Florida Oaks

The Florida Oaks is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies held annually at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Florida. It is currently a Grade III stakes race run over a distance of 8.5 furlongs on turf currently offers a purse of $200,000.

The race was downgraded from GIII status for 2011 by the American Graded Stakes Committee (AGSC),^[1] but the decision by track officials to run the race on turf that year for the first time in its history seemed to ensure a return to graded status.^[2]

The AGSC restored the Grade III designation for the 2013 edition.

From 1995 to 2010, the Florida Oaks was run on the same race card as the Tampa Bay Derby. In 2014, the Grade II Tampa Bay Derby, Grade III Hillsborough Stakes and Grade III Florida Oaks comprised a Festival Day stakes extravaganza worth a combined $700,000.

Two Florida Oaks winners, Luv Me Luv Me Not in 1992 and Secret Status in 2000, went on to win the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. Inaugurated in 1984, the Florida Oaks was run at seven furlongs that year only.

Records

Speed record:

• 1:41.89 - Tapicat (2013, turf)
• 1:43.65 - Don't Forget Gil (2009, dirt)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 4 - Jose Lezcano (2005, 2012, 2014, 2015)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 3 - Neil J. Howard (1995, 2000, 2001)
• 3 - William I. Mott (2003, 2013, 2015)

Most wins by an owner:

• 3 - William S. Farish and/or partners (1995, 2000, 2001)

Winners of the Florida Oaks

References

• The Florida Oaks at Pedigree Query