Just A Game Stakes
Grade I race
LocationBelmont Park
Elmont, New York, United States
Inaugurated1992
Race typeThoroughbred – Flat racing
WebsiteNYRA
Race information
Distance1 mile (8 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFillies & Mares, four-years-old and older
Weight124lbs with allowances
PurseUS$500,000 (2021)

The Just A Game Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age four and up run over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) on the turf held annually in June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event offers a purse of $500,000.

History

The race is named in honor of Peter Brant's filly, Just A Game, who was voted 1980 American Champion Female Turf Horse honors.

The event was inaugurated on Independence Day in 1992 and run over a distance of 1+3⁄8 miles on a muddy dirt track, won by Lady Lear who defeated the Irish Bred favorite by a length in a time of 2:159⁄10.[1]

The event was not held in 1993 but the next year the event was moved to the turf and run over a mile.[2]

The event was classified as a Grade III in 1997, upgraded to Grade II in 2004 and a Grade I in 2008.[2]

The event carried Breeders' Cup incentives between 1996 and 2005 which were reflected in the name of the event.[2]

Several mares have won this event who later became champions. The 2000 winner Perfect Sting later that year won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and was crowned US Champion Female Turf Horse. The 2004 British bred winner Intercontinental returned the following year only to get defeated into second place by Sand Springs but by the end of the season she made amends by winning Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and also becoming the 2005 US Champion Female Turf Horse. The 2015 winner Tepin continued en route to a Breeders' Cup Mile win and honored as 2015 US Champion Female Turf Horse.

Records

Speed record:

  • 1:31.64 – Celestine (2016)

Margins:

  • 6 lengths – Elizabeth Bay (1994)

Most wins:

  • 2 – Caress (1995, 1996)

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref
Just a Game Stakes
2023 In Italian (GB) 5 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad C. Brown Peter M. Brant 1 mile 1:34.00 $485,000 I [3]
2022 Regal Glory 6 José Ortiz Chad C. Brown Peter M. Brant 1 mile 1:32.00 $480,000 I [4]
2021 Althiqa (GB) 4 Mike E. Smith Charlie Appleby Godolphin 1 mile 1:33.90 $500,000 I [5]
2020 Newspaperofrecord (IRE) 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables 1 mile 1:35.62 $250,000 I [6]
2019 Rushing Fall 4 Javier Castellano Chad C. Brown e Five Racing Thoroughbreds 1 mile 1:31.67 $671,000 I [7]
2018 A Raving Beauty (GER) 5 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad C. Brown Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Bethlehem Stables 1 mile 1:32.14 $700,000 I [8]
2017 Antonoe 4 Javier Castellano Chad C. Brown Juddmonte Farms 1 mile 1:32.12 $687,000 I [9]
2016 Celestine 4 Junior Alvarado William I. Mott James Bryan, Jr 1 mile 1:31.64 $700,000 I [10]
2015 Tepin 4 Julien R. Leparoux Mark E. Casse Robert E. Masterson 1 mile 1:35.65 $700,000 I [11]
2014 Coffee Clique 4 Javier Castellano Brian A. Lynch Amerman Racing 1 mile 1:32.52 $750,000 I [12]
2013 Stephanie's Kitten 4 John R. Velazquez Wayne M. Catalano Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 1 mile 1:36.27 $500,000 I [13]
2012 Tapitsfly 5 Ramon A. Dominguez Dale L. Romans Frank Jones Jr. 1 mile 1:32.34 $500,000 I [14]
2011 C. S. Silk 5 Javier Castellano Dale L. Romans William Pacella, Fred Barbara & George Bonomo 1 mile 1:40.53 $400,000 I [15]
2010 Proviso (GB) 5 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Juddmonte Farms 1 mile 1:34.09 $400,000 I [16]
2009 Diamondrella (GB) 5 Rajiv Maragh Angel A. Penna Jr. Castletop Stable 1 mile 1:36.49 $400,000 I [17]
2008 Ventura 4 Garrett K. Gomez Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1 mile 1:32.75 $400,000 I [18][19]
2007 My Typhoon (IRE) 5 Eddie Castro William I. Mott Live Oak Plantation 1 mile 1:34.92 $294,000 II [20]
Just a Game Handicap
2006 Gorella (FR) 4 Julien R. Leparoux Patrick L. Biancone Martin S. Schwartz 1 mile 1:37.14 $285,000 II [21]
2005 Sand Springs 5 John R. Velazquez William I. Mott Sangster Family Stable 1 mile 1:33.05 $300,000 II [22]
2004 § Intercontinental (GB) 4 Jerry D. Bailey Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 1 mile 1:33.33 $226,333 II [23]
2003 § Mariensky 4 José A. Santos Christophe Clement Waterville Lake Stable 1 mile 1:43.28 $214,500 III [24]
2002 Babae (CHI) 6 Jorge F. Chavez Frank A. Alexander Joseph P. Platt Jr. 1 mile 1:34.57 $147,200 III [25]
2001 License Fee 6 Pat Day W. Elliott Walden Winstar Farm 1 mile 1:32.62 $189,050 III [26]
2000 Perfect Sting 4 Jerry D. Bailey Joe Orseno Stronach Stables 1 mile 1:34.48 $165,800 III [27]
1999 Cozy Blues 5 Jorge F. Chavez H. James Bond Sandy & Joanne Dew 1 mile 1:33.33 $157,700 III [28]
1998 Witchful Thinking 4 Chris McCarron Niall M. O'Callaghan Leslie R. Grimm 1 mile 1:33.45 $157,325 III [29]
1997 Memories of Silver 4 Jerry D. Bailey James J. Toner Joan & John Phillips 1 mile 1:32.90 $158,950 III [30]
1996 † Caress 5 Robbie Davis H. Allen Jerkens Harbor View Farm 1 mile 1:33.30 $158,150 Listed [31]
Just a Game Stakes
1995 Caress 4 Robbie Davis H. Allen Jerkens Harbor View Farm 1 mile 1:32.53 $82,000 Listed [32]
1994 Elizabeth Bay 4 Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Mohammed Al Maktoum 1 mile 1:32.85 $55,550 Listed [33]
1993 Race not held
1992 Lady Lear 5 Gerry Brocklebank Linda L. Rice Mark Weiss 1+3⁄8 miles 2:15.90 $78,900 Listed [1]

Legend:
  Turf   Dirt
Notes:
† In 1996, Class Kris finished first but was disqualified and set back to second
§ Ran as part of an entry

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

  1. 1 2 "1992 Just a Game Stakes Listed – (race 7)". Equibase. 4 July 1992. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Equibase.com (2020). "Just a Game Stakes (Gr. 1)". Equibase. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  3. ↑ "2023 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 - (race 4)". Equibase. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "2022 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 - (race 4)". Equibase. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  5. ↑ "2021 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 - (race 8)". Equibase. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  6. ↑ "2020 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 10)" (PDF). Equibase. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "2019 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 4)". Equibase. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  8. ↑ "2018 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 9 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  9. ↑ "2017 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "2016 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  11. ↑ "2015 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  12. ↑ "2014 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "2013 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "2012 Longines Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  15. ↑ "2011 Foxwoods Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  16. ↑ "2010 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  17. ↑ "2009 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  18. ↑ "2008 Just a Game Stakes Grade 1 – (race 7)". Equibase. 7 June 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  19. ↑ "The 2008 Just A Game Handicap". Bloodhorse.com.
  20. ↑ "2007 Just a Game Stakes Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 9 June 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  21. ↑ "2006 Just a Game Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 10 June 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  22. ↑ "2005 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 11 June 2005. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  23. ↑ "2004 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 2 – (race 8)". Equibase. 5 June 2004. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  24. ↑ "2003 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 8)". Equibase. 7 June 2003. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  25. ↑ "2002 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 7)". Equibase. 8 June 2002. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  26. ↑ "2001 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 7)". Equibase. 9 June 2001. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  27. ↑ "2000 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 10 June 2000. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  28. ↑ "1999 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 5)". Equibase. 5 June 1999. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  29. ↑ "1998 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 6)". Equibase. 6 June 1998. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  30. ↑ "1997 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 8 June 1997. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  31. ↑ "1996 Just a Game Breeders' Cup Handicap Listed – (race 9)". Equibase. 9 June 1996. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  32. ↑ "1995 Just a Game Stakes Listed – (race 9)". Equibase. 11 June 1995. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  33. ↑ "1994 Just a Game Stakes Listed – (race 8)". Equibase. 15 June 1994. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
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