Breeders' Stakes Explained

Class:	Restricted
Horse Race:	Breeders' Stakes
Location:	Woodbine Racetrack Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Race Type:	Flat / Thoroughbred
Distance:	miles (12 furlongs)
Surface:	Turf
Track:	Left-handed
Qualification:	Three-year-olds (foaled in Canada)
Weight:	Colt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg) Filly: 121lb
Purse:	CDN$500,000^[1]

The Breeders' Stakes is a stakes race for Thoroughbred race horses foaled in Canada, first run in 1889. Since 1959, it has been the third race in the Canadian Triple Crown for three-year-olds. Held annually in October at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, the Breeders' Stakes follows the August running of the King's Plate and the September running of the Prince of Wales Stakes. At a distance of one-and-a-half miles, the Breeders' Stakes is the longest of the three Triple Crown races and is the only jewel raced on turf (the King's Plate is raced on Tapeta synthetic dirt and the Prince of Wales on a traditional dirt track).^[2]

History

In 1959, the Canadian Triple Crown was created and then won by New Providence. Six more three-year-olds, including the filly Dance Smartly, have since equalled the feat, with four of them doing so in a five-year period from 1989 to 1993.

Six horses have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown but lost on the grass in the Breeders' Stakes. They are:^[3]

• 1970: Almoner finished second to Mary of Scotland (1970)
• 1975: L'Enjoleur finished third to Momigi (1975)
• 1976: Norcliffe finished fifth to Tiny Tinker (1976)
• 1986: Golden Choice finished third to Carotene (1986)
• 2000: Scatter The Gold finished third to Lodge Hill (2000)
• 2020: Mighty Heart finished seventh to Belichick (2020)

In 1973 Saskatoon native, Joan Phipps made history aboard Singing Spirit. Though she finished 11th, she became the first female jockey to compete in one of the Canadian Triple Crown races.^[4] In 1999, 26 years after Phipps landmark race, Laurie Gulas rode Free Vacation to victory in the Breeders' Stakes, becoming the first female jockey to win a Canadian Triple Crown race.^[5]

In 2004, Catherine Day Phillips became the first woman trainer to win the Breeders' Stakes.^[6]

The 1994 renewal was held at Fort Erie Race Track^[7] while the Woodbine turf course was undergoing renovations.^[8]

Since 1957, the race has been run at miles. Earlier renewals were held at:^[9]

• 9 furlongs — 1889-1924, 1952-1956
• 8.5 furlongs — 1925-1951

The greatest longshot to win the race was Miami Deco in 2010, who paid $132.10 for a $2 win bet. The slowest time ever recorded was 2:50 by Crowning Honors in 1985 when the rain turned the course into a "swamp".^[10]

Records

Speed record:

• 2:26 2/5 – Charlie's Dewan (1995)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 – Patrick Husbands (2003, 2006, 2007, 2015, 2021)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 9 – Roger Attfield (2015, 2009, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1993, 1990, 1989, 1986)

Most wins by an owner:

• 9 - Joseph E. Seagram (1889, 1891, 1895, 1901, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1916)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Dist. (Miles)	Time	Win$
2023	Touch 'n Ride	Kazushi Kimura	Layne S. Giliforte	Chiefswood Stables Limited	1-1/2m	2:27.56	$400,000
2022	Sir for Sure	Declan Carroll	Mark E. Casse	Heste Sport Inc.	1-1/2m	2:28.88	$400,000
2021	British Royalty	Patrick Husbands	Barbara J. Minshall	Bruce Lunsford	1-1/2 m	2:34.00	$400,000
2020	Belichick	Luis Contreras	Josie Carroll	NK Racing & LNJ Foxwoods	1-1/2 m	2:32.51	$240,000
2019	Tone Broke	Rafael Hernandez	Steven M. Asmussen	L and N Racing LLC (Lee, Michael & Andrew Levinson & Don Nelson)	1-1/2 m	2:30.43	$240,000
2018	Neepawa	Jerome Lermyte	Mark E. Casse	Chiefswood Stable	1-1/2 m	2:31.18	$240,000
2017	Channel Maker	Rafael Hernandez	William I. Mott	Joey Gee Thoroughbreds, etc	1-1/2 m	2:29.70	$240,000
2016	Camp Creek	Rafael Hernandez	Rachel Halden	Hillsbrook Farms	1-1/2 m	2:29.45	$300,000
2015	Danish Dynaformer	Patrick Husbands	Roger Attfield	Charles E. Fipke	1-1/2 m	2:29.28	$300,000
2014	Ami's Holiday	Luis Contreras	Josie Carroll	Ivan Dalos	1-1/2 m	2:30.12	$300,000
2013	Up With the Birds	Eurico Rosa da Silva	Malcolm Pierce	Sam-Son Farm	1-1/2 m	2:28.69	$300,000
2012	Irish Mission	Alex Solis	Mark Frostad	Robert S. Evans	1-1/2 m	2:30.90	$300,000
2011	Pender Harbour	Luis Contreras	Michael P. DePaulo	Dennis Andrews, Sandra Lazaruk, Robert & Roberta Giffin	1-1/2 m	2:36.31	$300,000
2010	Miami Deco	Richard Dos Ramos	Brian A. Lynch	Jim & Susan Hill	1-1/2 m	2:34.24	$300,000
2009	Perfect Shower	Jono Jones	Roger Attfield	Charles E. Fipke	1-1/2 m	2:29.39	$300,000
2008	Marlang	Richard Dos Ramos	Debbie England	Gus Schickedanz	1-1/2 m	2:28.58	$300,000
2007	Marchfield	Patrick Husbands	Mark E. Casse	Melnyk Racing Stables	1-1/2 m	2:29.50	$300,000
2006	Royal Challenger	Patrick Husbands	Brian A. Lynch	Stronach Stables	1-1/2 m	2:28.66	$300,000
2005	Jambalaya	Jono Jones	Catherine Day Phillips	Catherine Day Phillips	1-1/2 m	2:27.86	$300,000
2004	A Bit O'Gold	Jono Jones	Catherine Day Phillips	Kingfield Racing Stables	1-1/2 m	2:27.15	$300,000
2003	Wando †	Patrick Husbands	Mike Keogh	Gus Schickedanz	1-1/2 m	2:28.03	$300,000
2002	Portcullis	Slade Callaghan	Mark Frostad	Sam-Son Farm	1-1/2 m	2:29.80	$300,000
2001	Sweetest Thing		Roger Attfield	M. & P. Canino, W. Werner, R. Attfield	1-1/2 m	2:29.90	$300,000
2000		Mike E. Smith		Eugene Melnyk & R. Bristow Farm	1-1/2 m	2:28.97	$300,000
1999		Laurie Gulas		M. & P. Canino, W. Werner, R. Attfield	1-1/2 m	2:28.45	$195,000
1998			Roger Attfield	Anderson & Ferguson	1-1/2 m	2:30.20	$180,000
1997			John A. Ross	R. M. C. Stable	1-1/2 m	2:35.60	$175,860
1996	Chief Bearhart	Mickey Walls	Mark Frostad	Sam-Son Farm	1-1/2 m	2:28.60	$171,120
1995			Mark Frostad	Kinghaven Farms et al.	1-1/2 m	2:26.40	$182,700
1994			Daniel J. Vella	Frank Stronach	1-1/2 m	2:47.80	$149,739
1993	Peteski †		Roger Attfield	Earle I. Mack	1-1/2 m	2:30.40	$137,549
1992	Blitzer	Don Seymour	Daniel J. Vella	Frank Stronach	1-1/2 m	2:35.60	$180,000
1991	Dance Smartly †		Jim Day	Sam-Son Farm	1-1/2 m	2:31.40	$182,140
1990	Izvestia †	Don Seymour	Roger Attfield	Kinghaven Farms	1-1/2 m	2:33.40	$183,600
1989	With Approval †	Don Seymour	Roger Attfield	Kinghaven Farms	1-1/2 m	2:29.00	$199,159
1988	King's Deputy		Jim Day	Sam-Son Farm	1-1/2 m	2:30.60	$103,500
1987	Hangin On a Star	Dave Penna	Jim Day	Sam-Son Farm	1-1/2 m	2:30.00	$105,480
1986	Carotene	Richard Dos Ramos	Roger Attfield	Kinghaven Farms	1-1/2 m	2:32.60	$67,140
1985	Crowning Honors	Brian Swatuk	Arthur H. Warner	Victura Farm	1-1/2 m	2:50.00	$65,280
1984		David Clark	Macdonald Benson	Windfields Farm	1-1/2 m	2:32.60	$65,940
1983	Kingsbridge			Kinghaven Farms	1-1/2 m	2:32.40	$66,480
1982			John DiMario	Albert J. Coppola	1-1/2 m	2:32.20	$49,725
1981			Donald H. Campbell	D. Mann	1-1/2 m	2:48.80	$40,464
1980	Ben Fab		Jacques Dumas	Fernand Audet & René & Pierre Benoit	1-1/2 m	2:31.60	$33,360
1979	Bridle Path		Macdonald Benson	Windfields Farm	1-1/2 m	2:29.60	$30,400
1978				Stafford Farm	1-1/2 m	2:29.40	$32,000
1977			Frank H. Merrill	Viscount Hardinge	1-1/2 m	3:01.60	$32,650
1976				Warren Beasley	1-1/2 m	2:31.20	$32,500
1975				Koichiro Hayata	1-1/2 m	2:38.20	$32,000
1974	Haymaker's Jig			Gardiner Farm	1-1/2 m	2:30.80	$32,250
1973	Come In Dad	Wayne Green		Harvey Tenenbaum	1-1/2 m	2:33.60	$27,910
1972	Nice Dancer		Jerry Lavigne	Tom Morton & Harlequin	1-1/2 m	2:35.80	$24,960
1971	Belle Geste		Carl F. Chapman	Beatrice Latimer	1-1/2 m	2:28.00	$26,230
1970	Mary of Scotland	Richard Grubb	Lou Cavalaris Jr.	Gardiner Farm	1-1/2 m	2:38.40	$26,420
1969		John LeBlanc		Harry W. Hatch	1-1/2 m	2:29.00	$23,980
1968	No Parando			Frank H. Sherman	1-1/2 m	2:30.00	$19,120
1967	Pine Point		Jerry C. Meyer	Willow Downs Farm (Saul Wagman)	1-1/2 m	2:32.20	$18,940
1966		Avelino Gomez	Patrick MacMurchy	Peter K. Marshall	1-1/2 m	2:31.40	$16,500
1965		Paul Kallai	Jerry C. Meyer	Dane Hill Acres	1-1/2 m	2:43.00	$15,650
1964		Dick Armstrong	W. Moorhead	Edith Ferguson Cardy	1-1/2 m	2:33.60	$17,350
1963	Canebora †		Gordon J. McCann	Windfields Farm	1-1/2 m	2:32.20	$16,450
1962			J. D. Mooney	Jeremy M. Jacobs	1-1/2 m	2:52.00	$18,150
1961		Jim Fitzsimmons	Gordon J. McCann	Windfields Farm	1-1/2 m	2:31.60	$17,550
1960			Robert S. Bateman	William R. Beasley	1-1/2 m	2:34.40	$16,150
1959	New Providence †			Windfields Farm	1-1/2 m	2:39.80	$8,370
1958				Lanson Farm	m	2:03.60	$6,350
1957	The Schreiber	C. O'Brien	E. Hall	Miss C. B. Armstrong	m	2:04.00	$7,450
1956	Canadian Champ	Eugene Rodriguez	John Passero	William R. Beasley	1-1/8 m	1:52.00	$8,000
1955	Ace Marine	George Walker		Larkin Maloney	1-1/8 m	1:51.40	$3,830
1954		Ted Johnson		E. P. Taylor	1-1/8 m	1:56.40	$3,700
1953	Chain Reaction			Elodie S. Tomlinson	1-1/8 m	1:51.60	$3,970
1952		Anthony Licata		Four L's Stable	1-1/8 m	1:53.60	$4,050
1951	Libertine	Alf Bavington	Red Barnard	Medway Stable (Jack Smallman)	1-1/16 m	1:45.60	$4,320
1950			Arthur Brent	Parkwood Stable	1-1/16 m	1:43.60	$4,100
1949	Grilled	Robert Keane		J. E. Frowde Seagram	1-1/16 m	1:46.00	$3,485
1948	Last Mark	Frankie Dougherty		James G. Fair	1-1/16 m	1:50.20	$3,540
1947				Molly Fishman	1-1/16 m	1:44.60	$3,435
1946			Bert Alexandra	E. P. Taylor	1-1/16 m	1:45.40	$3,240
1945			Cecil Howard	Harry C. Hatch	1-1/16 m	1:46.60	$3,500
1944		Joe Cowley	T. Frost	J. E. Frost	1-1/16 m	1:46.20	$3,350
1943			William E. MacDonald	MacDonald Stable	1-1/16 m	1:47.60	$3,685
1942	Shepperton			Fred H. Schelke	1-1/16 m	1:46.80	$,320
1941		Henry Palaez	J. Smith	Riverdale Stable	1-1/16 m	1:49.80	$3,365
1940	Hood		C. Mitchell	J. R. McIntyre	1-1/16 m	1:47.20	$3,460
1939		Sterling Young	Mark R. Cowell	C. George McCullagh	1-1/16 m	1:48.40	$2,430
1938	Mona Bell	Sterling Young	Bert Alexandra	Cosgrave Stable	1-1/16 m	1:46.40	$2,435
1937	Fore Isus	Pat Remillard		Erindale Stable	1-1/16 m	1:48.80	$2,030
1936	Samoan			Edward Frowde Seagram	1-1/16 m	1:46.80	$2,220
1935				Edward Frowde Seagram	1-1/16 m	1:49.00	$2,630
1934		Frankie Mann	Harry Giddings Jr.	Samuel McLaughlin	1-1/16 m	1:47.80	$2,585
1933		John Mattioli	Fred H. Schelke	Thorncliffe Stable	1-1/16 m	1:51.60	$2,675
1932	Queensway	Frankie Mann	Harry Giddings Jr.	Robert W. R. Cowie	1-1/16 m	1:48.20	$2,410
1931		Frankie Mann		Robert W. R. Cowie	1-1/16 m	1:47.80	$3.390
1930	Whale Oil		Fred H. Schelke	Thorncliffe Stable	1-1/16 m	1:49.60	$3,420
1929	Circulet		William H. Bringloe	Seagram Stables	1-1/16 m	1:49.60	$3,420
1928			William H. Bringloe	Seagram Stables	1-1/16 m	1:49.20	$3,365
1927	Mr. Gaiety	K. Moore	Fred Fox	Josephine Glassco	1-1/16 m	1:51.40	$3,505
1926		Pete Walls		J. K. L. Ross	1-1/16 m	1:48.80	$3,585
1925		T. Wilson	J. W. Barbour	J. P. White	1-1/16 m	1:48.80	$3,460
1924		Pete Walls	H. Guy Bedwell	J. K. L. Ross	1-1/8 m	1:56.60	$2,745
1923	Trail Blazer	E. Smallwood		Thorncliffe Stable	1-1/8 m	1:58.00	$2,490
1922	Paddle	A. Gantner		Brookdale Stable	1-1/8 m	1:56.60	$2,375
1921		A. Richcreek		Brookdale Stable	1-1/8 m	1:56.00	$1,535
1920	St. Paul	Roxy Romanelli	Harry Giddings Jr.	Harry Giddings Sr.	1-1/8 m	1:56.00	$1,620
1918	- 1919	Race not held
1917		Lee Mink		Brookdale Stable	1-1/8 m	2:00.00	$1,800
1916	Mandarin	Arthur Pickens	Barry Littlefield	Joseph E. Seagram	1-1/8 m	1:58.20	$1,660
1915	Fair Montague	Ted Rice	John Nixon	Charles Millar	1-1/8 m	1:56.00	$1,790
1914	Beehive	C. Peak	Harry Giddings Jr.	Harry Giddings Sr.	1-1/8 m	1:56.60	$1,770
1913	Hearts of Oak	J. Wilson		Harry Giddings Sr.	1-1/8 m	1:56.40	$1,420
1912	Amberite		S. Mumford	C. A. Crew	1-1/8 m	2:04.00	$930
1911	St. Bass	Eddie Dugan	Harry Giddings Jr.	Harry Giddings Sr.	1-1/8 m	1:56.60	$835
1910		J. Wilson		Valley Farm Stable	1-1/8 m	1:59.60	$805
1909	Courtier	P. Goldstein		Joseph E. Seagram	1-1/8 m	1:58.20	$880
1908	Seismic	Carroll H. Shilling		Joseph E. Seagram	1-1/8 m	1:58.40	$860
1907	Sea Wall	R. McDaniel		Joseph E. Seagram	1-1/8 m	1:56.40	$905
1906	Slaughter		Barry Littlefield	Joseph E. Seagram	1-1/8 m	1:56.40	$830
1905	Will King	E. Walsh		Nathaniel Dyment	1-1/8 m	2:00.50	$860
1904				Kirkfield Stable	1-1/8 m	2:01.50	$920
1903		Mr. Munro		William Hendrie	1-1/8 m	2:02.00	$890
1902	Lyddite	T. Walker		William Hendrie	1-1/8 m	2:00.50	$710
1901		Harry Vititoe		Joseph E. Seagram	1-1/8 m	2:04.20	$620
1900		Mr. Ballard		William Hendrie	1-1/8 m	2:03.50	$570
1899		Mr. Mason		William Hendrie	1-1/8 m	2:03.00	$470
1898	Wenlock	E. James		Nathaniel Dyment	1-1/8 m	2:04.00	$460
1897	Wicker	Mr. Songer	C. Leighton	Miss E. Jones	1-1/8 m	2:02.20	$430
1896		G. Flint		William Hendrie	1-1/8 m	2:05.50	$510
1895		A. Booker	John R. Walker	Joseph E. Seagram	1-1/8 m	2:09.75	460
1894	Nancy Lee	G. Flint	B. Alcock	William Hendrie	1-1/8 m	2:09.20	$490
1893	Bonnie Dundee	Mr. Shauer	B. Alcock	William Hendrie	1-1/8 m	2:09.50	$480
1892	Jardine	F. Regan	Daniel Curtin	T. H. Hodgens	1-1/8 m	2:14.20	$410
1891	Victorious	M. Gorman	John R. Walker	Joseph E. Seagram	1-1/8 m	2:01.50	$370
1890	Periwinkle	Mr. Snyder	Charles Phair	Charles Phair	1-1/8 m	n/a	$365
1889	Helen Leigh	Mr. Bowman			1-1/8 m	2:04.50	$325

2A † designates a Triple Crown winner.

References

• Racing Post:
  • ,,,,,,,,,

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2016 Thoroughbred Stakes Fact Book. www.woodbineentertainment.com. 14 July 2016. 23. https://web.archive.org/web/20160917224830/http://www.woodbineentertainment.com/Woodbine/Horsepeople/Thoroughbred/Documents/2016%20Thoroughbred%20Stakes%20Book.pdf. 17 September 2016. dead.
2. Web site: Canada's Triple Crown. horseracing.about.com. 14 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816041348/http://horseracing.about.com/od/triplecrown2000/a/aacanadiantc.htm. 16 August 2016. dead.
3. Web site: Breeders' Stakes Facts (From 1959, the inception of the Triple Crown). www.woodbineentertainment.com. 14 July 2016.
4. Web site: Mitchell. Kevin. Joan Phipps. PressReader. The StarPhoenix. 14 July 2016.
5. Web site: Smith. Beverley. Jockeying for position in a stable of men. The Globe and Mail. 14 July 2016.
6. Web site: Day Phillips First Female Trainer to Win Breeders' Stakes. bloodhorse.com. 14 July 2016.
7. Web site: Chart of the 1994 Breeders' Stakes. equibase.com. 14 July 2016.
8. Web site: History Woodbine. www.woodbineentertainment.com. 14 July 2016. 19 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170919063250/http://www.woodbineentertainment.com/corporate/ourcompany/Pages/History.aspx. dead.
9. Web site: Breeders' Stakes Data. www.pedigreequery.com. 14 July 2016.
10. News: Mauntah. Richard. History of Breeders' Stakes is a mixed bag. Toronto Sun. 14 July 2016.