Top Flight Handicap
The Top Flight Invitational Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The Grade III event is run in the early spring and is open to fillies and mares, age three and older. It is contested over a distance of one and one sixteenth miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $200,000.[1]
Listed race | |
Location | Aqueduct Racetrack Queens, New York, United States |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1940 |
Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
Website | www |
Race information | |
Distance | 1 1⁄8 mile |
Surface | Dirt |
Track | left-handed |
Qualification | Fillies & Mares, 4-years-old & up |
Weight | Assigned |
Purse | $200,000 (2013) |
The Top Flight Handicap was run at Belmont Park at a mile and a sixteenth prior to 1961. From 1961 to 1993, it was run at a mile and an eighth. Again in 2012, the race was run at a mile and a sixteenth. In 2015 it reverted to a mile and an eighth.
The race in named for Top Flight, ranked in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century at #66. Top Flight was never beaten by a member of her own sex.
Records
Speed record: (at distance of 1 mile)
- 1:34.96 – Educated Risk (1994)
Most wins:
- 2 – Amerigo Lady (1968, 1969)
- 2 – Shuvee (1970, 1971)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 6 – Jerry Bailey (1990, 1993, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 – Hirsch Jacobs (1956, 1965, 1967)
- 3 – J. Elliott Burch (1959, 1968, 1969)
- 3 – H. Allen Jerkens (1973, 1985, 1997)
- 3 – John C. Kimmel (1995, 1996, 1998)
- 4 – C. R. McGaughey III (1994, 2001, 2004, 2016)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 – Ethel D. Jacobs (1956, 1965, 1967)
- 3 – Rokeby Stable (1968, 1969, 1993)
Winners
Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Another Broad | 4 | Manuel Franco | Todd Pletcher | Madaket Stables LLC, Elayne Stables, Brian Martin | 1:52.99 | |||
2018 | Blue Prize | 4 | José Ortiz | Ignacio Correas IV | Merriebelle Stable | 1:51.48 | |||
2017 | Mo' Green | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | John Servis | Leonard C. Green | 1:51.79 | |||
2016 | Carrumba | 4 | José Ortiz | C. R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 1:50.26 | |||
2015 | House Rules | 4 | Junior Alvarado | James A. Jerkens | Joseph V. Shields Jr. | 1:52.41 | |||
2014 | Teen Pauline | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd Pletcher | Stonestreet Stables | 1:45.04 | |||
2013 | Summer Applause | 4 | John Velazquez | Chad Brown | Gillian S.Campbell, Greenwood Lodge Farm, Dan Clark, Greg Skoda | 1:44.10 | |||
2012 | It's Tricky | 4 | Ramon Domínguez | Kiaran McLaughlin | Godolphin Racing | 1:45.30 | |||
2011 | Race not held | ||||||||
2010 | Spacy Tracy | 5 | Jeremy Rose | Anthony W. Dutrow | Mercedes Stable | 1:35.28 | |||
2008 | Leah's Secret | 5 | Eibar Coa | Todd Pletcher | WinStar Farm | 1:36.40 | |||
2007 | Mini Sermon | 3 | Eibar Coa | Todd Pletcher | Edward P. Evans | 1:37.29 | |||
2006 | Rahy's Appeal | 4 | Alan Garcia | James K. Chapman | John & Martha Mullholland | 1:36.15 | |||
2005 | Stellar Jayne | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing | 1:35.94 | |||
2004 | Daydreaming | 3 | Jerry Bailey | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 1:35.29 | |||
2003 | Randaroo | 3 | Heberto Castillo Jr. | Kiaran McLaughlin | H. Joseph Allen | 1:36.49 | |||
2002 | Sightseek | 3 | Jerry Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1:35.46 | |||
2001 | Cat Cay | 4 | John Velazquez | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Phipps | 1:35.45 | |||
2000 | Reciclada | 5 | Jerry Bailey | Richard Mandella | Diamond A Stable | 1:35.54 | |||
1999 | Belle Cherie | 3 | John Velazquez | Philip G. Johnson | Belle Meadows Farm | 1:35.46 | |||
1998 | Catinca | 3 | Richard Migliore | John C. Kimmel | Robert K. Waxman | 1:35.81 | |||
1997 | Dixie Flag | 3 | Mike Luzzi | H. Allen Jerkens | Bohemia Stable | 1:35.34 | |||
1996 | Flat Fleet Feet | 3 | Mike E. Smith | John C. Kimmel | Kimmel, Solondz | 1:37.00 | |||
1995 | Twist Afleet | 4 | Mike E. Smith | John C. Kimmel | Lucille Conover | 1:35.26 | |||
1994 | Educated Risk | 4 | Mike E. Smith | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 1:34.96 | |||
1993 | You'd Be Surprised | 4 | Jerry Bailey | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stable | 1:48.82 | |||
1992 | Firm Stance | 4 | Pat Day | Mitch Shirota | Gainesway Stable | 1:50.55 | |||
1991 | Buy the Firm | 5 | Julie Krone | Carlos F. Martin | Morven Stud Farms | 1:52.20 | |||
1990 | Dreamy Mimi | 4 | Jerry Bailey | George R. Arnold II | Alex G. Campbell Jr. | 1:50.40 | |||
1989 | Banker's Lady | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Philip M. Hauswald | Edward A. Cox Jr. | 1:51.20 | |||
1988 | Clabber Girl | 4 | José A. Santos | D. Wayne Lukas | John A. Nerud | 1:49.40 | |||
1987 | Ms. Eloise | 4 | Robbie Davis | Philip G. Johnson | Margaret Grimm | 1:50.20 | |||
1986 | Ride Sally | 4 | Walter Guerra | Nick Zito | Manhasset Stable | 1:49.20 | |||
1985 | Flip's Pleasure | 5 | Jean-Luc Samyn | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 1:51.00 | |||
1984 | Sweet Missus | 4 | Robert Thibeau | Michael C. Sedlacek | Glenn E. Lane | 1:50.20 | |||
1983 | Adept | 4 | Karen Rogers | Frank I. Wright | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 1:50.00 | |||
1982 | Andover Way | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | Howard M. Tesher | H. Joseph Allen | 1:50.00 | |||
1981 | Chain Bracelet | 4 | Ruben Hernandez | James W. Maloney | Shirley H. Taylor | 1:49.60 | |||
1980 | Glorious Song | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | Gerry Belanger | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 1:49.60 | |||
1979 | Waya | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | David A. Whiteley | Peter M. Brant | 1:50.80 | |||
1978 | Northernette | 4 | Jeffrey Fell | David A. Whiteley | Peter M. Brant | 1:49.40 | |||
1977 | Shawi | 4 | Michael Venezia | Jose A. Martin | Mrs. Randolph Weinsier | 1:49.80 | |||
1976 | Proud Delta | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | Peter M. Howe | Montpelier | 1:49.00 | |||
1975 | Twixt | 6 | William Passmore | Katherine M. Voss | Mrs. John M. Franklin | 1:50.60 | |||
1974 | Lady Love | 4 | Eddie Maple | Frank Catrone | Ada L. Rice | 1:48.60 | |||
1973 | Poker Night | 3 | Robert Woodhouse | H. Allen Jerkens | Hobeau Farm | 1:48.20 | |||
1972 | Inca Queen | 4 | Garth Patterson | George T. Poole | C. V. Whitney | 1:50.00 | |||
1971 | Shuvee | 5 | Ron Turcotte | Willard C. Freeman | Anne Minor Stone | 1:49.60 | |||
1970 | Shuvee | 4 | Braulio Baeza | Willard C. Freeman | Anne Minor Stone | 1:48.60 | |||
1969 | Amerigo Lady | 5 | Manuel Ycaza | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1:50.40 | |||
1968 | Amerigo Lady | 4 | Jorge Velásquez | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 1:49.00 | |||
1967 | Straight Deal | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1:49.60 | |||
1966 | Summer Scandal | 4 | Garth Patterson | Woods Garth | Harborvale Stable | 1:49.40 | |||
1965 | Affectionately | 5 | Walter Blum | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1:49.80 | |||
1964 | Oil Royalty | 6 | Howard Grant | Charles Whittingham | John R. Gaines | 1:50.80 | |||
1963 | Firm Policy | 4 | Manuel Ycaza | E. Barry Ryan | E. Barry Ryan | 1:48.60 | |||
1962 | Pepper Patch | 5 | Donald Pierce | Sol Rutchick | Nicholas A. Martini | 1:50.20 | |||
1961 | Make Sail | 4 | Manuel Ycaza | Woody Stephens | Cain Hoy Stable | 1:51.00 | |||
1960 | Royal Native | 4 | Bill Hartack | Peter F. Gacicia | William B. MacDonald Jr. | 1:43.00 | |||
1959 | Big Effort | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | J. Elliott Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 1:42.80 | |||
1958 | Plucky Roman | 4 | Howard Grant | Clyde Troutt | Ada L. Rice | 1:43.00 | |||
1957 | Plotter | 4 | Pete D. Anderson | William Post | Harry La Montagne | 1:42.60 | |||
1956 | Searching | 4 | Conn McCreary | Hirsch Jacobs | Ethel D. Jacobs | 1:42.80 | |||
1955 | Parlo | 4 | Eric Guerin | Richard Handlen | Foxcatcher Farm | 1:41.80 | |||
1954 | Sunshine Nell | 6 | Eddie Arcaro | Robert Green | Meyer J. Kaplan | 1:43.40 | |||
1953 | Marta | 6 | Conn McCreary | Woody Stephens | Woodvale Farm | 1:42.80 | |||
1952 | Renew | 5 | William Boland | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:43.80 | |||
1951 | Busanda | 4 | Eric Guerin | Bartholomew Sweeny | Ogden Phipps | 1:42.40 | |||
1950 | Nell K. | 4 | George Hettinger | John B. Partridge | Spring Hill Farm | 1:43.80 | |||
1949 | But Why Not | 5 | Dave Gorman | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:43.60 | |||
1948 | Honeymoon | 5 | Douglas Dodson | Wayne Stucki | W-L Ranch Co. | 1:43.60 | |||
1947 | Rytina | 4 | Ted Atkinson | George P. "Maj" Odom | Mrs. W. Plunket Stewart | 1:43.60 | |||
1946 | Sicily | 4 | Eddie Arcaro | William Post | Harry La Montagne | 1:43.20 | |||
1945 | Miss Keeneland | 4 | Albert Snider | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:45.00 | |||
1944 | Boojiana | 3 | Ted Atkinson | Andy Schuttinger | C. V. Whitney | 1:43.40 | |||
1943 | Mar-Kell | 4 | Bill Thompson | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:44.80 | |||
1942 | Level Best | 4 | Don Meade | Dr. J. P. Jones | Crispin Oglebay | 1:42.80 | |||
1941 | Tangled | 3 | Conn McCreary | John M. Gaver Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:44.60 | |||
1940 | True Call | 3 | Don Meade | Dion K. Kerr | Mrs. Dion K. Kerr | 1:43.60 | |||
References
- "Top Flight Invitational Handicap". NYRA. 2019-04-13. Retrieved 2019-05-17.