Red Smith Stakes
 | This article needs more citations. (November 2026) |
| Class | Grade II |
|---|---|
| Location | Belmont Park Elmont, New York, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1960 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+3⁄16 miles (9.5 furlongs) |
| Surface | Tapeta |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds & up |
| Purse | $250,000 (2026) |
The Red Smith Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The race is run at a distance of 1+3⁄16 miles over the synthetic Tapeta surface and is open to horses aged three and older. From 1960 until 2025, it was a turf race run at both Belmont and the former Aqueduct Racetrack.
Inaugurated in 1960, it was run as the Edgemere Handicap until 1981. Previously, there had been a race on dirt known as the Edgemere Handicap which was contested at a distance of a mile and one furlong. Last run in 1957, this turf race was renamed the Red Smith Handicap in honor of the late Walter "Red" Smith, an honored and respected sports columnist for over 45 years who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1976. In 2019, it was changed to the Red Smith Stakes.
The Red Smith has been run at various distances:
- 1+3⁄8 miles : 1960–1962, 1968–1971, 1994–2005, 2007–2025
- 1+3⁄16 miles : 1963–1967, 2026–present
- 1+1⁄16 miles : 1977
- 1+1⁄4 miles : 1972 to 1976, 1978–1993, 2006
The Red Smith was run at Aqueduct Racetrack from 1963 to 1967, and from 1994 until 2025. It was run in two divisions in 1977, 1983, and 1986. There was no race in 1979.
In 1984, 1997, 2006 and 2018, the Red Smith was taken off the turf and run on the dirt. The 1997 race was shortened to 1+1⁄4 miles, and the 2018 race was shortened to 1+1⁄8 miles.
With the reopening of Belmont Park in 2026, the New York Racing Association moved the race to Belmont's new winter meet in December, changing it to a 1+3⁄16-mile race over its new Tapeta racing surface.
Records
Most wins:
- 2 – Boisterous (2011, 2012)
- 2 – Drumtop (1970, 1971)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 – Phipps Stable (2011, 2012. 2013)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 5 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1969, 1970, 1977, 1979, 1985)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 6 – Claude R. McGaughey III (2011, 2012, 2013, 2020, 2024, 2025)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Win$ | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Cugino | 4 | Flavien Prat | C. R. McGaughey III | West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig LLC | 1+3⁄8 | 2:17.13 | $250,000 | G2 |
| 2024 | Integration | 4 | Flavien Prat | C. R. McGaughey III | West Point Thoroughbreds & Woodford Racing LLC | 13⁄8 | 2:13.28 | $300,000 | G2 |
| 2023 | Master Piece (CHI) | 7 | Jose Lezcano | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | Michael Iavarone, Julia C. Iavarone, Nicholas Zoumas, Dino Baccari, Frank Argano & Peter Douglass | 13⁄8 | 2:14.56 | $300,000 | G2 |
| 2022 | Astronaut | 5 | Kendrick Carmouche | Thomas Albertrani | John M. B. O'Conner | 13⁄8 | 2:14.00 | $300,000 | G2 |
| 2021 | Serve The King | 5 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Peter M. Brant | 13⁄8 | 2:16.60 | $200,000 | G3 |
| 2020 | North Dakota | 4 | Jose Lezcano | C. R. McGaughey III | Allen Stable Inc. | 13⁄8 | 2:16.47 | $100,000 | 3 |
| 2019 | Sadler's Joy | 6 | Javier Castellano | Thomas Albertrani | Woodslane Farm LLC | 13⁄8 | 2:15.76 | $110,000 | G3 |
| 2018 | Village King | 4 | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Angels of Catalina, Inc. | 13⁄8 | 1:52.95 | $110,000 | L/R |
| 2017 | Spring Quality | 5 | Edgar Prado | Graham Motion | Augustin Stable | 13⁄8 | 2:17.72 | $120,000 | G3 |
| 2016 | Bigger Picture | 5 | José Ortiz | Michael J. Maker | Three Diamonds Farm | 13⁄8 | 2:15.46 | $120,000 | |
| 2015 | Mr. Maybe | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | Michael Dubb & Highclere America | 13⁄8 | 2:17.49 | $90,000 | |
| 2014 | Dynamic Sky | 4 | Cornelio Velásquez | Mark E. Casse | John C. Oxley | 13⁄8 | 2:18.85 | $90,000 | |
| 2013 | Imagining | 5 | Joel Rosario | Claude R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 13⁄8 | 2:18.43 | $150,000 | |
| 2012 | Boisterous | 5 | Edgar Prado | Claude R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 13⁄8 | 2:19.38 | $150,000 | |
| 2011 | Boisterous | 4 | Alan Garcia | Claude R. McGaughey III | Phipps Stable | 13⁄8 | 2:20.26 | $150,000 | |
| 2010 | Grassy | 4 | Joe Bravo | Christophe Clement | Claiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider | 13⁄8 | 2:20.06 | $90,000 | |
| 2009 | Expansion | 4 | Channing Hill | Chad C. Brown | Mary & Gary West | 13⁄8 | 2:18.93 | $90,000 | |
| 2008 | Strike a Deal | 4 | Chuck C. Lopez | Alan E. Goldberg | Jayeff B Stables | 13⁄8 | 2:23.28 | $90,000 | |
| 2007 | Dave | 6 | Joe Bravo | Barclay Tagg | Partingglass Stable et al. | 13⁄8 | 2:21.45 | $90,000 | |
| 2006 | Naughty New Yorker | 5 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Patrick J. Kelly | Fox Ridge Farm Inc. | 11⁄4 | 2:04.52 | $90,000 | |
| 2005 | King's Drama | 5 | Edgar Prado | Robert J. Frankel | Gary A. Tanaka | 13⁄8 | 2:15.37 | $90,000 | |
| 2004 | Dreadnaught | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | Thomas Voss | Trillium Stable | 13⁄8 | 2:18.87 | $90,000 | |
| 2003 | Balto Star | 5 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Anstu Stables, Inc. | 13⁄8 | 2:18.86 | $90,000 | |
| 2002 | Evening Attire | 4 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Patrick J. Kelly | J. M. Grant & T. J. Kelly | 13⁄8 | 2:14.81 | $90,000 | |
| 2001 | Mr. Pleasentfar | 4 | José A. Santos | Martin D. Wolfson | Raja Malek | 13⁄8 | 2:16.94 | $90,000 | |
| 2000 | Cetewayo | 6 | Richard Migliore | Michael Dickinson | Dr. John Chandler | 13⁄8 | 2:17.93 | $90,000 | |
| 1999 | Monarch's Maze | 3 | Joe Bravo | Patrick J. Kelly | Live Oak Racing | 13⁄8 | 2:14.44 | $90,000 | |
| 1998 | Musical Ghost | 6 | John Velazquez | Mark A. Hennig | Edward P. Evans | 13⁄8 | 2:15.53 | $90,000 | |
| 1997 | Instant Friendship | 4 | John Velazquez | Leo O'Brien | Sultan Al Kabeer | 13⁄8 | 2:17.08 | $90,000 | |
| 1996 | Mr. Bluebird | 5 | Mike E. Smith | John C. Kimmel | Thomas R. Warfield | 13⁄8 | 2:15.35 | $87,750 | |
| 1995 | Flag Down | 5 | José A. Santos | Christophe Clement | Allen E. Paulson | 13⁄8 | 2:22.03 | $69,900 | |
| 1994 | Franchise Player | 5 | Dale Beckner | Philip G. Johnson | Austin K. Smith | 13⁄8 | 2:20.53 | $72,120 | |
| 1993 | Royal Mountain Inn | 4 | Julie Krone | Barclay Tagg | Steadfast Stable | 11⁄4 | 1:59.80 | $71,760 | |
| 1992 | Montserrat | 4 | Julie Krone | W. Elliott Walden | Preston Madden | 11⁄4 | 2:00.20 | $70,920 | |
| 1991 | Who's To Pay | 5 | Jerry Bailey | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stables | 11⁄4 | 1:58.00 | $71,160 | |
| 1990 | Yankee Affair | 8 | Jose Santos | Henry L. Carroll | Ju Ju Gen Stable | 11⁄4 | 2:00.20 | $70,560 | |
| 1989 | Rambo Dancer | 5 | Jose Santos | LeRoy Jolley | Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum | 11⁄4 | 2:01.00 | $72,360 | |
| 1988 | Pay the Butler | 4 | Robbie Davis | Robert J. Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 11⁄4 | 2:01.40 | $118,620 | |
| 1987 | Theatrical | 5 | Pat Day | William I. Mott | Bertram R. Firestone | 11⁄4 | 2:00.80 | $116,460 | |
| 1986 | Divulge | 5 | Jean Cruguet | Gasper Moschera | Albert Davis | 11⁄4 | 1:59.00 | $90,150 | |
| 1986 | Equalize | 4 | Walter Guerra | Jan H. Nerud | Tartan Farms | 11⁄4 | 2:02.20 | $88,950 | |
| 1985 | Sharannpour | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Robert J. Frankel | Jerry Moss | 11⁄4 | 2:04.20 | $101,100 | |
| 1984 | Hero's Honor | 4 | Jerry Bailey | MacKenzie Miller | Rokeby Stables | 11⁄4 | 2:02.20 | $89,400 | |
| 1983 | Super Sunrise | 4 | Craig Perret | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Blanche P. Levy | 11⁄4 | 2:06.80 | $67,200 | |
| 1983 | Thunder Puddles | 4 | Jean-Luc Samyn | John P. Campo | Rockwood Stable | 11⁄4 | 2:06.40 | $67,200 | |
| 1982 | Highland Blade | 4 | Jacinto Vásquez | David A. Whiteley | Pen Y Bryn Farm | 11⁄4 | 2:06.40 | $69,000 | |
| 1981 | Match the Hatch | 5 | Kenny Skinner | Philip G. Johnson | Kathy M. Johnson | 11⁄4 | 1:59.60 | $68,160 | |
| 1980 | Marquee Universal | 4 | Hector Pilar | Alec Bullock | Gerald Freed | 11⁄4 | 1:58.80 | $67,680 | |
| 1979 | Waya | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | David A. Whiteley | Peter M. Brant | 11⁄4 | 2:04.20 | $65,445 | |
| 1978 | Tiller | 4 | Jeffrey Fell | David A. Whiteley | William H. Perry | 11⁄4 | 2:00.20 | $33,960 | |
| 1977 | Clout | 5 | George Martens | William O. Hicks | Cambridge Stable | 11⁄16 | 1:40.00 | $25,927 | |
| 1977 | Quick Card | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Thomas J. Kelly | John M. Schiff | 11⁄16 | 1:39.60 | $25,687 | |
| 1976 | Erwin Boy | 5 | Ron Turcotte | James P. Conway | Sea High Stable | 11⁄4 | 2:01.20 | $28,110 | |
| 1975 | Telefonico | 4 | Craig Perret | Lou M. Goldfine | Roberto Barcala | 11⁄4 | 2:03.00 | $17,400 | |
| 1974 | Take Off | 5 | Ron Turcotte | Frank Catrone | Ada L. Rice | 11⁄4 | 2:00.40 | $23,070 | |
| 1973 | Red Reality | 7 | Jorge Velásquez | MacKenzie Miller | Cragwood Stables | 11⁄4 | 2:13.20 | $16,890 | |
| 1972 | New Alibhai | 4 | Frank Iannelli | Ralph W. McIlvain | Elcee H Stable | 11⁄4 | 2:02.40 | $16,935 | |
| 1971 | Drumtop | 5 | Chuck Baltazar | Roger Laurin | James B. Moseley | 13⁄8 | 2:16.60 | $19,560 | |
| 1970 | Drumtop | 4 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Roger Laurin | James B. Moseley | 13⁄8 | 2:20.40 | $19,110 | |
| 1969 | Majetta | 5 | Ángel Cordero Jr. | Angel Penna Sr. | Gustave Ring | 13⁄8 | 2:19.00 | $18,915 | |
| 1968 | High Hat | 4 | Eddie Belmonte | Kay E. Jensen | Mrs. Wallace Gilroy | 13⁄8 | 2:20.20 | $18,330 | |
| 1967 | Ginger Fizz | 5 | Fernando Toro | Thomas J. Kelly | Esther D. du Pont | 13⁄16 | 1:55.00 | $19,825 | |
| 1966 | Spoon Bait | 4 | John L. Rotz | Ivor G. Balding | Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney | 13⁄16 | 1:54.40 | $18,557 | |
| 1965 | Tenacle | 5 | Bobby Ussery | Homer C. Pardue | Joseph R. Straus | 13⁄16 | 1:55.40 | $19,825 | |
| 1964 | Will I Rule | 5 | Braulio Baeza | Joseph Nash | Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr. | 13⁄16 | 1:55.80 | $18,558 | |
| 1963 | Vimy Ridge | 4 | Sam Boulmetis | Thomas J. Barry | Frank E. Power | 13⁄16 | 1:59.40 | $18,395 | |
| 1962 | Wise Ship | 5 | Heliodoro Gustines | Jacob Byer | Milton J. Ritzenberg | 13⁄8 | 2:16.00 | $18,460 | |
| 1961 | Wolfram | 5 | Ismael Valenzuela | Burley Parke | Harbor View Farm | 13⁄8 | 2:15.00 | $18,492 | |
| 1960 | North Pole II | 4 | Sam Boulmetis Sr. | Sidney J. Smith | John S. Kroese | 13⁄8 | 2:15.00 | $18,550 |
References
- 1 2 Grening, David (October 7, 2026). "Derby preps, Suburban among stakes moved to Belmont synthetic track". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved November 6, 2026.