| Grade I race | |
|---|---|
| Hopeful Stakes | |
| Location | Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Springs, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1903 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Hopeful Stakes at the NYRA |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 7 furlongs |
| Track | Dirt, left-handed |
| Qualification | Two-year-olds |
| Weight | 120 lbs. |
| Purse | $250,000 |
The Hopeful Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to two-year-old horses, the Hopeful is the first Grade I stakes for two-year-olds each season and historically has been a showcase for some of the top East Coast horses at that age group. Raced on the dirt over a distance of seven furlongs, the Grade I event offers a purse of $250,000.
The race is currently part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. The winner will automatically qualify for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Inaugurated in 1903, the first edition was won by Delhi. In 1904, the Hopeful Stakes was won by the filly Tanya who would go on to win one of the American Classic Races the following year. Initially raced at a distance of six furlongs, from 1925 through 1993 it was run at six and a half furlongs and since 1994 at seven furlongs. Currently, the Hopeful Stakes is the first influential prep race leading up to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and since 1925 has been a competition that marks the first time two-year-olds are tested at a distance beyond six furlongs. The name stems from the hope every two-year-old handlers have for their horse's racing future
Due to the State of New York's legislated ban on parimutuel betting, there was no race in 1911 and 1912. During World War II, the Hopeful Stakes was run at Belmont Park in 1943, 1944, and 1945.
Only four horses have ever won all three Saratoga Racecourse events for two-year-olds. Regret (1914), Campfire (1916), Dehere (1993), and City Zip (2000) each swept the Hopeful Stakes, Saratoga Special Stakes, and the Sanford Stakes.
Since 2008, the race has been sponsored by Three Chimneys Farm of Midway, Kentucky.
Time record: (at current 7 furlong distance)
Most wins by an owner:
Most wins by a jockey:
| Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 2011 | Currency Swap | Rajiv Maragh | Terri Pompay | Klaravich Stables/Lawrence | 1:26.16 |
| 2010 | Boys At Tosconova | Ramon Dominguez | Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. | Jay Em Ess Stable, et al | 1:23.27 |
| 2009 | Dublin | Jamie Theriot | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert C. Baker/William L. Mack | 1:23.52 |
| 2008 | Vineyard Haven | Alan Garcia | Robert J. Frankel | Frankel/Lazzinnaro/Diamond Pride | 1:23.40 |
| 2007 | Majestic Warrior | Garrett Gomez | William I. Mott | Kinsman Stable | 1:23.04 |
| 2006 | Circular Quay | Garrett Gomez | Todd A. Pletcher | Michael & Doreen Tabor | 1:23.00 |
| 2005 | First Samurai | Jerry D. Bailey | Frank L. Brothers | Lunsford & Robbins III | 1:23.25 |
| 2004 | Afleet Alex | Jeremy Rose | Tim Ritchey | Cash is King LLC | 1:23.58 |
| 2003 | Silver Wagon | Jerry D. Bailey | Ralph Ziadie | Buckram Oak Farm | 1:23.47 |
| 2002 | Sky Mesa | Edgar Prado | John T. Ward | John C. Oxley | 1:23.08 |
| 2001 | Came Home | Chris McCarron | J. Paco Gonzalez | Trudy McCaffery | 1:21.94 |
| 2000 | Yonaguska (DH) | Jerry D. Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael B. Tabor | 1:24.52 |
| 2000 | City Zip (DH) | Jose Santos | Linda L. Rice | Thompson & Bowling | 1:24.52 |
| 1999 | High Yield | Jerry D. Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 1:22.85 |
| 1998 | Lucky Roberto | Robbie Davis | Frank A. Alexander | Jesse Robinson | 1:23.81 |
| 1997 | Favorite Trick | Pat Day | Patrick B. Byrne | Joseph LaCombe | 1:23.87 |
| 1996 | Smoke Glacken | Craig Perret | Henry L. Carroll | Karkenny Levy et al. | 1:23.63 |
| 1995 | Hennessy | Gary L. Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Bob & Beverly Lewis | 1:23.44 |
| 1994 | Wild Escapade | Jorge F. Chavez | Leo O'Brien | Dogwood Stable | 1:23.24 |
| 1993 | Dehere | Chris McCarron | Reynaldo Nobles | Due Process Stable | 1:15.80 |
| 1992 | Great Navigator | Aaron Gryder | John F. Mazza | Roron Stables | 1:15.71 |
| 1991 | Salt Lake | Mike E. Smith | D. Wayne Lukas | William T. Young | 1:17.74 |
| 1990 | Deposit Ticket | Gary L. Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 1:16.20 |
| 1989 | Summer Squall | Pat Day | Neil J. Howard | Dogwood Stable | 1:16.80 |
| 1988 | Mercedes Won | Robbie Davis | Arnold Fink | Christopher Spencer | 1:16.60 |
| 1987 | Crusader Sword | Randy Romero | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stable | 1:18.60 |
| 1986 | Gulch | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Leroy Jolley | Peter M. Brant | 1:16.40 |
| 1985 | Papal Power | Don MacBeth | Charles Peoples | Bayard Sharp | 1:18.40 |
| 1984 | Chief's Crown | Don MacBeth | Roger Laurin | Star Crown Stable | 1:16.00 |
| 1983 | Capitol South | Jerry D. Bailey | Lou Rondinello | Darby Dan Farm | 1:17.40 |
| 1982 | Copelan | Jerry D. Bailey | Mitchell Griffin | Fred W. Hooper | 1:16.60 |
| 1981 | Timely Writer | Roger Danjean | Dominic Imprescia | Peter Martin | 1:16.20 |
| 1980 | Tap Shoes | Ruben Hernandez | Howard M. Tesher | Leone J. Peters | 1:17.00 |
| 1979* | J.P. Brother | Joseph Imparato | John P. Campo | Diamond Peg Stable | 1:16.20 |
| 1978 | General Assembly | Darrel McHargue | Leroy Jolley | Bertram R. Firestone | 1:16.40 |
| 1977 | Affirmed | Steve Cauthen | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 1:15.40 |
| 1976 | Banquet Table | Jean Cruguet | George T. Poole, Jr. | C. V. Whitney | 1:16.20 |
| 1975-I | Jackknife | Jean Cruguet | John P. Campo | Elmendorf Farm | 1:16.60 |
| 1975-II | Eustace | James Nichols | Wayne Rose | Eugene Cashman | 1:16.40 |
| 1974-I | The Bagel Prince | Angel Cordero Jr. | Edward Pappalardo | Edward Shamie | 1:16.80 |
| 1974-II | Foolish Pleasure | Braulio Baeza | Leroy Jolley | John L. Greer | 1:16.00 |
| 1973 | Gusty O'Shay | Robert Kotenko | Harrison E. Johnson | Mrs. Gerard Hopkins | 1:16.40 |
| 1972 | Secretariat | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable | 1:16.20 |
| 1971 | Rest Your Case | Jacinto Vasquez | MacKenzie Miller | Cragwood Stable | 1:17.40 |
| 1970 | Proudest Roman | John L. Rotz | Woody Stephens | Mrs. John A. Morris | 1:18.60 |
| 1969 | Irish Castle | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable | 1:17.20 |
| 1968 | Top Knight | Manuel Ycaza | Raymond Metcalf | Steven B. Wilson | 1:16.00 |
| 1967 | What A Pleasure | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable | 1:16.40 |
| 1966 | Bold Hour | John L. Rotz | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener, Jr. | 1:17.20 |
| 1965 | Buckpasser | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Ogden Phipps | 1:16.00 |
| 1964 | Bold Lad | Braulio Baeza | Edward A. Neloy | Wheatley Stable | 1:15.60 |
| 1963 | Traffic | Manuel Ycaza | Lucien Laurin | Reginald N. Webster | 1:18.60 |
| 1962 | Outing Class | Donald R. Pierce | John M. Gaver, Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:17.00 |
| 1961 | Jaipur | Bill Shoemaker | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener, Jr. | 1:16.40 |
| 1960 | Hail To Reason | Bobby Ussery | Hirsch Jacobs | Patrice Jacobs | 1:16.00 |
| 1959 | Tompion | Bill Shoemaker | Sylvester Veitch | C. V. Whitney | 1:17.40 |
| 1958 | First Landing | Eddie Arcaro | Casey Hayes | Christopher Chenery | 1:17.80 |
| 1957 | Rose Trellis | Frank Lovato | Richard E. Handlen | Foxcatcher Farm | 1:18.40 |
| 1956 | King Hairan | Eddie Arcaro | Ray Metcalfe | Leo Edwards | 1:18.40 |
| 1955 | Needles | John Choquette | Hugh L. Fontaine | D and H Stable | 1:18.20 |
| 1954 | Nashua | Eddie Arcaro | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1:17.80 |
| 1953 | Artismo | Dave Gorman | Robert L. Dotter | James Cox Brady, Jr. | 1:18.00 |
| 1952 | Native Dancer | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1:18.80 |
| 1951 | Cousin | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 1:19.20 |
| 1950 | Battlefield | Eric Guerin | Bert Mulholland | George D. Widener, Jr. | 1:18.00 |
| 1949 | Middleground | David Gorman | Max Hirsch | King Ranch | 1:18.40 |
| 1948 | Blue Peter | Eric Guerin | Andy Schuttinger | Joseph M. Roebling | 1:19.20 |
| 1947 | Relic | John H. Adams | Not Found | Circle M. Farm | 1:17.40 |
| 1946 | Blue Border | Abelardo DeLara | James W. Smith | Edward R. Bradley | 1:17.00 |
| 1945 | Star Pilot | Arnold Kirkland | Tom Smith | Maine Chance Farm | 1:16.60 |
| 1944 | Pavot | George Woolf | Oscar White | Walter M. Jeffords | 1:18.80 |
| 1943 | Bee Mac | Sterling Young | James W. Smith | Beatrice MacGuire | 1:18.40 |
| 1942 | Devil's Thumb | Conn McCreary | Cecil Wilhelm | William Edward Boeing | 1:18.40 |
| 1941 | Devil Diver | Jack Skelly | John M. Gaver, Sr. | Greentree Stable | 1:18.60 |
| 1940 | Whirlaway | Johnny Longden | Ben A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:18.00 |
| 1939 | Bimelech | Fred A. Smith | Bill Hurley | Edward R. Bradley | 1:18.80 |
| 1938 | El Chico | Nick Wall | Matthew Peter Brady | William Ziegler, Jr. | 1:18.40 |
| 1937 | Sky Larking | Alfred Robertson | Robert McGarvey | Milky Way Farm | 1:20.80 |
| 1936 | Maedic | Eddie Litzenberger | William J. Hurley | Maemere Farm | 1:20.20 |
| 1935 | Red Rain | Raymond Workman | Thomas J. Healey | C. V. Whitney | 1:19.80 |
| 1934 | Psychic Bid | Mack Garner | Robert A. Smith | Brookmeade Stable | 1:18.80 |
| 1933 | Bazaar | Don Meade | Herbert J. Thompson | Edward R. Bradley | 1:19.00 |
| 1932 | Ladysman | Robert Jones | J. H. "Bud" Stotler | William R. Coe | 1:19.40 |
| 1931 | Tick On | Pete Walls | Max Hirsch | Loma Stable | 1:20.40 |
| 1930 | Epithet | Willie Kelsay | Henry McDaniel | Gifford A. Cochran | 1:17.60 |
| 1929 | Boojum | Raymond Workman | A. Jack Joyner | Harry Payne Whitney | 1:17.00 |
| 1928 | Jack High | George Ellis | A. Jack Joyner | George D. Widener, Jr. | 1:19.40 |
| 1927 | Brooms | John Maiben | Gwyn R. Tompkins | Brookmeade Stable | 1:20.00 |
| 1926 | Lord Chaucer | Frank Coltiletti | J. H. "Bud" Stotler | Sagamore Farm | 1:19.80 |
| 1925 | Pompey | Laverne Fator | William H. Karrick | Shoshone Stable | 1:17.80 |
| 1924 | Master Charlie | George Babin | Not found | William Daniel | 1:13.00 |
| 1923 | Diogenes | Clyde Ponce | Robert A. Smith | Walter M. Jeffords | 1:12.60 |
| 1922 | Dunlin | Clarence Kummer | William Garth | Joshua S. Cosden | 1:12.40 |
| 1921 | Morvich | Albert Johnson | Fred Burlew | Benjamin Block | 1:12.60 |
| 1920 | Leonardo II | Andy Schuttinger | Kimball Patterson | Xalapa Farm | 1:12.40 |
| 1919 | Man o' War | Johnny Loftus | Louis Feustel | Glen Riddle Farm | 1:13.00 |
| 1918 | Eternal | Andy Schuttinger | Kimball Patterson | James W. McClelland | 1:13.60 |
| 1917 | Sun Briar | Willie Knapp | Henry McDaniel | Willis Sharpe Kilmer | 1:15.60 |
| 1916 | Campfire | John McTaggart | Thomas J. Healey | Richard T. Wilson, Jr. | 1:14.60 |
| 1915 | Dominant | Joe Notter | James G. Rowe, Sr. | Lewis S. Thompson | 1:13.80 |
| 1914 | Regret | Joe Notter | James G. Rowe, Sr. | Harry Payne Whitney | 1:16.40 |
| 1913 | Bringhurst | Johnny Loftus | John Oliver Keene | Johnson N. Camden, Jr. | 1:12.40 |
| 1910 | Novelty | A. Thomas | Sam Hildreth | Sam Hildreth | 1:14.00 |
| 1909 | Rocky O'Brien | Vincent Powers | Not found | James MacManus | 1:13.20 |
| 1908 | Helmet | Joe Notter | James G. Rowe, Sr. | James R. Keene | 1:12.20 |
| 1907 | Jim Gaffney | David Nicol | Not found | Frank J. Farrell | 1:15.00 |
| 1906 | Peter Pan | Willie Knapp | James G. Rowe, Sr. | James R. Keene | 1:12.20 |
| 1905 | Mohawk II | Arthur Redfern | H. H. Hynes | John Sanford | 1:13.40 |
| 1904 | Tanya | Gene Hildebrand | John W. Rogers | Herman B. Duryea | 1:13.20 |