Count Fleet Sprint Handicap Explained

Class:Grade III
Horse Race:Count Fleet Sprint Handicap
Location:Oaklawn Park Race Track
Hot Springs, Arkansas,
United States
Inaugurated:1974
Race Type:Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website:Oaklawn Jockey Club, Inc.
Distance:6 furlongs
Surface:Dirt
Track:Left-handed
Qualification:Four-years-old & up
Weight:Assigned
Purse:$500,000 (2019)

The Count Fleet Sprint Handicap is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid April. It takes place at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. During the race, horses age four and older compete over the sprint distance of six furlongs. Inaugurated in 1974,[1] the event currently offers a purse of US$500,000.[2]

The race is named in honor of the 1943 United States Triple Crown champion, Count Fleet.

In 2020, Whitmore became the first horse to win the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap three times.[3]

Records

Speed record:

Most wins:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer

Most wins by an owner:

Winners

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
Win$
2023Skelly4Ricardo Santana Jr.Steven M. AsmussenRed Lane Thoroughbreds1:09.20$300,000
2022Jackie's Warrior4Joel RosarioSteven M. AsmussenKirk Robison & Judy Robison1:09.09$300,000
2021C Z Rocket7Florent GerouxPeter MillerMadaket Stables, Gary Barber, & Tom Kagele 1:09.62$300,000
20207Joseph TalamoRon Moquett Southern Springs Stables, R. V. LaPenta & Head of Plains Partners LLC1:08.95$350,000
2019Mitole4Ricardo Santana Jr.Steven M. AsmussenWilliam L. & Corinne Heiligbrodt1:09.36$300,000
2018Whitmore5Ricardo Santana Jr.Ron MoquettSouthern Springs Stables, Robert V. LaPenta & Head of Plains Partners LLC 1:09.77$240,000
2017Whitmore4Ricardo Santana Jr.Ron MoquettSouthern Springs Stables, Robert V. LaPenta & Head of Plains Partners LLC 1:08.35$240,000
2016Subtle Indian4Ramon A. VazquezRobertino DiodoroMercedes Stables1:08.80$240,000
2015Alsvid6Chris LanderosChris A. HartmanBlack Hawk Stable1:08.36$180,000
2014Lemon Drop Dream4Ricardo Santana Jr.Steven M. AsmussenMike McCarty1:09.15$180,000
2013Justin Phillip5Ricardo Santana Jr.Steven M. AsmussenZayat Stables1:09.63$150,000
2012Outta Tune7Terry ThompsonChris RichardMaggi Moss1:09.35$150,000
2011Smiling Tiger4Joel RosarioJeffrey L. BondeLebherz Racing & Klein1:08.63$120,000
2010Custom for Carlos5Mike SmithEddie KenneallyHomewrecker Racing & Avalon Farm1:09.05$90,000
2009Semaphore Man7Clifton Berry Kelly Von HemelDouble Bogey Stable1:09.94$90,000
2008Semaphore Man6Timothy DoocyKelly Von HemelDouble Bogey Stable1:09.78$90,000
2007Bordonaro 6Richard MiglioreWilliam SpawrFred Carrillo/Daniel A. Cassella1:09.11$90,000
2006Bordonaro 5Pat ValenzuelaWilliam SpawrCourtlandt Farm1:08.77$90,000
2005Top Commander5Carlos GonzalezCole NormanCourtlandt Farm1:08.74$90,000
2004Shake You Down6Ramon DominguezScott A. LakeRobert Cole, Jr.1:09.27$90,000
2003Beau's Town5Jamie TheriotCole NormanCoast to Coast & David J. Hulkewicz1:09.00$90,000
2002Explicit5Lonnie MecheIan P. D. JoryMarvin Malmuth1:08.60$90,000
2001Bonapaw5Gerard MelanconHoward R. AlonzoJim & Dennis Richard1:08.00$75,000
2000Show Me the Stage4David FloresEric J. GuillotEric J. Guillot, et al1:09.60$75,000
1999Reraise4Corey NakataniCraig DollaseClass Racing, Fey & Han1:08.40$75,000
1998Chindi 4Don PettingerSteve HobbyCres-Ran, LLC1:09.60$75,000
1997High Stakes Player5Kent DesormeauxBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram1:08.80$90,000
1996Concept Win6Gary StevensThomas F. ProctorGlen Hill Farm1:09.00$90,000
1995Hot Jaws5Calvin BorelJeffrey N. JacobsChocktaw Racing Stable1:09.40$90,000
1994Demaloot Demashoot4Mike SmithMark A. HennigTeam Valor Stables1:08.20$90,000
1993Approach 6Pat DayAnthony L. Reinstedler Hermitage Farm 1:09.60$90,000
1992Gray Slewpy4Kent DesormeauxDaniel L. Hendricks Ed Friendly1:08.80$60,000
1991Overpeer7Pat DayRobert E. HolthusDan Jones & H. E. Sutton1:08.20$60,000
1990Malagra4V. L. SmithTonia NolanMike Hooks1:08.80$60,000
1989Twice Around4Calvin Borel Cecil P. Borel Janelle Grum 1:09.20$60,000
1988Salt Dome5Larry SnyderFrank L. BrothersRogers Trust & Michael G. Rutherford1:08.60$60,000
1987Sun Master6Gary StevensD. Wayne LukasJeff & D. Wayne Lukas1:09.40$69,540
1986Mister Gennaro5Frank OlivaresWilliam SpawrHobie Alter1:08.80$71,100
1985Taylor's Special4Randy RomeroWilliam I. MottWilliam F. Lucas1:08.40$98,280
1984Dave's Friend9Eddie DelahoussayeJack Van BergJohn Franks1:10.00$70,260
1983Dave's Friend8Larry SnyderJack Van BergJohn Franks1:09.00$70,320
1982Sandbagger4Darrell HaireJ. Bert SonnierTri Cee Farm1:12.00$39,240
1981General Custer5Larry SnyderDennis WerreBen Erickson & Jack Van Berg1:10.40$34,470
1980Silent Dignity4Sam MapleJoseph B. CanteyCarter Thornton1:11.00$34,680
1979Amadevil 5Thomas G. GreerOrville D. KemlingKemling Bros.1:11.20$34,890
1978Last Buzz 5Allen RiniGeorge H. HallockTaylor Faulkner & Everett Lowrance1:11.00$33,390
1977Silver Hope 6Rudy TurcotteCharles O. BattlesIrene C. Udouj1:10.40$18,480
1976Brets Kicker5Jerry BaileyRay SpencerC. Barrett1:10.00$17,640
1975Prince Astro6David WhitedWilliam C. ThomasC. L. Warner1:10.00$18,030
1974Barbizon Streak6Rick WilsonOran BattlesIrene C. Udouj1:11.00$17,370

Notes and References

  1. Web site: COUNT FLEET SPRINT HANDICAP - OAKLAWN PARK, AR UNITED STATES - Grade III. Thoroughbred Pedigreequery. 13 April 2013.
  2. Web site: 2019 Media Guide . Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort . 2019-11-02. 2019-11-02.
  3. Web site: Whitmore Rolls To Third Count Fleet Sprint Handicap Victory. 2020-04-18. Horse Racing News Paulick Report. en. 2020-04-18.