Runhappy Stakes
Grade III race
LocationBelmont Park
Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated2014 (as Diablo Stakes)
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
WebsiteNYRA
Race information
Distance6 furlongs
SurfaceDirt
Trackleft-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and older
Weight124 lbs. with allowances
PurseUS$175,000 (since 2023)

The Runhappy Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four years old or older at a distance of six furlongs on the dirt run annually in early May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $175,000.

History

The event was inaugurated on 14 May 2014 as the Diablo Stakes and was won by the favorite Sensational Slam who defeated four other runners in a time of 1:09.07.[1] The event was marred by the disqualification of the second place finisher Green Grotto who was placed third and Royal Currier installed in second for interference 1⁄8 mile from the finishing post. [2] The event was named after the versatile sprinter Diablo who won the 1991 Grade II True North Handicap and the 1992 Grade III Finger Lakes Budweiser Breeders' Cup. [3]

In 2018 the event was renamed to the Runhappy Stakes in honor of the 2015 US Champion Sprint Horse Runhappy.[4]

The event was upgraded to Grade III in 2020[5] but was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Belmont Park ran a shortened meeting and the event was cancelled in favor of the rescheduled Carter Handicap being moved from Aqueduct Racetrack.[6]

Records

Speed record:

  • 6 furlongs – 1:08.12 Firenze Fire (2019)

Margins:

  • 4+3⁄4 lengths – Firenze Fire (2019)

Most wins:

  • 2 – Stallwalkin' Dude (2015, 2017)
  • 2 – Firenze Fire (2019, 2021)

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

  • 2 – David Jacobson (2015, 2017)

Most wins by an owner:

  • 2 – David Jacobson (2015, 2017)
  • 2 – Mr. Amore Stable (2019, 2021)

Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time Purse Grade Ref
Runhappy Stakes
2023 Candy Man Rocket 5 Junior Alvarado William I. Mott Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc. 1:09.33 $175,000 III [7]
2022 Drafted 8 José Ortiz David P. Duggan Dublin Fjord Stables, Racepoint Stables, Kevin D. Hilbert, & Thom O'Keefe 1:10.84 $139,500 III [8]
2021 Firenze Fire 6 Irad Ortiz Jr. Kelly Breen Mr. Amore Stable 1:09.76 $145,500 III [9]
2020 Race not held
2019 Firenze Fire 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Jason Servis Mr. Amore Stable 1:08.12 $150,000 Listed [10]
2018 Westwood 4 John R. Velazquez Kiaran P. McLaughlin Godolphin 1:09.45 $147,000 Listed [11]
Diablo Stakes
2017 Stallwalkin' Dude 7 Joe Bravo David Jacobson David Jacobson & Head of Plains Partners 1:10.16 $100,000 Listed [12]
2016 Joking 7 Manuel Franco Charlton Baker Charlton Baker 1:09.44 $100,000 Listed [13]
2015 Stallwalkin' Dude 5 Angel Cruz David Jacobson David Jacobson 1:09.48 $98,000 [14]
2014 Sensational Slam 6 Cornelio Velasquez Patrick Quick Paradise Farms 1:09.07 $98,000 [1]

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

  1. 1 2 "2014 Diablo Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "Sensational Slam wins Belmont's Diablo Stakes". ESPN. Associated Press. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Diablo Results History". Equibase. 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "DIABLO STAKES - BELMONT PARK, NY". Thoroughbred Database. 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  5. ↑ Schweigardt, Andrew (2019). "TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2020". Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  6. ↑ Ehalt, Bob (19 May 2020). "Belmont Park to Open for Racing June 3". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "2023 Runhappy Stakes Grade 3 - (race 5)". Equibase. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "2022 Runhappy Stakes Grade 3 - (race 5)". Equibase. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "2021 Runhappy Stakes Grade 3 - (race 4)". Equibase. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  10. ↑ "2019 Runhappy Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  11. ↑ "2018 Runhappy Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  12. ↑ "2017 Diablo Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  13. ↑ "2016 Diablo Stakes Listed - (race 8)". Equibase. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  14. ↑ "2015 Diablo Stakes Black Type - (race 8)". Equibase. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
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