Acorn Stakes

{{Infobox horseraces

| class = Grade I

| horse race = Acorn Stakes

| image =

| caption =

| location = Belmont Park
Elmont, New York

| inaugurated = 1931

| race type = ThoroughbredFlat 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.

{{cite web|url=https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1940s/drf1945060802/drf1945060802_2_4|title=Gallorette Accounts for Belmont's Acorn Stakes|work=Daily Racing Form|via=University of Kentucky Archives|date=1945-06-08|access-date=2020-08-13}}

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):

Most wins by an owner:

*Two horses owned by Calumet Farm finished in a dead heat for first in 1956

Most wins by a jockey:

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}}
(Miles)

! style="width:25px" | Time

! style="width:25px" | Win$

! style="width:25px" | Gr.

align="center" |2025

|La Cara

|Dylan Davis

|Mark E. Casse

|Tracy Farmer

| align="center" |{{frac|1|1|8}} m

| align="center" |1:49.20

| align="center" |$275,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2024

|Thorpedo Anna

|Brian Hernandez Jr.

|Kenneth G. McPeek

| 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

|Pretty Mischievous

|Tyler Gaffalione

|Brendan Walsh

|Godolphin

| align="center" |{{frac|1|1|16}} m

| align="center" |1:43.33

| align="center" |$275,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2022

|Matareya

|Flavien Prat

|Brad H. Cox

|Godolphin

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.77

| align="center" |$275,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2021

|Search Results

|Javier Castellano

|Chad Brown

|Klaravich Stables

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.50

|$275,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2020

|Gamine

|John Velazquez

|Bob Baffert

|Michael Lund Petersen

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:32.55

|$165,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2019

|Guarana

|José Ortiz

|Chad C. Brown

|Three Chimneys Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:33.58

|$375,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2018

|Monomoy Girl

|Florent Geroux

|Brad H. Cox

|Stuart Grant, Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, LLC

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.10

|$375,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2017

|Abel Tasman

|Mike E. Smith

|Bob Baffert

|China Horse Club International Ltd./Clearsky Farms

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.37

|$375,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2016

| Carina Mia

| Julien Leparoux

| William Mott

| Three Chimneys Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.97

|$375,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2015

| Curalina

| John Velazquez

| Todd Pletcher

| 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

| Irad Ortiz Jr

| Leah Gyarmati

| Treadway Racing Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.98

|$400,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2013

| Midnight Lucky

| Rosie Napravnik

| Bob Baffert

| Mike Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.11

|$180,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2012

| Contested

| Javier Castellano

| Bob Baffert

| Natalie J. Baffert

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.61

|$180,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2011

| It's Tricky

| Eddie Castro

| Kiaran McLaughlin

| Darley Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.48

|$180,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2010

| Champagne d'Oro

| Martin Garcia

| Eric Guillot

| 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

| Javier Castellano

| Bob Baffert

| Arnold Zetcher

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.79

|$180,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2008

| Zaftig

| John Velazquez

| James A. Jerkens

| Susan Moore et al.

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.50

|$150,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2007

| Cotton Blossom

| John R. Velazquez

| Todd A. Pletcher

| Dogwood Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.70

|$150,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2006

| Bushfire

| Alex Solis

| Eddie Kenneally

| Ron & Ricki Rashinski

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.89

|$150,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2005

| Round Pond

| Stewart Elliott

| John Servis

| 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

| Terry J. Thompson

| J. Larry Jones

| James Osbrone

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.80

|$150,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2003

| Bird Town

| Edgar Prado

| Nick Zito

| Marylou Whitney Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.20

|$150,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2002

| You

| Jerry Bailey

| Robert J. Frankel

| Edmund A. Gann

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.00

|$150,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |2001

| Forest Secrets

| Chris McCarron

| 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

| John Velazquez

| C. R. McGaughey III

| Ogden Phipps

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.20

|$120,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1999

| Three Ring

| Jerry Bailey

| Edward Plesa Jr.

| Barry K. Schwartz

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:36.00

|$150,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1998

| Jersey Girl

| Mike E. Smith

| Todd A. Pletcher

| Ackerley Bros. Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:36.20

|$90,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1997

| Sharp Cat

| Gary Stevens

| D. Wayne Lukas

| The Thoroughbred Corp.

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.40

|$90,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1996

| Star de Lady Ann

| Mike E. Smith

| 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

| Chris Antley

| David Hofmans

| Georgia B. Ridder

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.40

|$90,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1994

| Inside Information

| Mike E. Smith

| C. R. McGaughey III

| Ogden Mills Phipps

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.26

|$90,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1993

| Sky Beauty

| Mike E. Smith

| H. Allen Jerkens

| Georgia E. Hofmann

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.40

|$90,000

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1992

| Prospectors Delite

| Pat Day

| Neil J. Howard

| 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

| Meadow Star

| Jerry Bailey

| LeRoy Jolley

| Carl Icahn

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.40

|$103,680

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1990

| Stella Madrid

| Ángel Cordero Jr.

| D. Wayne Lukas

| Peter M. Brant

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:36.00

|$104,580

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1989

| Open Mind

| Ángel Cordero Jr.

| D. Wayne Lukas

| Eugene V. Klein

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.40

|$111,960

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1988

| Aptostar

| Robbie Davis

| H. Allen Jerkens

| Centennial Farms (Donald Little)

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.80

|$109,980

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1987

| Grecian Flight

| Craig Perret

| Joseph H. Pierce Jr.

| Henry C. Lindh

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.20

|$113,580

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1986

| Lotka

| Jerry Bailey

| Woody Stephens

| Henryk de Kwiatkowski

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.20

|$109,080

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1985

| Mom's Command

| Abigail Fuller

| Edward T. Allard

| Peter D. Fuller

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.80

|$113,040

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1984

| Miss Oceana

| Eddie Maple

| Woody Stephens

| Newstead Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.80

|$108,720

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1983

| Ski Goggle

| Chris McCarron

| A. Thomas Doyle

| Zenya Yoshida

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.00

|$69,360

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1982

| Cupecoy's Joy

| Angel Santiago

| Alfredo Callejas

| 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

| Heavenly Cause

| Laffit Pincay Jr.

| Woody Stephens

| Ryehill Farm (Jim & Eleanor Ryan)

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.20

|$50,850

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1980

| Bold 'n Determined

| Ed Delahoussaye

| Neil Drysdale

| Saron Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:36.80

|$50,400

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1979

| Davona Dale

| Jorge Velásquez

| John M. Veitch

| Calumet Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:36.00

|$50,130

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1978

| Tempest Queen

| Jorge Velásquez

| Lou Rondinello

| Darby Dan Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.40

|$31,920

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1977

| Bring Out The Band

| Don Brumfield

| James W. Murphy

| Hickory Tree Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:36.80

|$33,690

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1976

| Dearly Precious

| Jorge Velásquez

| Stephen A. DiMauro

| Richard E. Bailey

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.80

|$33,390

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1975

| Ruffian

| Jacinto Vásquez

| Frank Y. Whiteley Jr.

| Locust Hill Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.40

|$33,660

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1974-1

| Chris Evert

| Jorge Velásquez

| Joseph A. Trovato

| Carl Rosen

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:36.00

|$33,960

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1974-2

| Special Team

| Miguel A. Rivera

| James E. Picou

| Fred W. Hooper

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.40

|$33,960

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1973

| Windy's Daughter

| Braulio Baeza

| Laz Barrera

| Bernice Blackman

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.40

|$36,540

| align="center" |G1

align="center" |1972

| Susan's Girl

| Victor Tejada

| John W. Russell

| Fred W. Hooper

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.60

|$33,720

align="center" |1971

| Deceit

| John L. Rotz

| Del W. Carroll

| Windfields Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:36.60

|$38,970

align="center" |1970-1

| Royal Signal

| Garth Patterson

| Stephen A. DiMauro

| Mary Louise Knapp Jr.

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:36.20

|$36,967

align="center" |1970-2

| Cathy Honey

| Laffit Pincay Jr.

| Evan S. Jackson

| Hastings Harcourt

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:36.00

|$36,967

align="center" |1969

| Shuvee

| Jesse Davidson

| Willard C. Freeman

| Anne Minor Stone

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.60

|$38,707

align="center" |1968

| Dark Mirage

| Manuel Ycaza

| Everett W. King

| Lloyd I. Miller

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:34.80

|$39,065

align="center" |1967

| Furl Sail

| Jacinto Vásquez

| John L. Winans

| Emma Louise Thomas

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.60

|$44,330

align="center" |1966

| Marking Time

| Bill Shoemaker

| Edward A. Neloy

| Ogden Phipps

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:36.00

|$38,642

align="center" |1965

| Ground Control

| Donald Pierce

| Edward A. Neloy

| Jules D. Michaels

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.20

|$38,220

align="center" |1964

| Castle Forbes

| John L. Rotz

| Edward A. Neloy

| Wheatley Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.00

|$39,098

align="center" |1963

| Spicy Living

| Jimmy Combest

| Jimmy Rowe

| Eleonora Sears

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.20

|$39,098

align="center" |1962

| Cicada

| Bill Shoemaker

| Casey Hayes

| Meadow Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.60

|$37,992

align="center" |1961

| Bowl of Flowers

| Eddie Arcaro

| J. Elliott Burch

| Brookmeade Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.40

|$37,537

align="center" |1960

| Irish Jay

| Hedley Woodhouse

| James E. Fitzsimmons

| Wheatley Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:35.80

|$38,292

align="center" |1959

| Quill

| Bobby Ussery

| Lucien Laurin

| Reginald N. Webster

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.40

|$38,075

align="center" |1958

| Big Effort

| Pete D. Anderson

| J. Elliott Burch

| Brookmeade Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.40

|$22,952

align="center" |1957

| Bayou

| Bobby Ussery

| Moody Jolley

| Claiborne Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.00

|$26,000

align="center" |1956

| Beyond (DH)

| Conn McCreary

| Horace A. Jones

| Calumet Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.80

|$12,650

align="center" |1956

| Princess Turia (DH)

| Henry Moreno

| Horace A. Jones

| Calumet Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.80

|$12,650

align="center" |1955

| High Voltage

| Eddie Arcaro

| James E. Fitzsimmons

| Wheatley Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:38.80

|$22,900

align="center" |1954

| Happy Mood (DH)

| Pete Moreno

| Monte S. Parke

| Fannie Hertz

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:38.80

|$10,925

align="center" |1954

| Riverina (DH)

| William Boland

| Max Hirsch

| King Ranch

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:38.80

|$10,925

align="center" |1953

| Secret Meeting

| James Nichols

| Robert L. Dotter

| James Cox Brady Jr.

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:39.40

|$18,450

align="center" |1952

| Parading Lady

| James Hardinbrook

| John B. Theall

| Joe W. Brown

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:38.80

|$18,650

align="center" |1951-1

| Kiss Me Kate

| Warren Mehrtens

| Oscar White

| Walter M. Jeffords

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:36.40

|$16,750

align="center" |1951-2

| Nothirdchance

| Bennie Green

| Hirsch Jacobs

| Isidor Bieber

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:38.80

|$16,550

align="center" |1950

| Siama

| Ted Atkinson

| Moody Jolley

| Cain Hoy Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.20

|$12,600

align="center" |1949

| Nell K

| Douglas Dodson

| John B. Partridge

| Spring Hill Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:38.00

|$13,725

align="center" |1948

| Watermill

| Eddie Arcaro

| Bert Mulholland

| George D. Widener Jr.

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.00

|$12,525

align="center" |1947

| But Why Not

| Warren Mehrtens

| Max Hirsch

| King Ranch

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:38.00

|$14,300

align="center" |1946

| Earshot

| Eddie Arcaro

| Willie Booth

|William G. Helis Sr.

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.20

|$9,840

align="center" |1945

| Gallorette

| Eddie Arcaro

| Edward A. Christmas

| William L. Brann

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.20

|$9,480

align="center" |1944

| Twilight Tear

| Conn McCreary

| Ben A. Jones

| Calumet Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.00

|$10,815

align="center" |1943

| Nellie L

| Wendell Eads

| Ben A. Jones

| Calumet Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:38.60

|$10,650

align="center" |1942

| Zaca Rosa

| Charles Wahler

| Frank J. Baker

| William W. Crenshaw

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:38.20

|$11,300

align="center" |1941

| Proud One

| Wendell Eads

| Ben A. Jones

| Calumet Farm

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.60

|$7,275

align="center" |1940

| Damaged Goods

| John Gilbert

| John M. Milburn

| Starmount Stable (Edward Benjamin)

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:37.00

|$12,025

align="center" |1939

| Hostility

| Leon Haas

| James E. Fitzsimmons

| Wheatley Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:39.80

|$12,100

align="center" |1938

| Handcuff

| Charley Kurtsinger

| Hugh L. Fontaine

| Brookmeade Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:39.80

|$10,325

align="center" |1937

| Dawn Play

| Lester Balaski

| Max Hirsch

| King Ranch

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:38.80

|$10,100

align="center" |1936

| Blue Sheen

| James Stout

| James E. Fitzsimmons

| Whitney A. Stone

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:38.80

|$10,600

align="center" |1935

| Good Gamble

| Sam Renick

| Bud Stotler

| Alfred G. Vanderbilt II

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:39.00

|$7,325

align="center" |1934

| Fleam

| James Stout

| James E. Fitzsimmons

| Belair Stud

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:38.00

|$8,575

align="center" |1933

| Iseult

| Hank Mills

| James E. Fitzsimmons

| Wheatley Stable

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:40.60

|$10,650

align="center" |1932

| Top Flight

| Raymond Workman

| Thomas J. Healey

| C. V. Whitney

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:39.00

|$12,850

align="center" |1931

| Baba Kenney

| Willie Cannon

| Herbert J. Thompson

| Edward R. Bradley

| align="center" |1 m

| align="center" |1:41.00

|$3,375

References