Acorn Stakes
{{Infobox horseraces
| class = Grade I
| horse race = Acorn Stakes
| image =
| caption =
| location = Belmont Park
Elmont, New York
| inaugurated = 1931
| race type = Thoroughbred – Flat racing
| website =
| distance = {{frac|1|1|16}} miles (8.5 furlongs)
| surface = Dirt
| track = left-handed
| qualification = Three-year-old fillies
| weight = Assigned
| purse = $500,000 (2023)
| bonuses =
}}
The Acorn Stakes is an American Grade I race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies. It is raced on dirt over a distance of one mile and a sixteenth with a current purse of $500,000. It is the first leg of the US Triple Tiara and is followed by the Coaching Club American Oaks then the Alabama Stakes. The filly must win all three races to win the Triple Tiara, as well as the third leg of the "National" Triple Tiara (Kentucky Oaks and George E. Mitchell Stakes are the others).{{cite web|url=https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/stakes-schedule/acorn/|title=Acorn Stakes|publisher=NYRA|date=2020-06-20|access-date=27 May 2023}}
The Acorn Stakes was run at Aqueduct Racetrack from 1960 to 1967 and 1969 to 1975. There were two divisions in 1951, 1970 and 1974. There was a dead heat for first place in 1954 and again in 1956. The race was run at one mile from its inception until 2022. In 2023, the New York Racing Association lengthened the race to {{frac|1|1|16}} miles. The 2024 Acorn was held at Saratoga Race Course at {{frac|1|1|8}} miles due to construction at Belmont Park.{{cite web |url=https://www.drf.com/news/thorpedo-anna-just-f-y-i-rematch-likely-acorn-stakes|title=Thorpedo Anna - Just F Y I rematch likely in Acorn Stakes|last=Grening|first=David|date=1 June 2024|publisher=Daily Racing Form|access-date=2 June 2024}}
Historic notes
The inaugural running of the Acorn Stakes took place on May 16, 1931 and was won by Baba Kenney. The filly was owned by Edward R. Bradley and trained by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Herbert J. Thompson.{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/|title=Baba Kenney Takes Acorn|work=New York Times|at=Section Sports, page 141|date=1931-05-17|access-date=2020-08-12|archive-date=2020-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506002706/https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/|url-status=dead}}
Gallorette won the 1945 running of the Acorn and went on to earn American Champion Older Female Horse honors in 1946 and a career that would see her induction into the U. S. Racing Hall of Fame in 1962.
Ruffian, the ill-fated future Hall of Fame inductee, got her eighth straight career win in the 1975 edition of the Acorn. She did it in a new stakes record time, continuing her streak of either beating or equaling the record in every one of her major race victories, those being the Fashion, Astoria, Sorority and the Spinaway Stakes.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/11/archives/ruffian-wins-acorn-for-8th-straight-ruffian-breaks-record-in-acorn.html|title=Ruffian Wins Acorn for 8th Straight|work=New York Times|at=Section Sports, page 1|date=1975-05-11|access-date=2020-08-13}}
Riding her father's filly Mom's Command, in 1985 Abigail Fuller became the first female jockey to win the Acorn Stakes.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/1abc3e9bda8fa796a20717d3377136bf|title=Peter Fuller's Mom's Command led all the way|work=Associated Press News|date=1985-05-25|access-date=2020-08-13}} It would be another 28 years before a female rider accomplished the feat when Rosie Napravnik won the 2013 edition aboard Midnight Lucky .{{cite web|url=https://www.saratogian.com/news/veitch-column-midnight-lucky-dominates-acorn-stakes-on-memorial-day/article_e21a2fd3-b128-5860-866b-7f2c968e03f9.html|title=Midnight Lucky Dominates Acorn Stakes|publisher=The Saratogian|date=2013-05-28|access-date=2020-08-13}}
Records
Speed record (at previous one mile distance):
- 1:32.55 – Gamine (2020)
Most wins by an owner:
- 6 – Calumet Farm (1941, 1943, 1944, 1956*, 1979)
- 5 – Wheatley Stable (1933, 1939, 1955, 1960, 1964)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 5 – Eddie Arcaro (1945, 1946, 1948, 1955, 1961)
- 5 – Mike E. Smith (1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2017)
- 5 - John R. Velazquez (2000, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2020)
Winners
class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%" |
style="width:30px" | Year ! style="width:110px" | Winner ! style="width:110px" | Jockey ! style="width:120px" | Trainer ! Owner ! style="width:25px" | {{abbr|Dist.|Distance}} ! style="width:25px" | Time ! style="width:25px" | Win$ ! style="width:25px" | Gr. |
---|
align="center" |2025
|La Cara |Dylan Davis |Tracy Farmer | align="center" |{{frac|1|1|8}} m | align="center" |1:49.20 | align="center" |$275,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2024
| Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks & Magdalena Racing | align="center" |{{frac|1|1|8}} m | align="center" |1:49.02 | align="center" |$275,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2023
|Brendan Walsh | align="center" |{{frac|1|1|16}} m | align="center" |1:43.33 | align="center" |$275,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2022
|Matareya | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.77 | align="center" |$275,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2021
|Search Results |Klaravich Stables | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.50 |$275,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2020
|Michael Lund Petersen | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:32.55 |$165,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2019
|Guarana | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:33.58 |$375,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2018
|Stuart Grant, Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, LLC | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.10 |$375,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2017
|China Horse Club International Ltd./Clearsky Farms | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.37 |$375,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2016
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.97 |$375,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2015
| Curalina | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (Aron Wellman et al.) | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.13 |$375,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2014
| Sweet Reason | Treadway Racing Stable | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.98 |$400,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2013
| Midnight Lucky | Mike Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.11 |$180,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2012
| Contested | Natalie J. Baffert | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.61 |$180,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2011
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.48 |$180,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2010
| Champagne d'Oro | Southern Equine Stables (Eric Guillot & Mike Moreno) | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.44 |$180,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2009
| Gabby's Golden Gal | Arnold Zetcher | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.79 |$180,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2008
| Zaftig | Susan Moore et al. | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.50 |$150,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2007
| Cotton Blossom | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.70 |$150,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2006
| Bushfire | Eddie Kenneally | Ron & Ricki Rashinski | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.89 |$150,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2005
| Fox Hill Farms, Inc. (Rick Porter) | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.20 |$150,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2004
| Island Sand | James Osbrone | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.80 |$150,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2003
| Bird Town | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.20 |$150,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2002
| You | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.00 |$150,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2001
| Forest Secrets | John Ward Jr. | Debby M. Oxley | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.80 |$150,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |2000
| Finder's Fee | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.20 |$120,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1999
| Three Ring | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:36.00 |$150,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1998
| Jersey Girl | Ackerley Bros. Farm | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:36.20 |$90,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1997
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.40 |$90,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1996
| Star de Lady Ann | William W. Perry | John D. Murphy | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.60 |$90,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1995
| Cat's Cradle | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.40 |$90,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1994
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.26 |$90,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1993
| Georgia E. Hofmann | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.40 |$90,000 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1992
| Prospectors Delite | Pat Day | James Elkins, W. S. Farish III & W. Temple Webber | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.00 |$113,400 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1991
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.40 |$103,680 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1990
| Stella Madrid | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:36.00 |$104,580 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1989
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.40 |$111,960 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1988
| Aptostar | Centennial Farms (Donald Little) | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.80 |$109,980 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1987
| Grecian Flight | Henry C. Lindh | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.20 |$113,580 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1986
| Lotka | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.20 |$109,080 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1985
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.80 |$113,040 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1984
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.80 |$108,720 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1983
| Ski Goggle | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.00 |$69,360 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1982
| Cupecoy's Joy | Ri-Ma-Ro Stables (Robert DeFilippis) & Robert Perez | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.20 |$51,750 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1981
| Ryehill Farm (Jim & Eleanor Ryan) | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.20 |$50,850 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1980
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:36.80 |$50,400 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1979
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:36.00 |$50,130 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1978
| Tempest Queen | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.40 |$31,920 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1977
| Bring Out The Band | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:36.80 |$33,690 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1976
| Richard E. Bailey | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.80 |$33,390 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1975
| Ruffian | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.40 |$33,660 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1974-1
| Carl Rosen | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:36.00 |$33,960 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1974-2
| Special Team | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.40 |$33,960 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1973
| Windy's Daughter | Bernice Blackman | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.40 |$36,540 | align="center" |G1 |
align="center" |1972
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.60 |$33,720 |
align="center" |1971
| Deceit | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:36.60 |$38,970 |
align="center" |1970-1
| Royal Signal | Mary Louise Knapp Jr. | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:36.20 |$36,967 |
align="center" |1970-2
| Cathy Honey | Hastings Harcourt | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:36.00 |$36,967 |
align="center" |1969
| Shuvee | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.60 |$38,707 |
align="center" |1968
| Lloyd I. Miller | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:34.80 |$39,065 |
align="center" |1967
| Furl Sail | Emma Louise Thomas | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.60 |$44,330 |
align="center" |1966
| Marking Time | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:36.00 |$38,642 |
align="center" |1965
| Ground Control | Jules D. Michaels | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.20 |$38,220 |
align="center" |1964
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.00 |$39,098 |
align="center" |1963
| Spicy Living | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.20 |$39,098 |
align="center" |1962
| Cicada | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.60 |$37,992 |
align="center" |1961
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.40 |$37,537 |
align="center" |1960
| Irish Jay | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:35.80 |$38,292 |
align="center" |1959
| Quill | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.40 |$38,075 |
align="center" |1958
| Big Effort | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.40 |$22,952 |
align="center" |1957
| Bayou | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.00 |$26,000 |
align="center" |1956
| Beyond (DH) | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.80 |$12,650 |
align="center" |1956
| Princess Turia (DH) | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.80 |$12,650 |
align="center" |1955
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:38.80 |$22,900 |
align="center" |1954
| Happy Mood (DH) | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:38.80 |$10,925 |
align="center" |1954
| Riverina (DH) | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:38.80 |$10,925 |
align="center" |1953
| Secret Meeting | James Cox Brady Jr. | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:39.40 |$18,450 |
align="center" |1952
| Parading Lady | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:38.80 |$18,650 |
align="center" |1951-1
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:36.40 |$16,750 |
align="center" |1951-2
| Nothirdchance | Bennie Green | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:38.80 |$16,550 |
align="center" |1950
| Siama | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.20 |$12,600 |
align="center" |1949
| Nell K | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:38.00 |$13,725 |
align="center" |1948
| Watermill | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.00 |$12,525 |
align="center" |1947
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:38.00 |$14,300 |
align="center" |1946
| Earshot | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.20 |$9,840 |
align="center" |1945
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.20 |$9,480 |
align="center" |1944
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.00 |$10,815 |
align="center" |1943
| Nellie L | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:38.60 |$10,650 |
align="center" |1942
| Zaca Rosa | Charles Wahler | William W. Crenshaw | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:38.20 |$11,300 |
align="center" |1941
| Proud One | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.60 |$7,275 |
align="center" |1940
| Damaged Goods | John M. Milburn | Starmount Stable (Edward Benjamin) | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:37.00 |$12,025 |
align="center" |1939
| Hostility | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:39.80 |$12,100 |
align="center" |1938
| Handcuff | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:39.80 |$10,325 |
align="center" |1937
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:38.80 |$10,100 |
align="center" |1936
| Blue Sheen | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:38.80 |$10,600 |
align="center" |1935
| Good Gamble | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:39.00 |$7,325 |
align="center" |1934
| Fleam | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:38.00 |$8,575 |
align="center" |1933
| Iseult | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:40.60 |$10,650 |
align="center" |1932
| align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:39.00 |$12,850 |
align="center" |1931
| Baba Kenney | Willie Cannon | align="center" |1 m | align="center" |1:41.00 |$3,375 |
References
{{reflist}}
Category:Horse races in New York (state)
Category:Flat horse races for three-year-old fillies
Category:Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing
Category:Grade 1 stakes races in the United States
Category:Graded stakes races in the United States