Ruffian Handicap
| Grade II race | |
| Location |
Belmont Park New York, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1976 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www.nyra.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Fillies & Mares, 4-years-old & up |
| Weight | Weight-for-Age |
| Purse | $250,000 |
The Ruffian Handicap is an Grade II American thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares ages three-years-old and up run over a distance of 1 mile on a dirt track at Belmont Park, formerly at Aqueduct Racecourse and Saratoga Race Course.
Race history
The race is named in honor of the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly, Ruffian.
Sky Beauty won this race in 1994 with 130 pounds, Bayakoa won it in 1989, and Lady's Secret won it twice, in 1985 and 1986, after which she was awarded the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. The second filly to win the Kentucky Derby, Genuine Risk won it in 1980.
The 2001 running of the Ruffian Handicap was cancelled due to the September 11th terrorist attacks.
In 2010 the Ruffian was moved to Saratoga Race Course where it is held in the first Sunday in August. Malibu Prayer won the first edition of the race to be held at Saratoga.
In 2014, the Ruffian was moved back to Belmont Park, where it was run on the undercard of the Man o' War Stakes on Mother's Day. Fiftyshadesofhay won the race, giving John Velazquez his sixth win in the race.
Race venue
Previously the race was held in August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York; until 2009 it had been run at the beginning of September at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The 2013 running was held at Aqueduct Racecourse and then returned to Belmont Park in 2014.
Race distance
- 1976 - 1 1⁄4 miles
- 1977–1989 - 1 1⁄8 miles
- 1990–2009 - 1 1⁄16 miles
- 2010–2011 - 1 1⁄8 miles
- 2013 - 1 mile
Race records
Time record: (at 1 1⁄16 miles distance)
- 1:40.16 - Tough Tiz's Sis (2008)
Most wins:
- 2 - Lady's Secret (1985, 1986)
Most wins by an owner:
- 2 - Cynthia Phipps (1982, 1992)
- 2 - Eugene V. Klein (1985, 1986)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 6 - John Velazquez (2014, 2013, 2010, 2006, 2004, 1996)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 - Claude R. McGaughey III (1991, 1992, 1995)
- 3 - Robert J. Frankel (2003, 2004, 2007)
Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Cavorting | 4 | Javier Castellano | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | Stonestreet Stables | 1:34.05 |
| 2015 | Wedding Toast | 5 | Jose Lezcano | Kiaran McLaughlin | Godolphin Racing | 1.35.57 |
| 2014 | Fiftyshadesofhay | 4 | John Velazquez | Bob Baffert | Michael Pegram | 1:35.70 |
| 2013 | Withgreatpleasure | 5 | John Velazquez | David Nunn | David Blethen | 1:36.52 |
| 2012 | Race not held | |||||
| 2011 | Ask the Moon | 6 | Javier Castellano | Marty Wolfson | Farnsworth Stable | 1:50.46 |
| 2010 | Malibu Prayer | 4 | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Edward Evans | 1:48.14 |
| 2009 | Swift Temper | 5 | Alan Garcia | Dale Romans | Richard Nip/Omar Trevino | 1:40.59 |
| 2008 | Tough Tiz's Sis | 4 | Edgar Prado | Bob Baffert | Watson/Weitman | 1:40.16 |
| 2007 | Ginger Punch | 4 | Rafael Bejarano | Robert J. Frankel | Stronach Stables | 1:40.25 |
| 2006 | Pool Land | 4 | John Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Melnyk Racing Stable | 1:41.81 |
| 2005 | Stellar Jayne | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Saeed bin Suroor | Godolphin Racing | 1:41.87 |
| 2004 | Sightseek | 5 | John Velazquez | Robert J. Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1:41.51 |
| 2003 | Wild Spirit | 4 | Jerry Bailey | Robert J. Frankel | Sumaya Us Stable | 1:41.23 |
| 2002 | Mandy's Gold | 4 | Jose A. Santos | Michael E. Gorham | Steeplechase Farm | 1:42.57 |
| 2001 | Race not held | |||||
| 2000 | Riboletta | 5 | Chris McCarron | Eduardo Inda | Aaron & Marie Jones | 1:40.35 |
| 1999 | Catinca | 4 | Jerry Bailey | John C. Kimmel | Robert K. Waxman | 1:41.94 |
| 1998 | Sharp Cat | 4 | Corey Nakatani | Wallace Dollase | Ahmed bin Salman | 1:42.40 |
| 1997 | Tomisue' Delight | 3 | Jerry Bailey | Neil J. Howard | Stephen C. Hilbert | 1:44.43 |
| 1996 | Yanks Music | 3 | John Velazquez | Leo O'Brien | Michael Fennessy | 1:41.80 |
| 1995 | Inside Information | 4 | Mike E. Smith | C. R. McGaughey III | Ogden Mills Phipps | 1:40.80 |
| 1994 | Sky Beauty | 4 | Mike E. Smith | H. Allen Jerkens | Georgia Hofmann | 1:41.60 |
| 1993 | Shared Interest | 5 | Robbie Davis | Scotty Schulhofer | Robert S. Evans | 1:41.80 |
| 1992 | Versailles Treaty | 5 | Mike E. Smith | C. R. McGaughey III | Cynthia Phipps | 1:41.40 |
| 1991 | Queena | 5 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | C. R. McGaughey III | Emory A. Hamilton | 1:41.60 |
| 1990 | Quick Mischief | 4 | Raul Rojas | Charles Carlesimo, Jr. | Gregory Mordas | 1:42.80 |
| 1989 | Bayakoa | 5 | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Ron McAnally | Frank Whitham | 1:48.40 |
| 1988 | Sham Say | 3 | Jacinto Vasquez | William Cocks | Evergreen Farm | 1:48.00 |
| 1987* | Coup De Fusil | 5 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Jan H. Nerud | Tartan Stable | 1:48.60 |
| 1986 | Lady's Secret | 4 | Pat Day | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 1:46.80 |
| 1985 | Lady's Secret | 3 | Jorge Velasquez | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 1:47.40 |
| 1984 | Heatherten | 5 | Randy Romero | William I. Mott | John A. Franks | 1:48.20 |
| 1983 | Heartlight No. One | 3 | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Pedro Marti | Burt Bacharach | 1:47.20 |
| 1982 | Christmas Past | 3 | Jacinto Vasquez | Angel Penna, Jr. | Cynthia Phipps | 1:48.60 |
| 1981 | Relaxing | 5 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Angel Penna, Sr. | Ogden Phipps | 1:47.60 |
| 1980 | Genuine Risk | 3 | Jacinto Vasquez | LeRoy Jolley | Diana M. Firestone | 1:49.20 |
| 1979 | It's In The Air | 3 | Laffit Pincay, Jr. | Laz Barrera | Harbor View Farm | 1:47.40 |
| 1978 | Late Bloomer | 4 | Jorge Velasquez | John M. Gaver, Jr. | Greentree Stable | 1:47.00 |
| 1977 | Cum Laude Laurie | 3 | Angel Cordero, Jr. | Lou Rondinello | Daniel W. Galbreath | 1:52.20 |
| 1976 | Revidere | 3 | Jacinto Vasquez | David A. Whiteley | William Haggin Perry | 2:01.00 |