# Arlington Classic

The Arlington Classic Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles on the turf held annually in late May at Arlington Park race track near Chicago.

## History

The event was inaugurated in 1929 as the Classic Stakes over a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles on the dirt.
At one time the Arlington Classic was one of the most important races in the United States, drawing the best 3-year-olds in the country. Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox attracted a crowd of 60,000 in 1930 and he continued his six race winning streak in the event. In 1932 when Gusto, a grandson of the great Man o' War won, it was then the richest race for 3-year-olds in America with a purse of $88,100. A noteworthy upset in the Arlington Classic occurred in 1946 when Assault, who had just won the United States Triple Crown, finished last.
The Arlington Classic was run at the now defunct Washington Park Racetrack from 1943 through 1945. It was known as the Grand Prix Stakes in 1971, 1972 and 1973 and in 1977 it was made open to horses three-year-olds and up as was labelled as the Arlington Classic Invitational Handicap. There was no race held in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1988, 1998 and 1999.
The Arlington Classic became part of Arlington Park's "Mid-America Triple" which included the American Derby in July and the Secretariat Stakes in August. The Triple was last won by Honor Glide in 1997.
The event held a Grade I classification between 1981 and 1989.
In 2007, this Grade III stakes race was downgraded to an ungraded stakes by the American Graded Stakes Committee, but it has been returned to its Grade III status.
The Arlington Classic was raced on dirt from 1929–1973, 1977–1987, 1989–1993.

### Distance

Since its inception, the Arlington Classic has been contested over a variety of distances:
* 1929–1951 – 1+1⁄4 miles (dirt)
* 1952–1972 – 1 mile (dirt)
* 1973 – 1+1⁄16 miles (dirt)
* 1977–1979 – 1+1⁄4 miles (dirt)
* 1980–1993 – 1+1⁄8 miles (dirt)
* 1994–2001 – 1+1⁄8 miles (turf)
* 2001 onwards – 1+1⁄16 miles (turf)

## Records

Speed record: (at current 1+1⁄16 miles distance)
* 1:41.87 – Silver Max (2012)
Largest margin of victory:
* 13 lengths – Alydar (1978)
Most wins by an owner:
* 4 – Belair Stud
* 3 – Calumet Farm
Most wins by a jockey:
* 6 – Pat Day
* 4 – Braulio Baeza, René Douglas
Most wins by a trainer:
* 4 – Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons
* 3 – Ben A. Jones, William I. Mott, Max Hirsch

## Winners of the Arlington Classic

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | Purse | Grade |
| Arlington Classic Stakes ||||||||
| 2018 | Ezmosh | Jose Valdivia Jr. | Brad H. Cox | Madaket Stables, Zayat Stables, Ten Strike Racing | 1:45.52 | $100,000 | III |
| 2017 | Cowboy Culture | Shaun Bridgmohan | Brad H. Cox | Head of Plains Partners/Cheyenne Stables | 1:46.81 | $100,000 | III |
| 2016 | Surgical Strike | James Graham | Ben Colebrook | Seltzer/Anderson | 1:47.51 | $100,000 | III |
| 2015 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 2014 | ¶Istanford | James Graham | Michael Stidham | Thrash/Alley | 1:43.60 | $150,000 | III |
| 2013 | General Election | Joseph Rocco Jr. | Kellyn Gorder | WinStar Farm | 1:45.48 | $150,000 | III |
| 2012 | Silver Max | Shaun Bridgmohan | Dale Romans | Bacon/Wells | 1:41.87 | $125,000 | Listed |
| 2011 | Willcox Inn | Robby Albarado | Michael Stidham | All In Stable | 1:49.51 | $100,000 | Listed |
| 2010 | Workin for Hops | Robby Albarado | Michael Stidham | Estrorace LLC | 1:45.43 | $100,000 | Listed |
| 2009 | Giant Oak | Eusebio Razo Jr. | Chris M. Block | Virginia H. Tarra Trust | 1:43.59 | $150,000 | Listed |
| 2008 | Meal Penalty | José Vélez Jr. | Todd Pletcher | Sassafras Racing/Gulf Coast Farms | 1:41.97 | $150,000 | Listed |
| 2007 | Pleasant Strike | René Douglas | Todd A. Pletcher | Edward P. Evans | 1:42.05 | $150,000 | III |
| 2006 | Kingship | Robby Albarado | Ronny Werner | Oxbow Racing | 1:43.57 | $150,000 | III |
| 2005 | Purim | Mark Guidry | Thomas F. Proctor | Edward J. Sukley | 1:42.65 | $150,000 | III |
| 2004 | Toasted | René Douglas | Laura de Seroux | Sidney L. Port | 1:50.91 | $200,000 | II |
| 2003 | Lismore Knight | René Douglas | Todd A. Pletcher | J. J. Pletcher & B. Simon | 1:42.73 | $175,000 | II |
| 2002 | Mr. Mellon | René Douglas | W. Elliott Walden | WinStar Farm/T. Van Meter II | 1:41.95 | $175,000 | II |
| 2001 | Baptize | Mark Guidry | William I. Mott | Mary & Gary West | 1:48.80 | $200,000 | II |
| 2000 | King Cugat | Robby Albarado | William I. Mott | Centennial Farms | 1:48.16 | $150,000 | II |
| 1998–99 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1997 | Honor Glide | Garrett Gomez | Jim Day | Robert Schaedle III | 1:47.59 | $125,000 | II |
| 1996 | Trail City | Pat Day | William I. Mott | W. I. Mott & R. Verchota | 1:48.61 | $200,000 | II |
| 1995 | Hawk Attack | Pat Day | W. Elliott Walden | Cavalier Stable | 1:48.04 | $200,000 | II |
| 1994 | Eagle Eyed | Corey Nakatani | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1:48.46 | $300,000 | II |
| 1993 | Boundlessly | Pat Day | Jere R. Smith Jr. | Panic Stable | 1:49.89 | $300,000 | II |
| 1992 | Saint Ballado | Julie Krone | Clint Goodrich | Lothenbach/Herold/Goodrich | 1:46.82 | $300,000 | II |
| 1991 | Whadjathink | Jorge Velásquez | Michael Whittingham | Richard L. Duchossois | 1:49.18 | $300,000 | II |
| Arlington Classic ||||||||
| 1990 | Sound Of Cannons | Pat Day | George R. Arnold II | B. Wilkinson/L.G. Robey | 1:47.60 | $250,000 | II |
| 1989 | Clever Trevor | Don Pettinger | Donnie K. Von Hemel | D. C. McNeil | 1:49.40 | $200,000 | I |
| 1988 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1987 | Lost Code | Gene St. Leon | L. William Donovan | Wendover Stable | 1:49.60 | $150,000 | I |
| 1986 | Sumptious | Randy Romero | Phil Hauswald | John A. Bell III | 1:49.40 | $100,000 | I |
| 1985 | Smile | Jacinto Vásquez | Frank Gomez | Frances A. Genter | 1:51.20 | $150,000 | I |
| 1984 | At The Threshold | Pat Day | Lynn S. Whiting | W. Cal Partee | 1:50.20 | $100,000 | I |
| 1983 | Play Fellow | Pat Day | Harvey L. Vanier | Vanier, Lauer, Victor | 1:49.00 | $100,000 | I |
| 1982 | Wolfie's Rascal | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Howard Tesher | Sidney L. Port et al. | 1:49.00 | $125,000 | I |
| 1981 | Fairway Phantom | John L. Lively | Carl Nafzger | William H. Floyd | 1:53.40 | $125,000 | I |
| 1980 | Spruce Needles | Mike Morgan | Smiley Adams | Golden Chance Farm | 1:49.20 | $125,000 | II |
| 1979 | Steady Growth | Brian Swatuk | John J. Tammaro Jr. | Kinghaven Farm | 2:00.60 | $100,000 | II |
| 1978 | Alydar | Jeffrey Fell | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 2:00.40 | $100,000 | II |
| Arlington Classic Handicap ||||||||
| 1977 | Private Thoughts | Ramon Perez | Greg Sanders | Sandera Farm | 1:59.40 | $150,000 | Listed |
| 1974–76 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| Grand Prix Stakes ||||||||
| 1973 | Linda's Chief | Braulio Baeza | Al Scotti | Neil Hellman | 1:44.60 | | III |
| 1972 | King's Bishop | Eddie Maple | Thomas J. Kelly | Craig F. Cullinan Jr. | 1:35.00 | | |
| 1971 | Son Ange | Chuck Baltazar | Reggie Cornell | Calumet Farm | 1:36.00 | | |
| Arlington Classic ||||||||
| 1970 | Corn Off The Cob | Eddie Belmonte | Arnold N. Winick | Fence Post Farm | 1:35.40 | | |
| 1969 | Ack Ack | Braulio Baeza | Frank A. Bonsal | Cain Hoy Stable | 1:34.40 | | |
| 1968 | Exclusive Native | Ismael Valenzuela | Ivan H. Parke | Harbor View Farm | 1:36.00 | | |
| 1967 | Dr. Fager | Braulio Baeza | John A. Nerud | Tartan Stable | 1:36.00 | | |
| 1966 | Buckpasser | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps | 1:32.60 | | |
| 1965 | Tom Rolfe | Bill Shoemaker | Frank Y. Whiteley Jr. | Powhatan Stable | 1:34.80 | | |
| 1964 | ¶Tosmah | Sam Boulmetis Sr. | Joseph Mergler | Anthony Imbesi | 1:36.20 | | |
| 1963 | Candy Spots | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 1:35.80 | | |
| 1962 | Ridan | Avelino Gomez | LeRoy Jolley | J. G. W. Stable | 1:38.00 | | |
| 1961 | Globemaster | John L. Rotz | Thomas J. Kelly | Leonard P. Sasso | 1:35.40 | | |
| 1960 | T. V. Lark | Johnny Sellers | Paul K. Parker | C. R. Mac Stable | 1:36.20 | | |
| 1959 | Dunce | Lois C. Cook | Moody Jolley | Claiborne Farm | 1:35.00 | | |
| 1958 | A Dragon Killer | Jimmy Combest | Norman L. Haymaker | Mrs. S. Helene Sadacca | 1:36.40 | | |
| 1957 | Clem | Conn McCreary | William W. Stephens | Adele L. Rand | 1:36.60 | | |
| 1956 | Swoon's Son | David Erb | Lex Wilson | E. G. Drake | 1:36.80 | | |
| 1955 | Nashua | Eddie Arcaro | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1:35.20 | | |
| 1954 | Errard King | Sam Boulmetis Sr. | Thomas J. Barry | Joseph Gavegnano | 1:35.00 | | |
| 1953 | Native Dancer | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1:38.00 | | |
| 1952 | Mark-Ye-Well | Eddie Arcaro | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:39.20 | | |
| 1951 | Hall Of Fame | Ted Atkinson | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 2:03.20 | | |
| 1950 | Greek Song | Ovie Scurlock | Virgil W. Raines | Brandywine Stable | 2:01.80 | | |
| 1949 | Ponder | Steve Brooks | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:03.20 | | |
| 1948 | Papa Redbird | Robert L. Baird | John M. Goode | J. A. Goodwin | 2:03.00 | | |
| 1947 | ¶But Why Not | Warren Mehrtens | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 2:01.80 | | |
| 1946 | The Dude | Melvin Duhon | Al Gaal | Mrs. Al Gaal | 2:02.60 | | |
| †1945 | Pot O'Luck | Douglas Dodson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:05.80 | | |
| †1944 | ¶Twilight Tear | Leon Haas | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:03.60 | | |
| †1943 | Slide Rule | Ferril Zufelt | Cecil Wilhelm | William E. Boeing | 2:04.60 | | |
| 1942 | Shut Out | Eddie Arcaro | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 2:01.40 | | |
| 1941 | Attention | Carroll Bierman | Max Hirsch | Mrs. Parker Corning | 2:02.80 | | |
| 1940 | Sirocco | George Woolf | James W. Smith | Dixiana Farm | 2:03.00 | | |
| 1939 | Challedon | Harry Richards | Louis Schaefer | William L. Brann | 2:02.00 | | |
| 1938 | Nedayr | Wayne D. Wright | William A. Crawford | Willis Sharpe Kilmer | 2:06.20 | | |
| 1937 | Flying Scot | John Gilbert | James W. Healy | John Hay Whitney | 2:05.80 | | |
| 1936 | Granville | James Stout | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 2:03.20 | | |
| 1935 | Omaha | Wayne D. Wright | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 2:01.40 | | |
| 1934 | Cavalcade | Mack Garner | Robert A. Smith | Brookmeade Stable | 2:02.80 | | |
| 1933 | Inlander | Robert Jones | Robert A. Smith | Brookmeade Stable | 2:02.00 | | |
| 1932 | Gusto | Silvio Coucci | Max Hirsch | Morton L. Schwartz | 2:03.60 | $88,100 | |
| 1931 | Mate | Alfred Robertson | James W. Healy | Albert C. Bostwick Jr. | 2:02.40 | | |
| 1930 | Gallant Fox | Earl Sande | James E. Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 2:03.80 | $78,750 | |
| Classic Stakes ||||||||
| 1929 | Blue Larkspur | Mack Garner | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 2:14.40 | | |
Legend:
 Turf  Dirt  Idle  Race name
Notes:
¶ Filly
† Held at Washington Park Race Track