 1:41.00 | $43,000 | |
| 1937 | Jacola | 2 | Wayne Wright | Selby L. Burch | Nancy Carr Friendly | 1 mile | 1:41.80 | $40,700 | |
| 1936 | Talma Dee | 2 | Alfred Robertson | Robert V. McGarvey | Milky Way Farms | 1 mile | 1:39.40 | $37,500 | |
| 1935 | Split Second | 2 | Eddie Arcaro | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1 mile | 1:39.60 | $34,500 | |
| 1934 | Nellie Flag | 2 | Eddie Arcaro | Burton B. Williams | Calumet Farm | 1 mile | 1:38.00 | $37,250 | |
| 1933 | Jabot | 2 | Charles Kurtsinger | Thomas J. Healey | C. V. Whitney | 1 mile | 1:40.00 | $37,250 | |
| 1932 | Notebook | 2 | Hank Mills | Jim Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 1 mile | 1:40.60 | $39,750 | |
| 1931 | Laughing Queen | 2 | John Bejshak | Bud Stotler | William R. Coe | 1 mile | 1:41.00 | $39,000 | |
| 1930 | Tambour | 2 | Louis Schaeffer | Preston M. Burch | Preston M. Burch | 1 mile | 1:39.80 | $43,500 | |
| 1929 | Khara | 2 | Laverne Fator | John Lowe | Rancocas Stable | 1 mile | 1:39.40 | $41,250 | |
| 1928 | Current | 2 | Earl Pool | Jack Baker | Robert S. Clark | 1 mile | 1:40.60 | $37,250 | |
| 1927 | Bateau | 2 | Eddie Ambrose | Scott P. Harlan | Walter M. Jeffords Sr. | 1 mile | 1:39.20 | $40,000 | |
| 1926 | Fair Star | 2 | Ovila Bourassa | Carl Utz | William duPont Jr. | 1 mile | 1:40.00 | $39,000 | |