# Skip Away Stakes

The Skip Away Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. A Listed event open to horses age four and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of 1+3⁄16 miles (9-1/2 furlongs). The race is a Listed event with a current purse of $100,000.
Inaugurated as the Broward Handicap, in 2001 Gulfstream Park changed the name to the Skip Away Handicap to honor 1998 American Horse of the Year, Skip Away.
In 2000, the South African-bred Horse Chestnut, 1999 Horse of the Year in his native country, made his American debut in this race, winning going away by five and one-half lengths. Other past winners of note include U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Swaps who won in 1956 and set a new world record for 1 mile, 70 yards with time of 1:39 3/5.
Since its inception, the race has been run at various distances:
* 1+1⁄16 miles : 1987, 1990, 1993–2004
* 1+1⁄8 miles : 1991-1992, 2005–2008, 2016-2017
* 1+3⁄16 miles : 2009-2015, 2019

## Records

Speed record:
* 1:48.10 - Chief Honcho (at current distance of 1+1⁄8 miles) (1991)
* 1:53.92 - Fort Larned (at former distance of 1+3⁄16 miles) (2012) (This is also the track record, eclipsing the former track record set by Eddington in 2005 of 1:54.74.)
Most wins:
* 3 - Sir Bear (1998, 1999, 2002)

## Winners since 1987

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2017 | Fear The Cowboy | 5 | Jesus M. Rios | Efren Loza, Jr. | Kathleen Amaya | 1:51.81 |
| 2016 | Valid | 6 | Nik Juarez | Marcus J. Vitali | Crossed Sabres Farm | 1:48.42 |
| 2015 | Commissioner | 4 | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 1:58.60 |
| 2014 | Micromanage | 4 | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | Repole Stable | 1:55.36 |
| 2013 | Cigar Street | 4 | John Velazquez | William I. Mott | J & L Ballis | 1:56.84 |
| 2012 | Fort Larned | 4 | Julien Leparoux | Ian Wilkes | Janis Whitham | 1:53.92 |
| 2011 | S. S. Stone | 5 | Julien Leparoux | Nick Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 1:55.73 |
| 2010 | Arson Squad | 7 | Paco Lopez | Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. | Jay Em Ess Stable | 1:55.65 |
| 2009 | Finallymadeit | 5 | Eduardo Núñez | Javier Negrete | Rolbea Stables | 1:56.76 |
| 2008 | Gottcha Gold | 5 | Chuck C. Lopez | Edward Plesa, Jr. | Centaur Farms | 1:51.31 |
| 2007 | A. P. Arrow | 5 | Edgar Prado | Todd A. Pletcher | Allen E. Paulson Trust | 1:49.70 |
| 2006 | Bandini | 4 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Tabor & Smith | 1:49.11 |
| 2005 | Eurosilver | 4 | Javier Castellano | Carl Nafzger | Buckram Oak Farm | 1:49.29 |
| 2004 | Newfoundland | 4 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Sumaya Us Stables | 1:43.26 |
| 2003 | Best of the Rest | 8 | Eibar Coa | Edward Plesa, Jr. | Bea Oxenberg | 1:42.72 |
| 2002 | Sir Bear | 9 | Edgar Prado | Ralph Ziadie | Barbara Smollin | 1:43.98 |
| 2001 | American Halo | 5 | Robbie Davis | Angel Medina | Jose Paparoni | 1:42.31 |
| 2000 | Horse Chestnut | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Michael de Kock | Harry & Bridget Oppenheimer | 1:42.78 |
| 1999 | Sir Bear | 6 | Jerry D. Bailey | Ralph Ziadie | Barbara Smollin | 1:43.66 |
| 1998 | Sir Bear | 5 | Enrique Jurado | Ralph Ziadie | Barbara Smollin | 1:43.27 |
| 1997 | Crafty Friend | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Mark A. Hennig | Ken Karlan | 1:42.27 |
| 1996 | Halo's Image | 5 | Pat Day | Happy Alter | Alter & Appleton | 1:42.71 |
| 1995 | Fight For Love | 5 | Jerry D. Bailey | Bert Sonnier | Irving & Marjorie Cowan | 1:43.98 |
| 1994 | Devil His Due | 5 | Mike E. Smith | H. Allen Jerkens | Lion Crest Stable | 1:43.17 |
| 1993 | Technology | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | Sonny Hine | S. Savin & Classic Partners | 1:42.47 |
| 1992 | Honest Ensign | 4 | Jean Cruguet | Guillame Soyer | Clarence Hill, Jr. | 1:49.41 |
| 1991 | Chief Honcho | 4 | Mike E. Smith | William I. Mott | Bertram R. Firestone | 1:48.10 |
| 1990 | Primal | 5 | Earlie Fires | James E. Bracken | Tartan Stable | 1:43.40 |
| 1989 | No Race | - | No Race | No Race | No Race | 0:00.00 |
| 1988 | No Race | - | No Race | No Race | No Race | 0:00.00 |
| 1987 | Big Blowup | 3 | Chuck Baltazar | J. David Braddy | not found | 1:44.40 |