The Delaware Oaks Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid July at Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton near Wilmington, Delaware.

Delaware Oaks
Grade 3 stakes race
LocationDelaware Park Racetrack
Stanton, Delaware, United States
Inaugurated1938
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Websitewww.delawarepark.com
Race information
Distance8.5 furlongs (1+116 miles)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-old Fillies
WeightAssigned
Purse$300,000[1]

Part of the Del Cap Festival Weekend that features other races over the two days including the Delaware Handicap, the Oaks is open to three-year-old fillies and is run over one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt.

Currently, the Grade III race offers a purse of $300,000.

Historical notes edit

The inaugural running of the Delaware Oaks took place on June 28, 1938, and was won by Isabel Dodge Sloane's filly Handcuff.[2]

Coming off her June 6, 1941 win in the Top Flight Handicap at New York's Belmont Park, Tangled won the Oaks for the Greentree Stable of Helen Hay Whitney.[3] Trained and ridden by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductees John Gaver Sr. and Eddie Arcaro, the filly beat her closest rival by nine lengths while setting a new track record with a winning time of 1:49 4/5 for a mile and one-eighth on dirt.[4]

United States Hall of Fame fillies Gallorette (1945), Dark Mirage (1968), Gallant Bloom (1969) and Desert Vixen (1973) have all won this race, as did the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Lauries Dancer in 1971.

Records edit

Speed record:

  • 1:41.79 @ 1 1–16 miles: Calamity Kate (2015)
  • 1:48.20 @ 1 1–8 miles: Cum Laude Laurie (1977)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by an owner:

Winners edit

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Dist.
(Miles)
Time
Gr.
2022 Midnight Stroll 3 Eric Canel John P. Terranova II Gatsas Stables, R. A. Hill Stable, & Steven Schoenfeld 1 1–16 m 1:44.31 G3
2021 Crazy Beautiful 3 Mike E. Smith Kenneth McPeek Phoenix Thoroughbred III 1 1–16 m 1:46.33 G3
2020 Project Whiskey 3 Frankie Pennington Robert E. Reid Jr. Cash Is King Stable LLC & LC Racing 1 1–16 m 1:44.04 G3
2019 Jaywalk 3 Joe Bravo John C. Servis Cash is King LLC & D. J. Stable LLC 1 1–16 m 1:43.21 G3
2018 Red Ruby 3 Paco Lopez Kellyn D. Gorder Sandra Sexton, Brandi Nicholson & Steven Nicholson 1 1–16 m 1:42.41 G3
2017 It Tiz Well 3 Drayden Van Dyke Jerry Hollendorfer Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC 1 1–16 m 1:43.55 G3
2016 Dark Nile 3 Daniel Centeno Arnaud Delacour Winstar Farm 1 1–16 m 1:46.54 G3
2015 Calamity Kate 3 Edgar Prado Kelly J. Breen Lori & George Hall 1 1–16 m 1:41.79 G3
2014 Fortune Pearl 3 Trevor McCarthy H. Graham Motion Zanim R. Meahjohn 1 1–16 m 1:44.69 G2
2013 Dancing Afleet 3 Joshua Navarro Timothy F. Ritchey Tim Ritchey Racing Stables & Beverly Frazier 1 1–16 m 1:44.59 G2
2012 Grace Hall 3 Javier Castellano Anthony W. Dutrow Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables (Mike Caruso), The Elkstone Group (Stuart Grant) 1 1–16 m 1:42.59 G2
2011 St. John's River 3 Jose Lezcano Andrew Leggio Jr. Dede McGehee 1 1–16 m 1:44.39 G2
2010 Blind Luck 3 Joel Rosario Jerry Hollendorfer Jerry Hollendorfer, Mark Dedomenico, John Carver, Peter Abruzzo 1 1–16 m 1:43.34 G2
2009 Careless Jewel 3 Robert Landry Josie Carroll Donver Stable (Donna & Verne Dubinsky) 1 1–16 m 1:42.95 G2
2008 Proud Spell 3 Gabriel Saez J. Larry Jones Brereton C. Jones 1 1–16 m 1:43.34 G2
2007 Moon Catcher 3 Carlos Marquez Jr. Timothy F. Ritchey CJZ Racing Stable & Timothy F. Ritchey 1 1–16 m 1:42:39 G2
2006 Adieu 3 John Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier 1 1–16 m 1:43.72 G2
2005 R Lady Joy 3 Jose Lezcano Kirk Ziadie Richard Averill 1 1–16 m 1:43.25 G2
2004 Yearly Report 3 Jerry D. Bailey Bob Baffert Golden Eagle Farm 1 1–16 m 1:43.80 G2
2003 Island Fashion 3 Iggy Puglisi Nick Canani Everest Stable (Jeffrey L. Nielsen) 1 1–16 m 1:44.95 G3
2002 Allamerican Bertie 3 Larry Melancon Steve Flint Klein family (Richard, Bertram, Elaine) 1 1–16 m 1:43.81 G3
2001 Zonk 3 Michael McCarthy John Servis Fox Hill Farms (Rick Porter) 1 1–16 m 1:45.27 G3
2000 Sincerely 3 Michael McCarthy H. Graham Motion R. Larry Johnson 1 1–16 m 1:43.83 G3
1999 Brushed Halory 3 Eddie Martin Jr. Josie Carroll James & Alice Sapara 1 1–16 m 1:43.42 G3
1998 Nickel Classic 3 Calvin Borel Mark Danner Calvin L. Johnston 1 1–16 m 1:42.81
1997 Runup The Colors 3 Pat Day Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III 1 1–16 m 1:44.27
1996 Like a Hawk 3 Robert E. Colton John R. S. Fisher Erdenheim Farm 1 m (t) 1:37.01
1983 - 1995 Race not held
1982 Lady Eleanor 3 Rick Wilson Bruce N. Levine Robert Levine 1 1–8 m 1:50.20 G2
1981 Up The Flagpole 3 Kenneth D. Black Del W. Carroll Jr. William S. Farish III 1 1–8 m 1:49.40 G2
1980 Bishop's Ring 3 Mario Pino Charles Peoples Bayard Sharp 1 1–8 m 1:48.60 G1
1979 It's In The Air 3 Bill Shoemaker Laz Barrera Harbor View Farm 1 1–8 m 1:49.40 G1
1978 White Star Line 3 Jeffrey Fell Woody Stephens Newstead Farms 1 1–8 m 1:52.60 G1
1977 Cum Laude Laurie 3 Jorge Velasquez Lou Rondinello Daniel M. Galbreath 1 1–8 m 1:48.20 G1
1976 Pacific Princess 3 Eddie Maple Roger Laurin Windfields Farm 1 1–8 m 1:49.60 G1
1975 Let Me Linger 3 Carlos Barrera Edward J. Yowell Oak Crest Stable 1 1–8 m 1:51.40 G1
1974 Plantain 3 Gregg McCarron Henry S. Clark Christiana Stables 1 1–8 m 1:50.40 G1
1973 Desert Vixen 3 Jorge Velasquez Thomas F. Root Sr. Harry T. Mangurian Jr. 1 1–8 m 1:49.20 G1
1972 Light Hearted 3 Eldon Nelson Henry S. Clark Christiana Stables 1 1–8 m 1:49.60
1971 Lauries Dancer 3 Sandy Hawley James C. Bentley Helen G. Stollery 1 1–8 m 1:50.80
1970 Virginia Cracker 3 Robert Howard Glenn L. Ballenger Gordon Grayson 1 1–8 m 1:49.80
1969 Gallant Bloom 3 John L. Rotz Max Hirsch King Ranch 1 1–8 m 1:51.20
1968 Dark Mirage 3 Manuel Ycaza Everett W. King Lloyd I. Miller 1 1–8 m 1:50.40
1967 Lewiston 3 Garth Patterson Oscar White Walter M. Jeffords Jr. 1 1–8 m 1:51.40
1966 Lady Pitt 3 Walter Blum Stephen A. DiMauro Golden Triangle Stable (Thomas A. Eazor) 1 1–8 m 1:49.80
1965 Juanita 3 Buck Thornburg Oscar White Walter M. Jeffords Jr. 1 1–8 m 1:48.80
1964 Miss Cavandish 3 Howard Grant Roger Laurin Harry S. Nichols 1 1–8 m 1:51.00
1963 Spicy Living 3 Jimmy Combest Jimmy Rowe Eleanora Sears 1 1–8 m 1:50.20
1962 North South Gal 3 Leroy Moyers W. Clayton Prickett Alfred G. Groleau 1 1–8 m 1:52.00
1961 Primonetta 3 Bill Shoemaker James P. Conway Darby Dan Farm 1 1–8 m 1:48.80
1960 Rash Statement 3 Charlie Burr Allen R. Hultz Hal Price Headley 1 1–8 m 1:50.60
1959 Resaca 3 William Boland Max Hirsch King Ranch 1 1–8 m 1:51.60
1958 Big Effort 3 Pete Anderson J. Elliott Burch Brookmeade Stable 1 1–8 m 1:52.20
1957 Bayou 3 Bill Hartack Moody Jolley Claiborne Farm 1 1–8 m 1:51.60
1956 Dotted Line 3 Dave Gorman Max Hirsch King Ranch 1 1–8 m 1:51.00
1955 High Voltage 3 Eddie Arcaro James E. Fitzsimmons Wheatley Stable 1 1–8 m 1:50.60
1954 Parlo 3 Jack Westrope Richard E. Handlen Foxcatcher Farm 1 1–8 m 1:51.40
1953 Cerise Reine 3 Douglas Dodson Thomas J. Kelly Ada L. Rice 1 1–8 m 1:50.60
1952 Big Mo 3 Nick Shuk George M. Odom Circle M Farm (Edward S. Moore) 1 1–8 m 1:52.00
1951 Kiss Me Kate 3 Warren Mehrtens Oscar White Walter M. Jeffords Sr. 1 1–8 m 1:50.40
1950 Next Move 3 Eric Guerin William C. Winfrey Alfred G. Vanderbilt Jr. 1 1–8 m 1:49.40
1949 Nasophar 3 Jimmy Lynch Sylvester E. Veitch Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney 1 1–8 m 1:50.00
1948 Miss Request 3 Charles LeBlanc James P. Conway Florence Whitaker 1 1–8 m 1:50.40
1947 Camargo 3 M. N. Gonzalez Henry S. Clark Christiana Stables 1 1–8 m 1:52.80
1946 Bonnie Beryl 3 James Stout James E. Fitzsimmons Belair Stud Stable 1 1–8 m 1:51.00
1945 Gallorette 3 Eddie Arcaro Edward A. Christmas William L. Brann 1 1–8 m 1:51.00
1944 Plucky Maud 3 Robert Permane Oleg T. Dubassoff Lazy F Ranch 1 1–8 m 1:50.60
1943 Race not held due to Federal government Wartime restrictions
1942 Vagrancy 3 Tommy Malley James E. Fitzsimmons Belair Stud Stable 1 1–8 m 1:54.00
1941 Tangled 3 Eddie Arcaro John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1 1–8 m 1:49.80
1940 Piquet 3 Eddie Arcaro John M. Gaver Sr. Greentree Stable 1 1–8 m 1:52.40
1939 Wise Lady 3 Hilton Dabson James E. Fitzsimmons Belair Stud Stable 1 1–8 m 1:53.60
1938 Handcuff 3 Jack Westrope Hugh L. Fontaine Brookmeade Stable 1 1–8 m 1:53.00

References edit

  1. ^ "Statistics - Delaware Oaks". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Handcuff Victor in Delaware Oaks". The New York Times. 1938-07-05. p. 22. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  3. ^ "Tangled Front-Running Winner Of Top Flight". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1941-06-07. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  4. ^ "Tangled Wins Delaware Oaks In Record Time". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1941-06-13. Retrieved 2020-12-01.