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| Grade II race | |
| Location | Woodbine Racetrack Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1902 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Woodbine Racetrack |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds & Up |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | C$200,000 (since 2013)[1] |
The Sky Classic Stakes is a Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Raced in mid to late August on turf over a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs), it is open to horses three years of age and older. In recent years it has become a major prep race for local horses looking to go on to run against the best horses from around the world in Woodbine's $2 million Canadian International.
Renamed in 1995 to honour Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Sky Classic, the race was first run at the Old Woodbine Racetrack in 1902 as the Jockey Club Cup Handicap. It was raced on dirt from inception until 1956 but became a turf race the following year when moved to the new Woodbine racing facility. Over the years, it has been run at various distances:[2]
On dirt:
- 1902–1903 : 2 miles
- 1904–1905 : 2+1⁄16 miles
- 1906–1926 : 2+1⁄4 miles
- 1927–1931 : 1+1⁄2 miles
- 1936–1951 : 1+1⁄8 miles
- 1952–1956 : 1+1⁄4 miles
On turf:
- 1957–1989 : 1+1⁄4 miles
- 1990–1994 : 1+1⁄8 miles
- 1995 : 1 mile
- 1996 : 1+1⁄16 miles
- 1997–2009 : 1+3⁄8 miles
- 2010–2016 : 1+1⁄4 miles
- 2017–present : 1+3⁄8 miles
Records[edit]
Time record:
- 2:00.12 - Forte Dei Marmi (2013) (at 1+1⁄4 miles on turf)
- 2:13.05 - Dawson's Legacy (1999) (at 1+3⁄8 miles on turf)
Most wins:
- 2 - Sotemia (1911, 1912)
- 2 - Harrovian (1924, 1925)
- 2 - Carney's Point (1974, 1975)
- 2 - Chief Bearhart (1997, 1998)
- 2 - Forte Dei Marmi (GB) (2012, 2013)
Most wins by an owner:
- 5 - Sam-Son Farm (1991, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 - Robin Platts (1974, 1975, 1980, 1981)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 4 - Lou Cavalaris, Jr. (1966, 1974, 1975, 1990)
Winners of the Sky Classic Stakes since 1969[edit]
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Utmost | 4 | Alan Garcia | H. Graham Motion | Augustin Stable | 2:17.61 |
| 2017 | Can'thelpbelieving (IRE) | 6 | Joe Bravo | H. Graham Motion | Albert Frassetto | 2:14.95 |
| 2016 | Messi (GER) | 6 | Edgar Prado | H. Graham Motion | Gestut Brummerhof | 2:00.89 |
| 2015 | Interpol | 4 | Emma-Jayne Wilson | Sid C. Attard | JMJ Racing Stables | 2:01.05 |
| 2014 | Karibu Gardens | 4 | Luis Contreras | Josie Carroll | Melnyk Racing Stables | 2:02.46 |
| 2013 | Forte Dei Marmi (GB) | 7 | Eurico Rosa Da Silva | Roger L. Attfield | Stella Perdomo | 2:00.12 |
| 2012 | Forte Dei Marmi (GB) | 6 | Alex Solis | Roger L. Attfield | Stella Perdomo | 2:02.57 |
| 2011 | Kara Orientation | 4 | Emile Ramsammy | Steven Chircop | Berketa/Pinnacle Racing | 2:04.87 |
| 2010 | Marsh Side | 7 | Edgar Prado | Neil Drysdale | Robert S. Evans | 2:08.99 |
| 2009 | Marchfield | 5 | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | Melnyk Racing Stables | 2:16.56 |
| 2008 | Lauro | 5 | Tyler Pizarro | Andreas Woehler | Gestut Ittlingen | 2:18.81 |
| 2007 | Cloudy's Knight | 7 | Ramsey Zimmerman | Frank J. Kirby | S J Stables LLC | 2:14.10 |
| 2006 | Better Talk Now | 7 | Ramon Dominguez | H. Graham Motion | Bushwood Stables | 2:18.50 |
| 2005 | A Bit O'Gold | 4 | Jono Jones | Catherine Day Phillips | Two Bit Racing Stable | 2:17.17 |
| 2004 | Colorful Judgement | 4 | Slade Callaghan | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:16.19 |
| 2003 | Bowman Mill | 5 | Brice Blanc | Michael W. Dickinson | Dr. John A. Chandler | 2:23.14 |
| 2002 | Strut The Stage | 4 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:19.33 |
| 2001 | Stage Classic | 3 | Constant Montpellier | David Cotey | Dominion Bloodstock et al. | 2:21.79 |
| 2000 | Muntej | 3 | Robert Landry | Roger Attfield | David McLaughlin et al. | 2:18.83 |
| 1999 | Dawson's Legacy | 4 | Constant Montpellier | Norman McKnight, Jr. | J. M. Stritzl Stable | 2:13.05 |
| 1998 | Chief Bearhart | 5 | José A. Santos | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:15.60 |
| 1997 | Chief Bearhart | 4 | José A. Santos | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 2:13.40 |
| 1996 | Lassigny | 5 | Julie Krone | William I. Mott | Prince Sultan Al Kabeer | 2:18.00 |
| 1995 | Jet Freighter | 4 | Todd Kabel | Tony Mattine | Uri Fishman / Peter Yu | 2:13.40 |
| 1994 | Shiny Key | 6 | David Clark | Alton H. Quanbeck | D. Morgan Firestone | 1:47.60 |
| 1994 | Ride With Pancho | 4 | Sandy Hawley | Robert Tiller | G. J. Meyers | 1:47.40 |
| 1993 | Hero's Love | 5 | Earlie Fires | Danny Vella | Frank Stronach | 1:45.60 |
| 1992 | Thunder Regent | 5 | Sandy Hawley | Vince Tesoro | D. D. W. Stables | 1:46.60 |
| 1991 | Tot of Rum | 5 | Daniel J. David | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:46.60 |
| 1990 | Asturiano | 5 | Dave Penna | Lou Cavalaris, Jr. | Gardiner Farms | 1:46.80 |
| 1989 | Steady Power | 5 | Jim McAleney | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 2:00.20 |
| 1988 | Gallant Mel | 3 | Jack Lauzon | D. Campbell | Michael Penhale | 2:06.00 |
| 1987 | Boulder Run | 4 | Lloyd Duffy | Jerry Lavigne | R. Doe / B. Hutzel | 2:02.40 |
| 1986 | Wild Style | 4 | Richard Dos Ramos | Richard Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 2:05.60 |
| 1985 | Nagurski | 4 | George HoSang | Michael Doyle | Dogwood Stable | 2:11.40 |
| 1984 | Cost Control | 5 | Jeffrey Fell | Neal Winick | Serge Fradkoff | 2:02.40 |
| 1983 | Nijinsky's Secret | 5 | Jose A. Velez, Jr. | Kent Stirling | Mrs. J. A. McDougald | 2:02.20 |
| 1982 | Frost King | 4 | Lloyd Duffy | Bill Marko | Ted Smith & Bill Marko | 2:08.20 |
| 1981 | Irish Heart | 3 | Robin Platts | Gil Rowntree | B.K.Y. Stable | 2:06.00 |
| 1980 | Overskate | 5 | Robin Platts | Gil Rowntree | Stafford Farms | 2:07.00 |
| 1979 | Friuli | 6 | Fernando Toro | Tony Mattine | G. Caroli | 2:10.40 |
| 1978 | Meticulous Robert | 4 | Don MacBeth | John J. Tammaro Jr. | Kinghaven Farms | 2:09.80 |
| 1977 | Paddock Park | 4 | J. Walford | R. MacKinnon | Espo Racing Stable | 2:18.00 |
| 1976 | Tiny Tinker | 3 | Avelino Gomez | George "Jake" Nemett | William Beasley | 2:03.60 |
| 1975 | Carney's Point | 6 | Robin Platts | Lou Cavalaris, Jr. | Gardiner Farm | 2:06.40 |
| 1974 | Carney's Point | 5 | Robin Platts | Lou Cavalaris, Jr. | Gardiner Farm | 2:03.00 |
| 1973 | Fabe Count | 5 | Lloyd Duffy | Jerry Lavigne | Parkview Stable | 2:02.40 |
| 1972 | Gallant Glen | 4 | Sandy Hawley | James C. Bentley | Helen Stollery | 2:04.60 |
| 1971 | Speedy Zephyr | 3 | Herberto Hinojosa | Les Lear | C. Rathgeb | 2:02.20 |
| 1970 | Dance Act | 4 | R. Armstrong | L. Grant | Green Hills Farm | 2:07.00 |
| 1969 | Tradesman | 5 | Avelino Gomez | R. Potter | M. Ross | 2:03.80 |
*Run in two divisions in 1994.
Earlier winners[edit]
- 1968 - Petit Duc
- 1967 - Pretko
- 1966 - Orbiter
- 1965 - Quick Pitch
- 1964 - Greek Form
- 1963 - Mr. Sometime *
- 1963 - Bronze Babu *
- 1962 - El Bandito
- 1961 - Prompt Hero
- 1960 - Merry Top II
- 1959 - Sailor's Guide
- 1958 - Grey Monarch
- 1957 - Kitty Girl
- 1956 - Ballydonnell
- 1955 - Hickory Hill
- 1954 - Unbranded
- 1953 - Risque Rouge
- 1952 - Freedom Wins
- 1951 - Harahome
- 1950 - Beau Dandy
- 1949 - Double Briar
- 1948 - Yellowknife
- 1947 - Vice Admiral
- 1946 - Ferry Pilot
- 1945 - Westport Point
- 1944 - Bon Jour
- 1943 - Teeworth
- 1941 - No race
- 1942 - No race
- 1940 - High Honors
- 1939 - Filisteo
- 1938 - Sun Power
- 1937 - Teddy Haslam
- 1936 - Temptestuous
- 1932 - No race
- 1933 - No race
- 1934 - No race
- 1935 - No race
- 1931 - Khorasan
- 1930 - Yarn
- 1929 - Frisius
- 1928 - Sir Harry
- 1927 - Display
- 1926 - Harrovian
- 1925 - Harrovian
- 1924 - Horologe
- 1923 - My Dear
- 1922 - Parisian Diamond
- 1921 - Louis
- 1920 - Exterminator
- 1917 - No race
- 1918 - No race
- 1919 - No race
- 1916 - Fair Mac
- 1915 - Rancher
- 1914 - Great Britain
- 1913 - Airey
- 1912 - Sotemia
- 1911 - Sotemia
- 1910 - Duke of Roanoke
- 1909 - Azo
- 1908 - Cave Adsum
- 1907 - Kelpie
- 1906 - Alma Dufour
- 1905 - War Whoop
- 1904 - Persistence II
- 1903 - Wire In
- 1902 - Orontas
*In 1963 there was a dead heat for first.
See also[edit]
- List of Canadian flat horse races
References[edit]
- ^ "Play the King Stakes Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 22 August 2016. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ "Woodbine History" (PDF). woodbineentertainment.com. pp. 125–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- Jockey Club Cup Handicap at Pedigree Queery