Arlington Classic

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Ungraded stakes race
Arlington Classic Stakes
Location Arlington Park
Arlington Heights, Illinois Flag of the United States
Inaugurated 1929
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website Arlington Park
Race information
Distance 8.5 Furlongs (1 1/16 miles)
Track Grass, left-handed
Qualification Three-year-olds
Weight Scale Weight
Purse $150,000

The Arlington Classic Stakes is a American Thoroughbred horse race for 3-year-old horses held annually at the end of June at Arlington Park race track near Chicago, Illinois. An ungraded stakes event, currently it is raced over a distance of 8.5 furlongs (1 1/16 miles) on turf.

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. According to the July 25, 1932 issue [1] of TIME magazine, it was then the richest race for 3-year-olds in America.

On November 28th, 2007, this Grade III stakes race was downgraded to an ungraded stakes by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

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.

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 was raced on dirt from 1929-1973, 1977-1987, 1989-1993. Since its inception, the Arlington Classic has been contested over a variety of distances:

  • 1 mile (dirt) : 1952-1972
  • 1 1/16 miles (dirt) : 1973
  • 1 1/4 miles (dirt) : 1929-1951, 1977-1979
  • 1 mile (turf) : 1994-1997, 2000-2001

[edit] Records

Speed record: (at current 8.5 furlongs distance)

  • 1:41.95 - Mr. Mellon (2002)

Largest margin of victory:

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

[edit] Winners of the Arlington Classic

Year
 Winner
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Time
1929 Blue Larkspur Mack Garner Herbert J. Thompson Edward R. Bradley 2:14.40
1930 Gallant Fox Earl Sande Jim Fitzsimmons Belair Stud 2:03.80
1931 Mate Alfred Robertson James W. Healy Albert C. Bostwick 2:02.40
1932 Gusto Silvio Coucci Max Hirsch Morton L. Schwartz 2:03.60
1933 Inlander Robert Jones Robert A. Smith Brookmeade Stable 2:02.00
1934 Cavalcade Mack Garner Robert A. Smith Brookmeade Stable 2:02.80
1935 Omaha Wayne D. Wright Jim Fitzsimmons Belair Stud 2:01.40
1936 Granville James Stout Jim Fitzsimmons Belair Stud 2:03.20
1937 Flying Scot John Gilbert James W. Healy John Hay Whitney 2:05.80
1938 Nedayr Wayne D. Wright W. A. Crawford Willis Sharpe Kilmer 2:06.20
1939 Challedon Harry Richards Louis J. Schaefer William L. Brann 2:02.00
1940 Sirocco George Woolf James W. Smith Dixiana Farm 2:03.00
1941 Attention Carroll Bierman Max Hirsch Mrs. P. Corning 2:02.80
1942 Shut Out Eddie Arcaro John M. Gaver, Sr. Greentree Stable 2:01.40
1943 Slide Rule Ferrill Zufelt Cecil Wilhelm William E. Boeing 2:04.60
1944 Twilight Tear Leon Haas Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 2:03.60
1945 Pot o' Luck Douglas Dodson Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 2:05.80
1946 The Dude M. Duhon A. Gaal Mrs. A. Gaal 2:02.60
1947 But Why Not Warren Mehrtens Max Hirsch King Ranch 2:01.80
1948 Papa Redbird Robert L. Baird J. M. Goode J. A. Goodwin 2:03.00
1949 Ponder Steve Brooks Horace A. Jones Calumet Farm 2:03.20
1950 Greek Song Ovie Scurlock Virgil W. Raines Brandywine Stable 2:01.80
1951 Hall Of Fame Ted Atkinson John M. Gaver, Sr. Greentree Stable 2:03.20
1952 Mark-Ye-Well Eddie Arcaro Ben A. Jones Calumet Farm 1:39.20
1953 Native Dancer Eric Guerin William C. Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt II 1:38.00
1954 Errard King Sam Boulmetis, Sr. Thomas J. Barry Joseph Gavegnano 1:35.00
1955 Nashua Eddie Arcaro Jim Fitzsimmons Belair Stud 1:35.20
1956 Swoon's Son David Erb A. G. Wilson E. G. Drake 1:36.80
1957 Clem Conn McCreary William W. Stephens Adele L. Rand 1:36.60
1958 A Dragon Killer John Combest N. Haymaker Mrs. S. Sadacca 1:36.40
1959 Dunce L. C. Cook Moody Jolley Claiborne Farm 1:35.00
1960 T. V. Lark Johnny Sellers Paul K. Parker C. R. Mac Stable 1:36.20
1961 Globemaster John L. Rotz Thomas J. Kelly Leonard P. Sasso 1:35.40
1962 Ridan Avelino Gomez LeRoy Jolley J. G. W. Stable 1:38.00
1963 Candy Spots Bill Shoemaker Mesh Tenney Rex C. Ellsworth 1:35.80
1964 Tosmah Sam Boulmetis, Sr. Joseph Mergler Anthony Imbesi 1:36.20
1965 Tom Rolfe Bill Shoemaker Frank Y. Whiteley, Jr. Powhatan Stables 1:34.80
1966 Buckpasser Braulio Baeza Edward A. Neloy Ogden Phipps 1:32.60
1967 Dr. Fager Braulio Baeza John A. Nerud Tartan Stable 1:36.00
1968 Exclusive Native Ismael Valenzuela Ivan H. Parke Harbor View Farm 1:36.00
1969 Ack Ack Braulio Baeza Frank A. Bonsal Cain Hoy Stable 1:34.40
1970 Corn Off The Cob Eddie Belmonte Arnold N. Winick Fence Post Farm 1:35.40
1971 Son Ange Chuck Baltazar Reggie Cornell Calumet Farm 1:36.00
1972 King's Bishop Eddie Maple Thomas J. Kelly Craig F. Cullinan, Jr. 1:35.00
1973 Linda's Chief Braulio Baeza Al Scotti Neil Hellman 1:44.60
1977 Private Thoughts R. Perez G. Sanders Sandera Farm 1:59.40
1978 Alydar Jeffrey Fell John M. Veitch Calumet Farm 2:00.40
1979 Steady Growth Brian Swatuk John J. Tammaro, Jr. Kinghaven Farm 2:00.60
1980 Spruce Needles Mike Morgan Smiley Adams Golden Chance Farm 1:49.20
1981 Fairway Phantom John Lively Carl Nafzger William H. Floyd 1:53.40
1982 Wolfie's Rascal Aangel Cordero, Jr. Howard Tesher Sidney L. Port et al 1:49.00
1983 Play Fellow Pat Day Harvey L. Vanier Vanier, Lauer, Victor 1:49.00
1984 At The Threshold Pat Day Lynn S. Whiting W. Cal Partee 1:50.20
1985 Smile Jacinto Vasquez Frank Gomez Frances A. Genter 1:51.20
1986 Sumptious Randy Romero Phil Hauswald John A. Bell III 1:49.40
1987 Lost Code Gene St. Leon L. William Donovan Wendover Stable 1:49.60
1989 Clever Trevor Don Pettinger Donnie K. Von Hemel D. C. McNeil 1:49.40
1990 Sound Of Cannons Pat Day George R. Arnold II B. Wilkinson/L.G. Robey 1:47.60
1991 Whadjathink Jorge Velasquez Michael Whittingham Richard L. Duchossois 1:49.18
1992 Saint Ballado Julie Krone Clint Goodrich Lothenbach/Herold/Goodrich 1:46.82
1993 Boundlessly Pat Day Jere R. Smith, Jr. Panic Stable 1:49.89
1994 Eagle Eyed Corey Nakatani Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1:48.46
1995 Hawk Attack Pat Day W. Elliott Walden Cavalier Stable 1:48.04
1996 Trail City Pat Day William I. Mott W. I. Mott & R. Verchota 1:48.61
1997 Honor Glide Garrett Gomez Jim Day Robert Schaedle III 1:47.59
2000 King Cugat Robby Albarado William I. Mott Centennial Farms 1:48.16
2001 Baptize Mark Guidry William I. Mott G. & M. West 1:48.80
2002 Mr. Mellon Rene Douglas W. Elliott Walden WinStar Farm/T. Van Meter II 1:41.95
2003 Lismore Knight Rene Douglas Todd A. Pletcher J. J. Pletcher & B. Simon 1:42.73
2004 Toasted Rene Douglas Laura de Seroux Sidney L. Port 1:50.91
2005 Purim Mark Guidry Tom Proctor Edward J. Sukley 1:42.65
2006 Kingship Robby Albarado Ronny Werner Oxbow Racing 1:43.57
2007 Pleasant Strike Rene Douglas Todd A. Pletcher Edward P. Evans 1:42.05
2008 Meal Penalty Jose Velez Jr. Todd Pletcher Sassafras Racing/Gulf Coast Farms 1:41.97