# Stymie Stakes

The Stymie Stakes is an American race for Thoroughbred horses at Aqueduct Racetrack. Usually raced in late February or early March, it is open to horses age four and older. It is run on dirt over a distance of one mile and offers a purse of $150,000.
The race was named in honor of Stymie, the handicap champion of 1945. A $1,500 claimer, he was inducted into the United States Racing Hall of Fame in 1975. Making 131 career starts, Stymie won 35, placed in 33, and came in third 28 times. At the time, his earnings of $918,485 set a record. In the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century Stymie is listed as #41.
Originally a handicap race for horses age three and older, the Stymie was a Grade 3 event from 1973 through 2002 after which it became a Listed race. It was hosted by Belmont Park from inception in 1956 to 1961, and again between 1968 and 1975.

## Historic notes

The great Kelso won the Stymie Handicap in 1962 then in 1965 won it again in what would be the final win of his brilliant career, capped off with his fifth American Horse of the Year title.
The 1972 edition of the Stymie Handicap was won by the Venezuelan longshot Canonero II who had won the 1971 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. In capturing the Stymie, Canonero II won by five lengths while equaling the North American record for a mile and an eighth.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1:46.20 @ 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km): Canonero II (1972) & Key To The Kingdom (1974)
* 2:00.40 @ 1+1⁄4 mi (2.0 km): Grace Born (1968)
Most wins:
* 2 – Kelso (1962, 1965)
* 2 – It's Academic (1989, 1990)
* 2 – More to Tell (1995, 1996)
* 2 – Ground Storm (2002, 2004)
* 2 – Turco Bravo (2015, 2016)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 4 – Jorge Velásquez (1971, 1975, 1985, 1990)
* 4 – Manuel Franco (2016, 2017, 2021, 2025)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 3 – Bruce Levine (1994, 2000, 2005)
* 3 – Gasper S. Moschera (1995, 1996, 1997)
* 3 – Gary Contessa (2008, 2015, 2016)
* 3 – Todd A. Pletcher (2006, 2010, 2019)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 – Winning Move Stable (Sigler family) (2008, 2015, 2016)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Dist. | Time | Win US$ | Gr |
| 2025 | Bank Frenzy | 5 | Manuel Franco | Rudy R. Rodriguez | LSU Stables | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 1:40.29 | $150,000 | L |
| 2024 | Kinetic Sky | 6 | Jose Lezcano | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | Sanford J. Goldfarb, Alan Khan, David Tanzman & Steven Speranza | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 1:37.08 | $82,500 | L |
| 2023 | Repo Rocks | 5 | Dexter Haddock | Jamie Ness | Double B Racing Stakes | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 1:36.75 | $125,000 | L |
| 2022 | Green Light Go | 5 | Dylan Davis | Jimmy Jerkens | Stronach Stables | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 1:35.43 | $125,000 | L |
| 2021 | Mr. Buff | 7 | Manuel Franco | John C. Kimmel | Chester Broman Sr. & Mary Broman | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 1:36.97 | $85,000 | L |
| 2020 | Diamond King | 5 | Kendrick Carmouche | John C. Servis | Cash Is King LLC & LC Racing | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 1:38.04 | $68,750 | L |
| 2019 | Vino Rosso | 3 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 1:35.27 | $86,625 | L |
| 2018 | Harlan Punch | 5 | Dylan Davis | David Jacobson | David Jacobson | 1 mi (1.6 km) | 1:38.03 | $90,000 | L |
| 2017 | Sunny Ridge | 4 | Manuel Franco | Jason Servis | Dennis A. Drazin | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.19 | $75,000 | L |
| 2016 | Turco Bravo Ŧ | 6 | Manuel Franco | Gary Contessa | Winning Move Stable (Sigler family) | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.96 | $75,000 | L |
| 2015 | Turco Bravo Ŧ | 5 | José Ortiz | Gary Contessa | Winning Move Stable (Sigler family) | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:51.80 | $60,000 | L |
| 2014 | Farhaan | 5 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Kiaran McLaughlin | Shadwell Stable | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:53.52 | $60,000 | L |
| 2012 | – 2013 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 2011 | Goombada Guska | 4 | Jose Valdivia Jr. | Scott J. Volk | Navesink Breeders | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:51.53 | $39,000 | L |
| 2010 | Understatement | 5 | David Cohen | Todd A. Pletcher | Paul P. Pompa Jr. | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.63 | $39,000 | L |
| 2009 | Barrier Reef | 4 | Ramon A. Dominguez | Thomas Albertrani | Darley Stable | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.57 | $42,783 | L |
| 2008 | Malibu Moonshine | 6 | Mario Pino | Gary Contessa | Winning Move Stable (Sigler family) | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.19 | $41,925 | L |
| 2007 | Evening Attire | 9 | Jose Espinoza | Patrick J. Kelly | T. J. Kelly / J. & M. Grant | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:49.57 | $43,563 | L |
| 2006 | Manchurian | 6 | Mike Luzzi | Todd A. Pletcher | Allen E. Paulson Living Trust | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.87 | $41,925 | L |
| 2005 | Hydrogen | 6 | Richard Migliore | Bruce Levine | Earle I. Mack | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.82 | $48,570 | L |
| 2004 | Ground Storm | 8 | Javier Castellano | William Mott | Centennial Farms | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.92 | $48,975 | L |
| 2003 | Snake Mountain | 5 | Michael Luzzi | Jimmy Jerkens | Berkshire Stud et al. | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:49.70 | $48,585 | L |
| 2002 | Ground Storm | 6 | Javier Castellano | William Mott | Centennial Farms | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:48.89 | $65,520 | 3 |
| 2001 | Windrush | 4 | Joe Bravo | John Kimmel | Gainesway Stable | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:48.43 | $65,880 | 3 |
| 2000 | Not So Fast | 6 | Octavio Vergara | Bruce Levine | Double T Stable | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:49.00 | $49,920 | 3 |
| 1999 | Brushing Up | 6 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Victor Simone | Victor & Phyllis Simone | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:49.20 | $49,005 | 3 |
| 1998 | Unreal Turn | 6 | Chuck C. Lopez | Frank A. Generazio Jr. | Patricia Generazio | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:48.68 | $49,215 | 3 |
| 1997 | Iron Gavel | 7 | Julio Pezua | Gasper S. Moschera | Joques Farm | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:49.83 | $48,180 | 3 |
| 1996 | More to Tell | 5 | Jorge F. Chavez | Gasper S. Moschera | Barbara J. Davis | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:51.40 | $59,490 | 3 |
| 1995 | More to Tell | 4 | Frank Alvarado | Gasper S. Moschera | Barbara J. Davis | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:51.60 | $65,220 | 3 |
| 1994 | Koluctoo Jimmy Al | 4 | Jorge F. Chavez | Bruce Levine | Basil J. Plasteras | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.99 | $67,800 | 3 |
| 1993 | Two the Twist | 6 | Richard Migliore | Michael Hushion | Eugene E. Hauman | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:48.30 | $69840 | 3 |
| 1992 | Crackedbell | 7 | Aaron Gryder | Pancho Martin | Viola Sommer | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:48.80 | $67,680 | 3 |
| 1991 | I'm Sky High | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Michael J. Kelly | John R. Murrell | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.47 | $68,280 | 3 |
| 1990 | It's Academic | 6 | Jorge Velásquez | Luis Sosa Barrera | Marcus Vogel | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.60 | $68040 | 3 |
| 1989 | It's Academic | 5 | Diane Nelson | Luis Sosa Barrera | Marcus Vogel | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:51.20 | $69,000 | 3 |
| 1988 | King's Swan | 8 | Jose Santos | Richard E. Dutrow Sr. | Alvin Akman | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:51.40 | $101,520 | 3 |
| 1987 | Lover's Cross | 4 | Ruben Hernandez | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farm | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.00 | $65,610 | 3 |
| 1986 | Proof | 4 | Eddie Maple | Robert J. Frankel | Jerome S. Moss | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.00 | $66,600 | 3 |
| 1985 | Imp Society | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | D. Wayne Lukas | Heslop Stable | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:53.00 | $64,350 | 3 |
| 1984 | Gen'l Practitioner | 4 | Larry Saumell | John Parisella | Theodore M. Sabarese | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:48.40 | $57,510 | 3 |
| 1983 | Sing Sing | 5 | Rolando Alvarado Jr. | H. Allen Jerkens | Sugartown Stable | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:51.00 | $32,820 | 3 |
| 1982 | Castle Knight | 4 | George Martens | Nick Zito | Andrea Jablow | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.20 | $34,380 | 3 |
| 1981 | Irish Tower | 4 | Jeffrey Fell | Stanley Hough | Malcolm H. Winfield | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.40 | $33,480 | 3 |
| 1980 | Identical | 5 | Cash Asmussen | Frank "Pancho" Martin | Viola Sommer | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:52.20 | $33,720 | 3 |
| 1979 | Pumpkin Moonshine | 5 | Dave Borden | Howard Tesher | H. Joseph Allen | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:51.80 | $32,550 | 3 |
| 1978 | Wise Philip | 5 | Jacinto Vásquez | William Boland | Domino Stable | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:50.00 | $32,460 | 3 |
| 1977 | Patriot's Dream | 4 | Ron Turcotte | Albert Schwizer | DeCap Stable | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:51.60 | $33,060 | 3 |
| 1976 | Right Mind | 5 | Ron Turcotte | Joseph Kronovich | Deronjo Stable | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:49.60 | $33,960 | 3 |
| 1975 | Group Plan | 5 | Jorge Velásquez | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:47.40 | $31,890 | 3 |
| 1974 | Key To The Kingdom | 4 | Daryl Montoya | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stables | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:46.20 | $22,860 | 3 |
| 1973 | Forage | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | James W. Maloney | William Haggin Perry | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:46.40 | $16,875 | 3 |
| 1972 | Canonero II | 4 | Gustavo Ávila | Buddy Hirsch | King Ranch | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:46.20 | $16,830 | |
| 1971 | Protanto | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | MacKenzie Miller | Cragwood Stables | 1+1⁄4 mi (2.0 km) | 2:02.40 | $20,370 | |
| 1970 | Hydrologist | 4 | Jacinto Vásquez | Roger Laurin | Meadow Stable | 1+1⁄4 mi (2.0 km) | 2:00.80 | $17,777 | |
| 1969 | Chompion | 4 | Heliodoro Gustines | Ivor G. Balding | C. V. Whitney | 1+1⁄4 mi (2.0 km) | 2:02.40 | $18,427 | |
| 1968 | Grace Born | 4 | Eddie Belmonte | Angel Penna Sr. | Gustave Ring | 1+1⁄4 mi (2.0 km) | 2:00.40 | $19,012 | |
| 1967 | Ring Twice | 4 | William Boland | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1+1⁄4 mi (2.0 km) | 2:02.00 | $18,817 | |
| 1966 | Malicious | 5 | Robert Ussery | John Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1+1⁄4 mi (2.0 km) | 2:03.40 | $18,395 | |
| 1965 | Kelso | 8 | Milo Valenzuela | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable | 1+1⁄4 mi (2.0 km) | 2:02.80 | $17,842 | |
| 1964 | The Ibex | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | James E. Fitzsimmons | Ogden Phipps | 1+1⁄4 mi (2.0 km) | 2:01.00 | $18,753 | |
| 1963 | Endymion | 4 | Braulio Baeza | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener Jr. | 1+1⁄4 mi (2.0 km) | 2:05.20 | $17,582 | |
| 1962 | Kelso | 5 | Ismael Valenzuela | Carl Hanford | Bohemia Stable | 1+1⁄4 mi (2.0 km) | 2:00.80 | $19,045 | |
| 1961 | Black Thumper | 4 | John Ruane | Herb Fisher | Ledgemont Stable | 1+1⁄4 mi (2.0 km) | 2:01.60 | $18,557 | |
| 1960 | Manassa Mauler | 4 | William Boland | Frank "Pancho" Martin | Emil Dolce | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:48.60 | $18,258 | |
| 1959 | Village Idiot | 4 | Eric Guerin | Bill Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:49.60 | $17,575 | |
| 1958 | Bold Ruler | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | James E. Fitzsimmons | Wheatley Stable | 1+1⁄8 mi (1.8 km) | 1:48.40 | $17,900 | |
| 1957 | Argent | 4 | John Choquette | James C. Bentley | Benjamin R. Steen | 1+1⁄2 mi (2.4 km) | 2:30.40 | $18,750 | |
| 1956 | Thinking Cap | 4 | Paul J. Bailey | Henry Clark | Christiana Stables | 1+1⁄2 mi (2.4 km) | 2:29.60 | $19,100 | |
* Ŧ – Turco Bravo, Southern Hemisphere foal of October 13, 2009.