# Tampa Bay Stakes

The Tampa Bay Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses four years old or older, run over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on the turf held annually in early February at Tampa Bay Downs, Oldsmar, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $175,000.

## History

The race was inaugurated in 9 April 1985 and was run on the dirt track over a distance of 6 furlongs. The following year the race was not held.
In 1987 the event received sponsorship from the Breeders' Cup and Budweiser and was renewed at a new distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on the dirt track. Budweiser terminated its sponsorship in 1996 and this affected the stakes of the event. The Breeders' Cup also removed their sponsorship but much later in 2006.
The first running of the event on the turf was in 1999.
In 2011 the event was upgraded to a Grade III event.
The 2018 winner of the event, US Champion Male Turf Horse World Approval of 2017 resumed after winning the 2017 Breeders' Cup Mile starting as the overwhelming 1/5on favorite.

## Records

Speed record:
* 1+1⁄16 miles – 1:39.65 Legs Galore (1999)
Margins:
* 5+3⁄4 lengths – Delay of Game (2000)
Most wins:
* 2 – Gallant Mel (1989, 1991)
* 2 – Lord John (1992, 1993)
* 2 – Delay of Game (2000, 2001)
* 2 – Burning Roma (2003, 2004)
* 2 – Inspector Lynley (2017, 2019)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 – Ricardo D. Lopez (1989, 1990, 1991)
* 3 – William T. Henry (1993, 1995, 1999)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 – Claude R. McGaughey III (2016, 2017, 2019, 2024)
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 – D. Edwards & M. W. Mitchell (1989, 1991)
* 2 – John E. Callaway (1992, 1993)
* 2 – John H. Peace (2000, 2001)
* 2 – Harold L. Queen (2003, 2004)
* 2 – Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable (2017, 2019)
* 2 – WinStar Farm (2011, 2023)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| Tampa Bay Stakes |||||||||||
| 2018 | Never Explain | 6 | Vincent Cheminaud | Claude R. McGaughey III | Courtlandt Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.03 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2023 | Emmanuel | 4 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.25 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2022 | Shirl's Speight | 5 | Emma-Jayne Wilson | Roger L. Attfield | Charles E. Fipke | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.20 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2021 | Get Smokin | 4 | Junior Alvarado | Thomas Bush | Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.75 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2020 | Admiralty Pier | 5 | Samy Camacho | Barbara J. Minshall | Hoolie Racing Stable & Bruce Lunsford | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.96 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2019 | Inspector Lynley | 5 | José L. Ortiz | Claude R. McGaughey III | Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.35 | $175,000 | III | |
| 2018 | World Approval | 6 | John R. Velazquez | Mark E. Casse | Live Oak Plantation | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.66 | $175,000 | III | |
| 2017 | Inspector Lynley | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Claude R. McGaughey III | Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.65 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2016 | Reload | 7 | Javier Castellano | Claude R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.15 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2015 | Lochte | 5 | Paco Lopez | Marcus J. Vitali | Crossed Sabres Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.63 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2014 | Guys Reward | 7 | Abdiel Jaen | Dale L. Romans | Michael J. Bruder | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.44 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2013 | Swift Warrior | 5 | Jose L. Espinoza | John P. Terranova II | James Covello and James Dolan | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.14 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2012 | Roman Tiger | 7 | Angel Serpa | Dennis J. Manning | Dennis J. Manning | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.42 | $150,000 | III | |
| 2011 | Doubles Partner | 4 | Julien R. Leparoux | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.67 | $125,000 | III | |
| 2010 | Karelian | 8 | Rosemary Homeister Jr. | George R. Arnold II | Green Lantern Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.61 | $146,500 | Listed | |
| 2009 | Victory Alleged | 8 | Carlos H. Marquez Jr. | Dennis J. Manning | Mac Fehsenfeld | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.10 | $142,500 | Listed | |
| 2008 | Cosmonaut | 6 | Edgar S. Prado | Philip M. Serpe | Flying Zee Stable | abt. 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.14 | $146,500 | Listed | |
| 2007 | Hotstufanthensome | 7 | Rajiv Maragh | Norman R. Pointer | Runnin Horse Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.24 | $150,000 | Listed | |
| Tampa Bay Breeders' Cup Stakes |||||||||||
| 2006 | Fort Prado | 5 | Brice Blanc | Chris M. Block | Team Block | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.76 | $95,000 | Listed | |
| 2005 | Wire Bound | 4 | Eduardo O. Nunez | Manuel Criollo | Silver Diamond Thoroughbreds | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.14 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 2004 | Burning Roma | 6 | Jesus Lopez Castanon | Heather A. Giglio | Harold L. Queen | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.68 | $100,000 | Listed | |
| 2003 | Burning Roma | 5 | Jesus Lopez Castanon | Heather A. Giglio | Harold L. Queen | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.53 | $99,000 | Listed | |
| 2002 | Boastful | 4 | T. D. Houghton | William I. Mott | Kinsman Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.95 | $78,000 | Listed | |
| 2001 | Delay of Game | 8 | Christopher P. DeCarlo | George R. Arnold II | John H. Peace | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.91 | $80,450 | Listed | |
| 2000 | Delay of Game | 7 | Ramon B. Perez | George R. Arnold II | John H. Peace | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.72 | $50,000 | Listed | |
| 1999 | Legs Galore | 4 | William T. Henry | Reed M. Combest | Ann & Clinton Lagrosa | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.65 | $49,500 | | |
| 1998 | Ship Liner | 4 | C. Punchie Goberdhan | Donald M. Pittman | Phillip O. Williams | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.20 | $34,500 | | |
| 1997 | Request a Star | 6 | C. Punchie Goberdhan | Jason J. Stodghill | Paul O'Toole | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.40 | $37,300 | | |
| 1996 | Iron Racketeer | 5 | Dante Scocca | Michael J. Falzone | Charles G. Fink | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.40 | $30,425 | | |
| 1995 | Not Surprising | 5 | William T. Henry | Judson Van Worp | Robert Van Worp | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.40 | $77,100 | Listed | |
| 1994 | Pride of Burkaan | 4 | Eric Valles | Leo Azpurua Jr. | A. Johnson & G. Murchibon | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | $78,525 | | |
| 1993 | Lord John | 5 | William T. Henry | John E. Callaway | John E. Callaway | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $77,425 | | |
| 1992 | Lord John | 4 | Willie Martinez | John E. Callaway | John E. Callaway | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.80 | $67,850 | | |
| 1991 | Gallant Mel | 6 | Ricardo D. Lopez | Donald Campbell | Edwards & Mitchel | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.50 | $46,075 | | |
| 1990 | Majesty's Imp | 6 | Ricardo D. Lopez | Sturges J. Ducoing | Batarasan Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:45.20 | $75,375 | | |
| 1989 | Gallant Mel | 4 | Ricardo D. Lopez | Donald Campbell | Edwards & Mitchell | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.40 | $45,000 | | |
| 1988 | Homebuilder | 4 | Larry Saumell | Woody Stephens | Ryehill Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.80 | $70,650 | | |
| 1987 | My Prince Charming | 4 | Octavio Aviles | Newcomb Green | Aronow Stable | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:46.60 | $65,000 | | |
| 1986 | 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 | Race not held |
| Tampa Bay Stakes |||||||||||
| 1985 | Never Company | 5 | Donald Allen | Chester C. Thrasher | Myakka Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:11.60 | $25,000 | | |
Legend:
 Dirt  Turf