The Federico Tesio Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland over a distance of 1+18 miles on the dirt for three-year-old horses.

Federico Tesio Stakes
Ungraded Stakes race
LocationLaurel Park,
Laurel, Maryland
Inaugurated1981
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Websitewww.laurelpark.com
Race information
Distance1+18 miles (9 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds
WeightAssigned
Purse$125,000[1]

Run during the latter part of April/early May, the race can be a stepping stone to the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes. Local patrons refer to the Tesio Stakes as the "Preakness Trial."[2] Since 2016, it has been a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Preakness.[3]

History edit

The race was named in honor of famous Italian breeder Federico Tesio, owner of Dormello Stud in Dormelletto, Novara. Tesio was one of the most important breeders of Thoroughbreds in the history of horse racing. His homebreds Nearco and Ribot, both great sires, dominate Thoroughbred bloodlines throughout the world. Tesio died in 1954 at age 85.

The last horse to win this race and the Preakness was Deputed Testamony in 1983. Several Tesio runners have made a major impact on the Triple Crown by placing in the Preakness during the last twenty years, including Icabad Crane in 2008, Magic Weisner in 2002, Oliver's Twist in 1995, and Rock Point in 1989 and Broad Brush in 1986. In 2011, Tesio runner-up Ruler On Ice won the Belmont Stakes and in 1998 Tesio winner Thomas Jo placed third in the Belmont Stakes.

The Federico Tesio Stakes was an American Grade III stakes race from 1986 through 1997. The race was restricted to Maryland breeds from 1981 through 1985. It was run at 1+116 miles from 1981 to 1991 and from 2011 to 2015.

Prior to 2016, the race was held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.[1] It was run at Pimlico again in 2021 following an emergency shift of racing dates from Laurel Park.

Records edit

Speed record:

  • 1+18 miles - 1:49.00 - Marciano (2001)
  • 1+116 miles - 1:42.60 - Sparrowvon (1985)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners of the Federico Tesio Stakes edit

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade
2024 1-1/8 $125,000
2023 Perform Feargal Lynch Claude R. McGaughey Woodford Racing, Lane's End Farm, Phipps Stable, Ken Langone & Edward J. Hudson Jr. 1-1/8 1:52.18 $125,000
2022 Joe Victor Carrasco Michael J. Trombetta The Elkstone Group 1-1/8 1:52.30 $125,000
2021 The Reds1 Victor Carrasco John Kimmel Flanagan Racing 1-1/8 1:49.98 $125,000
2020 Happy Saver Trevor McCarthy Todd A. Pletcher Wertheimer and Frere 1-1/8 1:49.15 $125,000
2019 Alwaysmining Daniel Centeno Kelly Rubley Runnymede Racing 1-1/8 1:50.12 $125,000
2018 Diamond King Frankie Pennington John Servis Cash is King & D.J. Stable 1-1/8 1:50.31 $125,000
2017 Twisted Tom Feargal Lynch Chad C. Brown Cobra Farm, Inc. 1-1/8 1:53.60 $125,000
2016 Awesome Speed Jevian Toledo Alan E. Goldberg Colts Neck Stables 1-1/8 1:53.31 $100,000
2015 Bodhisattva Trevor McCarthy Jose Corrales Jose Corrales 1-1/16 1:45.18 $100,000
2014 Kid Cruz Julian Pimentel Linda L. Rice Vina Del Mar T-breds 1-1/16 1:47.38 $100,000
2013 Abstraction Leandro Goncalves David Carroll My Meadowview Farm 1-1/16 1:46.16 $75,750
2012 Pretension Javier Santiago Christopher Grove Kidwell Petite Stable 1-1/16 1:45.70 $75,000
2011 Concealed Identity Sheldon Russell Edmond D. Gaudet Linda Gaudet & MorrisBailey 1-1/16 1:45.67 $70,000
2010 Bank the Eight Mario G. Pino Anthony W. Dutrow Mercedes Stable 1-1/8 1:52.11 $70,000
2009 Miner's Escape Luis Garcia Nick Zito Robert V. LaPenta 1-1/8 1:51.23 $75,000
2008 Icabad Crane Jeremy Rose H. Graham Motion Earle I. Mack 1-1/8 1:50.83 $100,000
2007 Xchanger Ramon Dominguez Mark Shuman Circle Z Stables 1-1/8 1:49.98 $100,000
2006 Ah Day Ryan Fogelsonger King T. Leatherbury Jim Stable 1-1/8 1:50.88 $125,000
2005 Malibu Moonshine Steve Hamilton King T. Leatherbury Woodrow Marriott 1-1/8 1:53.31 $125,000
2004 Water Cannon Ryan Fogelsonger Linda Albert Ell Fredel & Pat Dooher 1-1/8 1:50.50 $100,000
2003 Cherokee's Boy Ryan Fogelsonger Gary Capuano Z W P Stable 1-1/8 1:49.86 $150,000
2002 Smoked Em Richard Migliore Todd A. Pletcher G Three Stable 1-1/8 1:50.33 $100,000
2001 Marciano Mark T. Johnston Timothy F. Ritchey Win More Stable 1-1/8 1:49.00 $150,000
2000 Runspastum Robbie Davis Alan E. Goldberg Jayeff B Stables 1-1/8 1:51.16 $150,000
1999 Talks Cheap Mike Luzzi Linda L. Rice Harry V. Quadracci 1-1/8 1:50.11 $150,000
1998 Thomas Jo Steve Hamilton James A. Jerkens Earle I. Mack & Team Valor 1-1/8 1:50.04 $200,000
1997 Concerto Mike Smith John Tammaro Kinsman Stables 1-1/8 1:49.10 $150,000 III
1996 Tour's Big Red Joe Bravo Enrique Alonso William Penn 1-1/8 1:50.00 $200,000 III
1995 Oliver's Twist Alberto Delgado J. William Boniface Charles M. Oliver 1-1/8 1:52.00 $200,000 III
1994 Silver Profile Omar Klinger Vincent L. Blengs Vincent L. Blengs 1-1/8 1:51.40 $150,000 III
1993 Woods of Windsor Rick Wilson Ben W. Perkins, Jr. Augustus Riggs, IV 1-1/8 1:49.40 $125,000 III
1992 Speakerphone Clarence J. Ladner Dean Gaudet Israel Cohen 1-1/8 1:49.40 $125,000 III
1991 Tong Po Marco Castaneda Leon Blusiewicz Robert Quinichett 1-1/16 1:44.20 $175,000 III
1990 Smelly Jean Cruguet Craig Nicholson Bob Watkins 1-1/16 1:45.20 $200,000 III
1989 Rock Point Chris Antley Sydney Watters, Jr. Brookmeade Stable 1-1/16 1:44.20 $200,000 III
1988 Private Terms Chris Antley Charles Hadry Locust Hill Farm 1-1/16 1:44.60 $170,000 III
1987 Rolls Aly Richard Migliore Bruce Johnstone Francis X. Weber 1-1/16 1:44.40 $205,000 III
1986 Broad Brush Chris McCarron Richard W. Small Robert E. Meyerhoff 1-1/16 1:44.80 $125,000 III
1985 Sparrowvon Wayne Barnett Harold A. Allen Harold A. Allen 1-1/16 1:42.60 $115,000
1984 Fourmatt Paul Nicol, Jr. Joe Clancy Alfred Braunstein 1-1/16 1:43.80 $125,000
1983 Deputed Testamony Herb McCauley J. William Boniface Bonita Farm 1-1/16 1:42.80 $125,000
1982 Hush Hush Hush Jack Kaenel Bill Dixon Benray Farm 1-1/16 1:46.40 $92,500
1981 Boston Tea William Jenkins Glenn L. Ballenger Glenn L. Ballenger 1-1/16 1:44.80 $35,000

1Excellorator finished first, but was disqualified and placed second for interference.


See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Federico Tesio Stakes Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. ^ 2007 Maryland Jockey Club Media Guide, page 107 on March 3, 2007.
  3. ^ "Late Bloomer Action Everyday Heads Tesio". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 21 April 2017.