Maryland Sprint Stakes

Maryland Sprint Stakes
Grade III race
Location Pimlico Race Course,
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Inaugurated 1987 (as Maryland Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap)
Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website www.pimlico.com
Race information
Distance 6 furlong sprint
Surface Dirt
Track left-handed
Qualification Three-years-old and older
Weight Base weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 126 lbs.
3-year-olds: 120 lbs.
Purse $150,000 (since 2013)

The Maryland Sprint Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and older over a distance of six furlongs run annually in mid May on Preakness Stakes day at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 13 June 1987 as the Maryland Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap at Laurel Park Racecourse over a distance of seven furlongs. Between 1987 and 2006, the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event while Budweiser sponsored the event from 1987 to 1995 which reflected in the name of the event.

Since its second running, the race has been run on the Preakness Stakes undercard at Pimlico racetrack over a distance of six furlongs.

The race was first awarded graded status by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association in 1994.

The event was changed to the Maryland Sprint Stakes in 2017 when the conditions of the race were modified to be stakes with allowance weight conditions.

The event was the lead off leg of the Mid Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships Sprint Dirt Division or MATCh Races, a series of five races in five separate thoroughbred divisions run throughout four Mid-Atlantic States.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States the Preakness Carnival was moved to October and the event was not scheduled.

Records

Speed record:

  • 6 furlongs – 1:09.07 - Forest Wildcat (1996)

Margins:

  • 7+34 lengths – Snow Ridge (2002)

Most wins:

  • No horse has won this race more than once.

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
At Pimlico – Maryland Sprint Stakes
2022 Jaxon Traveler 4 Joel Rosario Steven M. Asmussen West Point Thoroughbreds & Marvin Delfiner 6 furlongs 1:09.70 $150,000 III
2021 Special Reserve 5 Irad Ortiz Jr. Michael J. Maker Paradise Farms & David Staudacher 6 furlongs 1:08.91 $142,500 III
2020 Race not held
2019 New York Central 4 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Winstar Farm, China Horse Club & SF Racing 6 furlongs 1:08.74 $150,000 III
2018 Switzerland 4 Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Woodford Racing 6 furlongs 1:09.43 $150,000 III
2017 Whitmore 4 Ricardo Santana Jr. Ron Moquett Robert V. LaPenta, Southern Springs Stables & Head of Plains Partners 6 furlongs 1:09.90 $150,000 III
Maryland Sprint Handicap
2016 Always Sunshine 4 Frankie Pennington Edward T. Allard Stonehedge 6 furlongs 1:10.49 $150,000 III
2015 Sandbar 4 Joel Rosario Joe Sharp Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 6 furlongs 1:09.81 $150,000 III
2014 Happy My Way 4 Joe Bravo Joe Orseno Sagamore Farm & Mel Paikoff 6 furlongs 1:09.21 $150,000 III
2013 Sage Valley 4 John R. Velazquez Rudy R. Rodriguez Michael Dubb 6 furlongs 1:10.51 $150,000 III
2012 Hamazing Destiny 6 Corey Nakatani D. Wayne Lukas Westrock Stables & Barry Butzow 6 furlongs 1:10.48 $100,000 III
2011 Ventana 5 Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman 6 furlongs 1:09.88 $100,000 III
2010 Taqarub 4 Eibar Coa Kiaran P. McLaughlin Shadwell Stable 6 furlongs 1:10.02 $100,000 III
2009 Ravalo 5 John R. Velazquez Donald H. Barr Lindy M. Redding 6 furlongs 1:09.95 $100,000 III
2008 Starforaday 5 Edgar S. Prado Gary C. Contessa Winning Move Stable 6 furlongs 1:09.80 $100,000 III
2007 Diabolical 4 Mario G. Pino Steve Klesaris Jeff Puglisi & Steve Klesaris 6 furlongs 1:09.16 $198,500 III
Maryland Breeders' Cup Sprint Handicap
2006 Friendly Island 5 Garrett K. Gomez Todd A. Pletcher Anstu Stable 6 furlongs 1:09.94 $190,000 III
Maryland Breeders' Cup Handicap
2005 Willy o'the Valley 4 Edgar S. Prado Richard E. Dutrow Jr. IEAH Stables 6 furlongs 1:09.95 $189,000 III
2004 Gators N Bears 4 Charles C. Lopez Leo S. Nechamkin II Leo S. Nechamkin II 6 furlongs 1:10.84 $186,000 III
2003 § Pioneer Boy 5 Jeremy Rose John J. Robb Michael J. Gill 6 furlongs 1:10.35 $200,000 III
2002 Snow Ridge 4 Mike E. Smith D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm 6 furlongs 1:10.06 $200,000 III
2001 Disco Rico 4 Harry Vega Valora A. Testerman Alfred DiRico 6 furlongs 1:10.40 $200,000 III
2000 Dr. Max 4 Shane Sellers Gloria M. Wenderoth Martin B. Bernstein & Rufus Freeman 6 furlongs 1:10.91 $137,000 III
1999 Yes It's True 3 Jerry D. Bailey D. Wayne Lukas Padua Stable 6 furlongs 1:09.20 $194,000 III
1998 Richter Scale 4 Jerry D. Bailey William I. Mott Nancy R. and Richard S. Kaster 6 furlongs 1:09.45 $200,000 III
1997 Cat Be Nimble 5 Joseph Rocco Timothy F. Ritchey Candy Stable 6 furlongs 1:10.12 $209,600 III
1996 § Forest Wildcat 5 Joe Bravo Ben W. Perkins Sr. New Farm 6 furlongs 1:09.07 $216,200 III
Maryland Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap
1995 Commanche Trail 4 Mike E. Smith D. Wayne Lukas Overbrook Farm 6 furlongs 1:09.35 $154,750 III
1994 Secret Odds 4 Edgar S. Prado Lawrence E. Murray Sondra D. Bender 6 furlongs 1:10.38 $156,025 III
1993 Senor Speedy 6 Jerry D. Bailey Alfredo Callejas Robert Perez 6 furlongs 1:09.69 $155,650 Listed
1992 Potentiality 6 Pat Day Robert E. Holthus Dan Jones & Halford E. Sutton 6 furlongs 1:10.25 $155,500 Listed
1991 Jeweler's Choice 6 Chris McCarron John W. Hicks III Fourbros Stable 6 furlongs 1:10.38 $154,350 Listed
1990 Norquestor 4 Craig Perret Sonny Hine Scott C. Savin 6 furlongs 1:09.40 $155,900
1989 King's Nest 5 Joseph Rocco Lawrence E. Murray Sondra D. Bender 6 furlongs 1:09.60 $127,650
1988 Fire Plug 5 Josiah F. Hampshire Jr. Eddie Gaudet Arthur I. Appleton 6 furlongs 1:10.60 $84,800
At Laurel Park
1987 Purple Mountain 5 Eliezer Ortiz Jr. Woodrow M. Sedlacek Jacques D. Wimpfheimer 7 furlongs 1:24.40 $144,000

Notes:
§ Ran as an entry

See also

External sites