True North Stakes

The True North Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years old and older held over a distance of six and half furlongs on dirt scheduled annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $400,000.^[1]

True North Stakes

Class	Grade III
Location	Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated	1979
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website	www.nyra.com
Race information
Distance	6+1⁄2 furlongs
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Four-years-old and older
Weight	124lbs with allowances
Purse	US$400,000 (2025)

History

The True North is named for the winner of the 1945 Fall Highweight Handicap, W. Deering Howe's, True North.

The event was inaugurated on 9 July 1979 as the True North Handicap and was won by the longshot Moleolus in a time of 1:104⁄5.^[2]

The event was classified as Grade III in 1982 and upgraded to Grade II in 1985.^[1] The only mare to win the event was Gold Beauty in 1993.^[3]

In winning the 1987 edition of the True North Handicap, Groovy earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 134.^[4]

In 2014 the conditions of the race changed to a stakes race. In 2017 the distance of the race was changed from 6 furlongs to 6+1⁄2 furlongs.^[1]

In 2024 the event was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.^[5]

In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade III status.^[6]

Records

Speed record:

• 6+1⁄2 furlongs – 1:14.85 – Catalina Cruiser (2019)
• 6 furlongs – 1:07.80 – Groovy (1987)

Most wins:

• 2 - Firenze Fire (2020, 2021)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 4 – William I. Mott (1991, 1993, 1998, 2023)

Margin:

• 8+1⁄2 lengths – Trappe Shot (2011)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 3 – Jean-Luc Samyn (1979, 1981, 1999)
• 3 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1987, 1988, 1989)
• 3 – Robbie Davis (1996, 1997, 2000)
• 3 – Javier Castellano (2012, 2015, 2018)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 – Seymour Cohn (1985, 1999)
• 2 – Mr. Amore Stables (2020, 2021)

Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
At Saratoga – True North Stakes
2025	Book’em Danno	4	Paco Lopez	Derek S. Ryan	Atlantic Six Racing	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.64	$400,000	III	[7]
2024	Baby Yoda	6	Eric Cancel	William I. Mott	Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber & Jerold L. Zaro	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.62	$350,000	II	[8]
At Belmont Park
2023	Elite Power	5	Irad Ortiz Jr.	William I. Mott	Juddmonte	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.65	$250,000	II	[9]
2022	Jackie's Warrior	4	Joel Rosario	Steven M. Asmussen	Judy & J.Kirk Robison	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.09	$300,000	II	[10]
2021	Firenze Fire	6	Jose Ortiz	Kelly Breen	Mr Amore Stables	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.52	$300,000	II	[11]
2020	Firenze Fire	5	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Kelly Breen	Mr Amore Stables	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.53	$150,000	II	[12]
2019	Catalina Cruiser	5	Joel Rosario	John W. Sadler	Hronis Racing	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:14.85	$250,000	II	[13]
2018	Imperial Hint	5	Javier Castellano	Luis Carvajal Jr.	Raymond Mamone	6+1⁄2 furlongs	1:15.02	$240,000	II	[14]
2017	Roy H	5	Paco Lopez	Peter L. Miller	Rockingham Ranch	6 furlongs	1:08.59	$250,000	II	[15]
2016	Joking	7	Manuel Franco	Charlton Baker	Charlton Baker	6 furlongs	1:08.04	$240,000	II	[16]
2015	Rock Fall	4	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Stonestreet Stables	6 furlongs	1:08.37	$250,000	II	[17]
2014	Palace	5	José L. Ortiz	Linda L. Rice	Antonino Miuccio	6 furlongs	1:08.29	$250,000	II	[18]
True North Handicap
2013	Fast Bullet	5	Joel Rosario	Bob Baffert	Zayat Stables	6 furlongs	1:08.27	$400,000	II	[19]
2012	Caixa Eletronica	7	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Repole Stables	6 furlongs	1:09.52	$400,000	II	[20]
2011	Trappe Shot	4	John R. Velazquez	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Mill House	6 furlongs	1:08.86	$250,000	II	[21]
2010	Bribon (FR)	7	Garrett K. Gomez	Todd A. Pletcher	Derrick Smith	6 furlongs	1:09.63	$250,000	II	[22]
2009	Fabulous Strike	6	Ramon A. Dominguez	Todd M. Beattie	Walter Downey	6 furlongs	1:07.85	$250,000	II	[23]
2008	Benny the Bull	5	Edgar S. Prado	Richard E. Dutrow Jr.	IEAH Stables, James Cohen, Pegasus Holdings Group & Sanford H. Robbins	6 furlongs	1:09.06	$250,000	II	[24]
2007	Will He Shine	5	Edgar S. Prado	Dale L. Romans	Saviaro Pugliese & Marc Wexler	6 furlongs	1:08.70	$200,000	II	[25]
2006	Anew	5	Alan Garcia	Steven M. Asmussen	Chrome Cowboy Racing & Raymond Vitolo	6 furlongs	1:08.10	$200,000	II	[26]
2005	Woke Up Dreamin	5	Mike E. Smith	Bob Baffert	Michael E. Pegram	6 furlongs	1:08.38	$212,900	II	[27]
2004	Speightstown	6	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	Eugene Melnyk	6 furlongs	1:08.04	$206,400	II	[28]
2003	Shake You Down	5	Michael J. Luzzi	Scott A. Lake	Robert L. Cole Jr.	6 furlongs	1:09.40	$190,000	II	[29]
2002	Explicit	5	Lonnie Meche	Ian P. D. Jory	Marvin Malmuth	6 furlongs	1:09.80	$250,000	II	[30]
2001	Say Florida Sandy	7	Aaron Gryder	Juan Serey	John Rotella	6 furlongs	1:08.60	$150,000	II	[31]
2000	Intidab	7	Robbie Davis	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Shadwell Stable	6 furlongs	1:10.00	$150,000	II	[32]
1999	Kashatreya	5	Jean-Luc Samyn	John O. Hertler	Seymour Cohn	6 furlongs	1:09.60	$150,000	II	[33]
1998	Richter Scale	4	Jerry D. Bailey	William I. Mott	Nancy & Richard Kaster	6 furlongs	1:08.80	$138,600	II	[34]
1997	Punch Line	7	Robbie Davis	William H. Turner Jr.	Althea Richards	6 furlongs	1:08.80	$110,300	II	[35]
1996	Not Surprising	6	Robbie Davis	Judson Van Worp	Robert Van Worp	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$111,200	II	[36]
1995	Waldoboro	4	Eddie Maple	Claude R. McGaughey III	Emory A. Hamilton	6 furlongs	1:09.60	$110,500	II	[37]
1994	Friendly Lover	6	Rick Wilson	Joseph H. Pierce Jr.	Pastime Stable	6 furlongs	1:09.60	$112,300	II	[38]
1993	Lion Cavern	4	Julie Krone	William I. Mott	Sheikh Mohammed	6 furlongs	1:10.20	$115,200	II	[39]
1992	Shining Bid	4	Eddie Maple	Jack B. Morgan	Deborah A. Matz	6 furlongs	1:08.20	$119,800	II	[40]
1991	Diablo	4	Julie Krone	William I. Mott	Bertram R. Firestone	6 furlongs	1:08.20	$116,200	II	[41]
1990	Mr. Nickerson	4	Chris Antley	Mark J. Reid	Robert H. A. Nixon	6 furlongs	1:10.40	$85,600	II	[42]
1989	Dancing Spree	4	Ángel Cordero Jr.	Claude R. McGaughey III	Ogden Phipps	6 furlongs	1:09.40	$113,600	II	[43]
1988	§ High Brite	4	Ángel Cordero Jr.	D. Wayne Lukas	H. Joseph Allen	6 furlongs	1:10.00	$113,000	II	[44]
1987	Groovy	4	Ángel Cordero Jr.	José Martín	Lone Star Stable	6 furlongs	1:07.80	$108,800	II	[45]
1986	Phone Trick	4	Jorge Velásquez	Richard E. Mandella	Howell Wynne	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$110,800	II	[46]
1985	Cannon Shell	6	D. J. Murphy	Chester Ross	Seymour Cohn	6 furlongs	1:10.80	$87,000	II	[47]
1984	Believe The Queen	4	Jorge Velásquez	H. Allen Jerkens	Bohemia Stable	6 furlongs	1:09.80	$86,850	III	[48]
1983	‡ Gold Beauty	4	Don Brumfield	William Curtis Jr.	Mrs. Philip Hofmann	6 furlongs	1:10.40	$84,600	III	[49]
1982	Shimatoree	3	Mario G. Pinoclaud	Richard E. Dutrow Sr.	Rif'at Hussain	6 furlongs	1:08.60	$82,650		[50]
1981	Joanie's Chief	4	Jean-Luc Samyn	Eugene Jacobs	Peter Barberino	6 furlongs	1:09.00	$58,800		[51]
1980	Syncopate	5	Laffit Pincay Jr.	Ron McAnally	Elmendorf Farm	6 furlongs	1:09.20	$55,000		[52]
1979	Moleolus	4	Jean-Luc Samyn	Patrick J. Kelly	Live Oak Plantation Racing	6 furlongs	1:10.40	$42,225		[2]

Notes:
‡ Filly or Mare
§ Ran as part of an entry

See also

• List of American and Canadian Graded races