Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes
The Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. A six furlong sprint raced on dirt, it is open to fillies and mares, age three and older. It was run on Polytrack synthetic dirt from 2006–2013. The Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" program which gives the annual winner entry into the Filly and Mare Sprint.[1]
| Grade II race | |
| Location | Keeneland Race Course Lexington, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1981 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www.keeneland.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 6 furlongs |
| Track | Dirt |
| Qualification | Fillies and Mares, Three-years-old & up |
| Purse | US$250,000 |
Historical notes
Originally raced as the TCA Dinner Purse from 1941 through 1980, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Graded Stakes Committee elevated it to a stakes race in 1981. From then through 1985 the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes was restricted to horses whose owner was a member of the club.[2] Dropping that restriction allowed the race to qualify for Graded stakes consideration which it achieved in 1988. A Grade III event from 1988 through 2008 it was given Grade II status for 2009.
Indyanne's record run
Owned by David & Jill Heerensperger and trained by Greg Gilchrist, Indyanne came into the 2008 race as a favorite, having won the Azalea Stakes at Calder Race Course by 9½ lengths before finishing second in the Victory Ride Stakes at Saratoga.[3] With the lead in the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes coming down the stretch, Indyanne was hard pressed to hold off Wild Gams, Everrett Novak's very fast filly and winner of the 2007 TCA race. Indyanne held on to win by a head in a new stakes record time which through 2019 still stands.[4] After an illness kept Indyanne out of Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint,[5] she came back to racing on November 22 and finished second in the Sausalito Stakes at Golden Gate Fields. In her next outing, the December 27 Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita Park, she suffered a fractured sesamoid in her left front ankle. Two weeks later veterinarians at the renowned Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital advised that complications had set in which meant they could not perform successful surgery and that it would be inhumane to continue treatment. Indyanne was euthanized on January 13, 2009.[6]
Records
Speed record:
- 1:08.50 @ 6 furlongs – Indyanne (2008)
Most wins:
- 2 – Excitable Lady (1982, 1983)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 5 – Pat Day (1983, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2001)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 2 – C. R. McGaughey III (1985, 2001)
- 2 – D. Wayne Lukas (1995, 2000)
- 2 – Larry Robideaux Jr. (1999, 2002)
- 2 – W. Bret Calhoun (2010, 2017)
- 2 – Wesley A. Ward (2011, 2013
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 – Tom Gentry (1982, 1983)
- 2 – Frances A. Genter Stable (1988, 1993)
- 2 – Overbrook Farm (1995, 2000)
- 2 – William S. Farish III (2005, 2016)
Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Dist. (Furlongs) |
Time |
Win$ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Spiced Perfection | 4 | Javier Castellano | Peter L. Miller | Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable & Peter Deutsch | 6 F | 1:10.60 | G2 |
| 2018 | Golden Mischief | 4 | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | Juddmonte Farms | 6 F | 1:09.39 | G2 |
| 2017 | Finley'sluckycharm | 4 | Brian Hernandez Jr. | W. Bret Calhoun | Carl R. Moore Management | 6 F | 1:10.01 | G2 |
| 2016 | Irish Jasper | 4 | Julien Leparoux | Chad C. Brown | William S. Farish III & David F. Mackie | 6 F | 1:09.64 | G2 |
| 2015 | Fioretti | 5 | Sophie Doyle | Anthony Hamilton Jr. | Two Hearts Farm LLC (Tony Braddock & A. J. Hamilton) & Don Janes | 6 F | 1:10.04 | G2 |
| 2014 | Leigh Court | 4 | Gary Boulanger | Josie Carroll | Melnyk Racing Stables Inc. | 6 F | 1:09.46 | G2 |
| 2013 | Judy the Beauty | 4 | John Velazquez | Wesley A. Ward | Wesley A. Ward | 6 F | 1:09.23 | G2 |
| 2012 | Groupie Doll | 4 | Rajiv Maragh | William B. Bradley | Fred F. Bradley/William B. Bradley/Carl Hurst/Brent Burns | 6 F | 1:09.21 | G2 |
| 2011 | Holiday for Kitten | 3 | Kendrick Carmouche | Wesley A. Ward | Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey | 6 F | 1:08.72 | G2 |
| 2010 | Dubai Majesty | 5 | Jamie Theriot | W. Bret Calhoun | Martin Racing Stable (William & Stephanie Martin) & Dan Morgan | 6 F | 1:09.81 | G2 |
| 2009 | Informed Decision | 4 | Julien Leparoux | Jonathan E. Sheppard | Augustin Stable | 6 F | 1:09.03 | G2 |
| 2008 | Indyanne | 3 | Robby Albarado | Greg Gilchrist | David & Jill Heerensperger | 6 F | 1:08.50 | G3 |
| 2007 | Wild Gams | 4 | Ramon Domínguez | Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. | New Farm (Everett Novak) | 6 F | 1:10.00 | G3 |
| 2006 | Malibu Mint | 4 | Kyle Kaenel | James R. Chapman | John R. & Martha Jane Mulholland | 6 F | 1:08.71 | G3 |
| 2005 | Reunited | 3 | Robby Albarado | Neil J. Howard | William S. Farish III | 6 F | 1:11.59 | G3 |
| 2004 | Molto Vita | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Dallas Stewart | John D. Gunther | 6 F | 1:09.92 | G3 |
| 2003 | Summer Mis | 4 | René Douglas | Anthony Mitchell | Richard Otto Stables, Inc. | 6 F | 1:09.77 | G3 |
| 2002 | French Riviera | 3 | Donnie Meche | Larry Robideaux Jr. | Barnett Stables, LLC | 6 F | 1:09.75 | G3 |
| 2001 | Cat Cay | 4 | Pat Day | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 6 F | 1:09.24 | G3 |
| 2000 | Katz Me If You Can | 3 | Jorge Chavez | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm (William T. Young) | 6 F | 1:09.40 | G3 |
| 1999 | Cinemine | 4 | Eddie Martin Jr. | Larry Robideaux Jr. | Nolan Creek Farm LLC (Diane Connell) | 6 F | 1:08.80 | G3 |
| 1998 | Bourbon Belle | 3 | Willie Martinez | Peter W. Salmen Jr. | Donna Salmen/Susan Bunning/Highland Farms (George Hofmeister) | 6 F | 1:08.60 | G3 |
| 1997 | Sky Blue Pink | 3 | Pat Day | Thomas M. Amoss | Mrs. Morton Rosenthal | 6 F | 1:10.00 | G3 |
| 1996 | Surprising Fact | 3 | Pat Day | Joseph H. Pierce Jr. | G. Watts Humphrey Jr. | 6 F | 1:10.00 | G3 |
| 1995 | Cat Appeal | 3 | Donna Barton | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm (William T. Young) | 6 F | 1:10.00 | G3 |
| 1994 | Tenacious Tiffany | 4 | Craig Perret | Warren A. Croll Jr. | M.R.P. Stable (Robert P. Levy, et al.) | 6 F | 1:11.00 | G3 |
| 1993 | Jeano | 5 | Pat Day | Carl A. Nafzger | Frances A. Genter Stable | 6 F | 1:09.20 | G3 |
| 1992 | Ifyoucouldseemenow | 4 | Craig Perret | Brian A. Mayberry | Jan, Mace, & Samantha Siegel | 6 F | 1:09.60 | G3 |
| 1991 | Avie Jane | 7 | Craig Perret | Gene A. Lotti Jr. | Tony Canonie Jr. & Tony Canonie Sr. | 6 F | 1:10.20 | G3 |
| 1990 | Safely Kept | 4 | Craig Perret | Alan E. Goldberg | Jayeff-B Stable (Richard Santulli) & Barry Weisbord | 6 F | 1:10.40 | G3 |
| 1989 | Plate Queen | 4 | Randy Romero | J. Bert Sonnier | Saron Stable (Corbin J. Robertson) | 6 F | 1:11.20 | G3 |
| 1988 | Tappiano | 4 | Jacinto Vásquez | Flint S. Schulhofer | Frances A. Genter Stable | 6 F | 1:10.20 | G3 |
| 1987 | There Are Rainbows † | 7 | Ron Fletcher | Danny W. Whited | Mildred Fike | 6 F | 1:11.00 | L |
| 1986 | Zenobia Empress | 5 | Earlie Fires | Joseph M. Bollero | Russell Fortune Jr. | 6 F | 1:11.80 | L |
| 1985 | Boldara | 4 | Phil Rubbicco | C. R. McGaughey III | George A. Hoskins | 6 F | 1:10.80 | L |
| 1984 | Bids and Blades | 3 | Donald Brumfield | Richard J. Gallagher | Mrs. James H. Gallagher | 6 F | 1:11.60 | L |
| 1983 | Excitable Lady | 5 | Pat Day | Eduardo Inda | Tom Gentry | 6 F | 1:09.80 | NG |
| 1982 | Excitable Lady | 4 | Darrel McHargue | Ronald McAnally | Tom Gentry | 6 F | 1:09.20 | NG |
| 1981 | Gold Treasure | 4 | Mark Sellers | John J. Weipert | Keswick Stable | 6 F | 1:10.20 | NG |
- † 1987 : Zigbelle finished first but was disqualified to fourth.
References
- "$250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2)". Keeneland Association Inc. 2019-10-05. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
- "Thoroughbred Club of America Was Organized 25 Years Ago". Daily Racing Form. 1957-05-06. Retrieved 2019-11-12 – via University of Kentucky Archives.
- "Undefeated Indyanne Romps in Azalea". The Blood-Horse. 2008-07-12. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
- "Heerensperger, David and Jill". Equibase Co. LLC. 2008-10-03. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
- "Two More Cup Scratches". New York Post. 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
- "Filly Was Euthanized". New York Times. 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2019-11-11.