# True North Stakes

The True North Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years old and older held over a distance of six and half furlongs on dirt scheduled annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $350,000.

## History

The True North is named for the winner of the 1945 Fall Highweight Handicap, W. Deering Howe's, True North.
The event was inaugurated on 9 July 1979 as the True North Handicap and was won by the longshot Moleolus in a time of 1:104⁄5.
The event was classified as Grade III in 1982 and upgraded to Grade II in 1985. The only mare to win the event was Gold Beauty in 1993.
In winning the 1987 edition of the True North Handicap, Groovy earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 134.
In 2014 the conditions of the race changed to a stakes race. In 2017 the distance of the race was changed from 6 furlongs to 6+1⁄2 furlongs.
In 2024 the event was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.

## Records

Speed record:
* 6+1⁄2 furlongs – 1:14.85 – Catalina Cruiser (2019)
* 6 furlongs – 1:07.80 – Groovy (1987)
Most wins:
* 2 - Firenze Fire (2020, 2021)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 – William I. Mott (1991, 1993, 1998, 2023)
Margin:
* 8+1⁄2 lengths – Trappe Shot (2011)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 3 – Jean-Luc Samyn (1979, 1981, 1999)
* 3 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1987, 1988, 1989)
* 3 – Robbie Davis (1996, 1997, 2000)
* 3 – Javier Castellano (2012, 2015, 2018)
Most wins by an owner:
* 2 – Seymour Cohn (1985, 1999)
* 2 – Mr. Amore Stables (2020, 2021)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade |
| At Saratoga – True North Stakes |||||||||||
| 2024 | Baby Yoda | 6 | Eric Cancel | William I. Mott | Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber & Jerold L. Zaro | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.62 | $350,000 | II |
| At Belmont Park |||||||||||
| 2023 | Elite Power | 5 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | William I. Mott | Juddmonte | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.65 | $250,000 | II |
| 2022 | Jackie's Warrior | 4 | Joel Rosario | Steven M. Asmussen | Judy & J.Kirk Robison | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.09 | $300,000 | II |
| 2021 | Firenze Fire | 6 | Jose Ortiz | Kelly Breen | Mr Amore Stables | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.52 | $300,000 | II |
| 2020 | Firenze Fire | 5 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Kelly Breen | Mr Amore Stables | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.53 | $150,000 | II |
| 2019 | Catalina Cruiser | 5 | Joel Rosario | John W. Sadler | Hronis Racing | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:14.85 | $250,000 | II |
| 2018 | Imperial Hint | 5 | Javier Castellano | Luis Carvajal Jr. | Raymond Mamone | 6+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:15.02 | $240,000 | II |
| 2017 | Roy H | 5 | Paco Lopez | Peter L. Miller | Rockingham Ranch | 6 furlongs | 1:08.59 | $250,000 | II |
| 2016 | Joking | 7 | Manuel Franco | Charlton Baker | Charlton Baker | 6 furlongs | 1:08.04 | $240,000 | II |
| 2015 | Rock Fall | 4 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Stonestreet Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:08.37 | $250,000 | II |
| 2014 | Palace | 5 | José L. Ortiz | Linda L. Rice | Antonino Miuccio | 6 furlongs | 1:08.29 | $250,000 | II |
| True North Handicap |||||||||||
| 2013 | Fast Bullet | 5 | Joel Rosario | Bob Baffert | Zayat Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:08.27 | $400,000 | II |
| 2012 | Caixa Eletronica | 7 | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stables | 6 furlongs | 1:09.52 | $400,000 | II |
| 2011 | Trappe Shot | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Mill House | 6 furlongs | 1:08.86 | $250,000 | II |
| 2010 | Bribon (FR) | 7 | Garrett K. Gomez | Todd A. Pletcher | Derrick Smith | 6 furlongs | 1:09.63 | $250,000 | II |
| 2009 | Fabulous Strike | 6 | Ramon A. Dominguez | Todd M. Beattie | Walter Downey | 6 furlongs | 1:07.85 | $250,000 | II |
| 2008 | Benny the Bull | 5 | Edgar S. Prado | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | IEAH Stables, James Cohen, Pegasus Holdings Group & Sanford H. Robbins | 6 furlongs | 1:09.06 | $250,000 | II |
| 2007 | Will He Shine | 5 | Edgar S. Prado | Dale L. Romans | Saviaro Pugliese & Marc Wexler | 6 furlongs | 1:08.70 | $200,000 | II |
| 2006 | Anew | 5 | Alan Garcia | Steven M. Asmussen | Chrome Cowboy Racing & Raymond Vitolo | 6 furlongs | 1:08.10 | $200,000 | II |
| 2005 | Woke Up Dreamin | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | Michael E. Pegram | 6 furlongs | 1:08.38 | $212,900 | II |
| 2004 | Speightstown | 6 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Eugene Melnyk | 6 furlongs | 1:08.04 | $206,400 | II |
| 2003 | Shake You Down | 5 | Michael J. Luzzi | Scott A. Lake | Robert L. Cole Jr. | 6 furlongs | 1:09.40 | $190,000 | II |
| 2002 | Explicit | 5 | Lonnie Meche | Ian P. D. Jory | Marvin Malmuth | 6 furlongs | 1:09.80 | $250,000 | II |
| 2001 | Say Florida Sandy | 7 | Aaron Gryder | Juan Serey | John Rotella | 6 furlongs | 1:08.60 | $150,000 | II |
| 2000 | Intidab | 7 | Robbie Davis | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Shadwell Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:10.00 | $150,000 | II |
| 1999 | Kashatreya | 5 | Jean-Luc Samyn | John O. Hertler | Seymour Cohn | 6 furlongs | 1:09.60 | $150,000 | II |
| 1998 | Richter Scale | 4 | Jerry D. Bailey | William I. Mott | Nancy & Richard Kaster | 6 furlongs | 1:08.80 | $138,600 | II |
| 1997 | Punch Line | 7 | Robbie Davis | William H. Turner Jr. | Althea Richards | 6 furlongs | 1:08.80 | $110,300 | II |
| 1996 | Not Surprising | 6 | Robbie Davis | Judson Van Worp | Robert Van Worp | 6 furlongs | 1:09.00 | $111,200 | II |
| 1995 | Waldoboro | 4 | Eddie Maple | Claude R. McGaughey III | Emory A. Hamilton | 6 furlongs | 1:09.60 | $110,500 | II |
| 1994 | Friendly Lover | 6 | Rick Wilson | Joseph H. Pierce Jr. | Pastime Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:09.60 | $112,300 | II |
| 1993 | Lion Cavern | 4 | Julie Krone | William I. Mott | Sheikh Mohammed | 6 furlongs | 1:10.20 | $115,200 | II |
| 1992 | Shining Bid | 4 | Eddie Maple | Jack B. Morgan | Deborah A. Matz | 6 furlongs | 1:08.20 | $119,800 | II |
| 1991 | Diablo | 4 | Julie Krone | William I. Mott | Bertram R. Firestone | 6 furlongs | 1:08.20 | $116,200 | II |
| 1990 | Mr. Nickerson | 4 | Chris Antley | Mark J. Reid | Robert H. A. Nixon | 6 furlongs | 1:10.40 | $85,600 | II |
| 1989 | Dancing Spree | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Claude R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 6 furlongs | 1:09.40 | $113,600 | II |
| 1988 | § High Brite | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | D. Wayne Lukas | H. Joseph Allen | 6 furlongs | 1:10.00 | $113,000 | II |
| 1987 | Groovy | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | José Martín | Lone Star Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:07.80 | $108,800 | II |
| 1986 | Phone Trick | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | Richard E. Mandella | Howell Wynne | 6 furlongs | 1:09.00 | $110,800 | II |
| 1985 | Cannon Shell | 6 | D. J. Murphy | Chester Ross | Seymour Cohn | 6 furlongs | 1:10.80 | $87,000 | II |
| 1984 | Believe The Queen | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | H. Allen Jerkens | Bohemia Stable | 6 furlongs | 1:09.80 | $86,850 | III |
| 1983 | ‡ Gold Beauty | 4 | Don Brumfield | William Curtis Jr. | Mrs. Philip Hofmann | 6 furlongs | 1:10.40 | $84,600 | III |
| 1982 | Shimatoree | 3 | Mario G. Pinoclaud | Richard E. Dutrow Sr. | Rif'at Hussain | 6 furlongs | 1:08.60 | $82,650 | |
| 1981 | Joanie's Chief | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Eugene Jacobs | Peter Barberino | 6 furlongs | 1:09.00 | $58,800 | |
| 1980 | Syncopate | 5 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Ron McAnally | Elmendorf Farm | 6 furlongs | 1:09.20 | $55,000 | |
| 1979 | Moleolus | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Patrick J. Kelly | Live Oak Plantation Racing | 6 furlongs | 1:10.40 | $42,225 | |
Notes:
‡ Filly or Mare
§ Ran as part of an entry