Pocahontas Stakes

Pocahontas Stakes
Grade II race
Location Churchill Downs
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated 1969
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website www.churchilldowns.com
Race information
Distance 1116 miles
Track Dirt, left-handed
Qualification Two-years-old fillies
Weight Assigned
Purse US$231,000 (2014)

The Pocahontas Stakes is a Grade II race held in September at Louisville, Kentucky's Churchill Downs fall meet. Open only to two-year-old Thoroughbred fillies, it's set at a distance of 1116 miles on the dirt. The race was upgraded from a Grade III race to a Grade II race in 2010 by the American Graded Stakes Committee.[1]

The race was first held on Thanksgiving Day in 1969 and was fittingly named for Pocahontas, the daughter of Native-American chief Powhatan, who aided the early American settlers. The stakes race itself remained as a Thanksgiving Day event until 1982 when it was moved to the early weeks of the Fall Meet. That new scheduling allowed the Pocahontas to become a major prep for the more prestigious Golden Rod Stakes.

The distance of the race originated at 7 furlongs and was run at that distance for the first 13 years from 1969-1981. The distance was changed to one mile beginning in 1982 and has continued at that distance through 2010. In 2013 it was run at 1116 miles.

Records

Speed record:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners of the Pocahontas Stakes since 1992

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Distance
Time
Purse
Grade
2014 Cristina's Journey 2 Miguel Mena Dale L. Romans GSN Racing, LLC. 1116 mile 1:46.37 $231,000 II
2013 Untapable 2 Rosie Napravnik Steven Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds 1116 mile 1:44.38 $168,150 II
2012 Sign 2 Rosie Napravnik Albert M. Stall, Jr. Claiborne Farm/Dilschneider 1 mile 1:38.63 $168,150 II
2011 On Fire Baby 2 Joe Johnson Gary Hartlage Anita Cauley 1 mile 1:37.17 $173,400 II
2010 Dancinginherdreams 2 Julien Leparoux John Ward Jr. John Oxley 1 mile 1:38.59 $165,450 II
2009 Sassy Image 2 Robby Albarado Dale L. Romans Jerry Romans, Jr. 1 mile 1:38.62 $115,900 III
2008 Sara Louise 2 Robby Albarado Dale L. Romans Eldon Farm 1 mile 1:34.57 $110,400 III
2007 Pure Clan 2 Julien Leparoux Robert E. Holthus Lewis G. Lakin 1 mile 1:38.30 $185,700 III
2006 Change Up 2 Garrett Gomez Steven Flint Richard, Bertram & Elaine Klein 1 mile 1:35.97 $114,300 III
2005 French Park 2 Mark Guidry Helen Pitts Steve Stan Stables 1 mile 1:37.19 $120,600 III
2004 Punch Appeal 2 Pat Day Steve Asmussen Heiligbrodt Racing 1 mile 1:37.77 $109,500 NG
2003 Stellar Jayne 2 Cornelio Velasquez D. Wayne Lukas Spendthrift Farm 1 mile 1:38.97 $112,300 NG
2002 Belle of Perintown 2 Mark Guidry Eddie Kenneally Ken Mahler & Jamie Schloss 1 mile 1:36.52 $111,100 NG
2001 Lotta Rhythm 2 Marlon St. Julien Hal R. Wiggins Dolphus Morrison 1 mile 1:37.96 $111,500 NG
2000 Unbridled Elaine 2 Shane Sellers Dallas Stewart Roger J. Devenport 1 mile 1:34.82 $113,000 NG
1999 Crown of Crimson 2 Robby Albarado Bob Baffert Golden Eagle Farm 1 mile 1:37.81 $112,600 NG
1998 The Happy Hopper 2 Willie Martinez Robert E. Holthus Kerry & Linda Ozment 1 mile 1:37.73 $113,300 NG
1997 Mission Park 2 Calvin Borel Pete Vestal Willmott Stables 1 mile 1:38.55 $113,600 NG
1996 Water Street 2 Craig Peret Pete Vestal Willmott Stables 1 mile 1:36.90 $112,800 NG
1995 Birr 2 Pat Day Elliott Walden Prestonwood Farm 1 mile 1:36.84 $113,200 NG
1994 Minister Wife 2 Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas Fares Farm 1 mile 1:38.64 $112,900 NG
1993 At The Half 2 Shane Sellers Carl E. Bowman Wayne G. Lyster, III 1 mile 1:38.13 $116,400 NG
1992 Coni Bug 2 Shane Sellers Anthony Granitz Wheeler Farm 1 mile 1:37.85 $84,150 NG

Earlier winners

The race was run in two divisions in 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.[2]

  • 1991 - Fretina
  • 1990 - Middlefork Rapids
  • 1989 - Crowned
  • 1988 - Solid Eight
  • 1987 - Epitome
  • 1986 - Bestofbothworlds
  • 1985 - Prime Union
  • 1984 - Gallant Libby
  • 1983 - Geevilla
  • 1983 - Flippers
  • 1982 - Brindy Brindy
  • 1982 - Weekend Surprise
  • 1981 - Majestic Gold
  • 1981 - Taylor Park
  • 1980 - Kathy T.
  • 1980 - Masters Dream
  • 1979 - Dancing Blade
  • 1978 - Star Clock
  • 1978 - Safe
  • 1977 - Plains and Simple
  • 1977 - Rainy Princess
  • 1976 - Sweet Alliance
  • 1976 - Ciao
  • 1975 - Alvarada
  • 1974 - My Juliet
  • 1973 - Fairway Fable
  • 1973 - Shoo Dear
  • 1972 - Vaguely Familiar
  • 1971 - Candid Catherine
  • 1970 - Fair Ye Well
  • 1969 - Artists Proof


See also

References