# Cliff Hanger Stakes

The Cliff Hanger Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey in May. Open to horses age three and older, it is now contested on turf over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles. As of 2023, the purse is $102,000.
Known as the Cliff Hanger Handicap until 2008, it was raced on dirt from 1978 through 1981 and again in 1985 and 1987. Prior to 1982, it was restricted to horses bred in the State of New Jersey.

## Records

Speed record:
* 8.5 Furlongs – 1:39 2/5 – Wanderkin (1988), Dixie Bayou (1997)
* 9 Furlongs – 1:46.16 – Winning Cause (2014)
Most wins:
* 2 – Erin's Tiger (1982, 1983)
* 2 – Late Act (1984, 1985)’
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 – Greentree Stable (1984, 1985)
* 2 – Live Oak Racing (1994, 2006)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 – Jorge Velásquez (1980, 1982, 1983)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 2 – Joseph H. Pierce Jr. (1980, 1987)
* 2 – Richard Nieminski (1982, 1983)
* 2 – Jonathan Sheppard (1987, 1989)
* 2 – Christophe Clement (2013, 2015)

## Winners since 1999

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2023 | Big Everest | 5 | Jorge Vargas Jr. | Christophe Clement | Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco and William Branch | 1:40.42 |
| 2016 | Can'thelpbelieving (IRE) | 5 | Trevor McCarthy | H. Graham Motion | Albert Frassetto | 1:46.77 |
| 2015 | Middleburg | 5 | Joe Bravo | Christophe Clement | Mr. & Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone | 1:48.52 |
| 2014 | Winning Cause | 4 | Eddie Castro | Todd Pletcher | Alto Racing LLC | 1:46.16 |
| 2013 | Summer Front | 4 | Joe Bravo | Christophe Clement | Waterford Stable | 1:41.49 |
| 2012 | Tune Me In | 5 | Paco Lopez | Bruce F. Alexander | Patricia A. Generazio | 1:33.96 |
| 2011 | Yummy with Butter | 8 | Paco Lopez | Yvon Belsoeur | Bruno Schickedanz | 1:32.75 |
| 2010 | no race | | | | | |
| 2009 | Brave Tin Soldier | 5 | Carlos Marquez Jr. | Kiaran McLaughlin | Kiaran McLaughlin | 1:45.52 |
| 2008 | Kiss the Kid | 5 | Rajiv Maragh | Amy Tarrant | Hardacre Farm/Amy Tarrant | 1:43.60 |
| 2007 | Presious Passion | 4 | Alan Garcia | Mary Hartmann | Patricia A. Generazio | 1:41.48 |
| 2006 | Old Forester | 5 | Edgar Prado | William I. Mott | Live Oak Racing | 1:42.54 |
| 2005 | Hotstufanthensome | 5 | Rajiv Maragh | Norman Pointer | Leslie Steinger | 1:54.32 |
| 2004 | Dr. Kashnikow | 7 | Richard Migliore | John R. S. Fisher | Erdenheim Farm | 1:42.41 |
| 2003 | no race | | | | | |
| 2002 | Saint Verre | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | H. Allen Jerkens | H. Joseph Allen | 1:42.40 |
| 2001 | Crash Course | 5 | Rick Wilson | Warren W. Croll Jr. | Jesse Mack Robinson | 1:43.14 |
| 2000 | North East Bound | 4 | José Vélez Jr. | William W. Perry | J. Demarco/R. Disano | 1:41.78 |
| 1999 | Virginia Carnival | 7 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Jonathan Sheppard | John A. Franks | 1:42.44 |

## Earlier winners

* 1998 – Mi Narrow
* 1997 – Dixie Bayou
* 1996 – Thorny Crown
* 1995 – Mighty Forum
* 1994 – Binary Light
* 1993 – Excellent Tipper
* 1992 – Roman Envoy
* 1991 – Finder's Choice
* 1990 – Chas' Whim
* 1989 – Ten Keys
* 1988 – Wanderkin
* 1987 – Silver Comet
* 1987 – Foligno
* 1986 – Explosive Darling
* 1985 – Late Act
* 1984 – Late Act
* 1984 – Cozzene
* 1983 – Erin's Tiger
* 1982 – Erin's Tiger
* 1982 – Acaroid
* 1981 – Bill Wheeler
* 1980 – Quality T. V.
* 1979 – Exclusively Mine
* 1978 – Mr. Lincroft
* 1977 – Dan Horn