Giant's Causeway Stakes Explained

Class:Grade III
Horse Race:Giant's Causeway Stakes
Location:Keeneland Race Course
Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Inaugurated:1998 (as the Spinning World Stakes)
Race Type:Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website:Keeneland
Distance: furlongs
Surface:Turf
Track:left-handed
Qualification:Fillies & mares, three years old & older
Weight:Base weights with allowances:
4-year-olds and up: 126 lbs.
3-year-olds: 120 lbs.
Purse:US$300,000 (since 2024)

The Giant's Causeway Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, age three and older, over a distance of furlongs held annually in April at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The event currently offers a purse of $300,000.

History

In the inaugural running of the event was as the Spinning World Stakes on April 19, 1998, and the winner was the Irish-bred three-year-old filly Golden Mirage who was ridden by jockey Willie Martinez and won by three-quarters of a length in a time of 1:03.81.

Spinning World was a Three-Year-Old Champion in Ireland in 1996 and Champion Older Horse in France in 1997. In 1997 Spinning World won the Breeders' Cup Mile at Hollywood Park.[1]

The second running of event was run in two divisions.[2]

For the third running of the event, the race was renamed to the Stravinsky Stakes.[3] Stravinsky was an American-bred, Irish-trained horse who won two Group 1 sprint races in England, the July Cup and the Nunthorpe Stakes.

In 2000 the winner Steal A Heart set a new track record for the furlongs distance of 1:02.47 and the following year Confessional won in the same time equaling the track record.

The event was renamed to the current name Giant's Causeway Stakes in 2006.[3] The event was named after Giant's Causeway, an American-bred, Irish-trained racehorse who won five Group One races in Britain and Ireland as a three-year-old in 2000. Upon retirement Giant's Causeway stood one season at Coolmore Stud in Ireland before relocating to Coolmore's United States branch Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky. Giant's Causeway was a Leading sire in North America in 2009, 2010 and 2012 and a Leading broodmare sire in North America in 2018.

The running of the event in 2011 was moved off the turf. In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Keeneland did not schedule the event in their updated and shortened summer meeting.[4]

In 2024 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade III.[5]

Records

Speed record

Margins

Most wins by a jockey

Most wins by a trainer

Most wins by an owner

Winners

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerDistanceTimePurseGradeRef
Giant's Causeway Stakes
align=center 2024Roses for Debraalign=center 4Irad Ortiz Jr.Cheyenne Stable & John O'Meara align=center furlongsalign=center 1:02.79align=center $260,713 align=center III[6]
align=center 2023align=center 4Irad Ortiz Jr.Wesley A. WardStonestreet Stablesalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:01.74align=center $214,650align=center Listed[7]
align=center 2022Campanelle (IRE)align=center 4Irad Ortiz Jr.Wesley A. WardStonestreet Stablesalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:01.98align=center $162,475 align=center Listed[8]
align=center 2021Change of Controlalign=center 5Colby HernandezMichelle LovellHorseshoe Racing align=center furlongsalign=center 1:04.48align=center $100,000align=center Listed[9]
2020Race not held
align=center 2019 Morticiaalign=center 5Irad Ortiz Jr.George R. Arnold IIG. Watts Humphrey Jr.align=center furlongsalign=center 1:03.18align=center $100,000align=center Listed[10]
align=center 2018 Triple Chelseaalign=center 5Adam BeschizzaJoe SharpBrad Gradyalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:02.40align=center $100,000align=center Listed[11]
align=center 2017 Lady Aureliaalign=center 3John R. VelazquezWesley A. WardStonestreet Stables, George Bolton & Peter Leidelalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:02.40align=center $100,000align=center Listed[12]
align=center 2016Exaggerated align=center 4Julien LeparouxArnaud DelacourLael Stablesalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:02.81align=center $100,000align=center Listed[13]
align=center 2015Katie's Eyes align=center 4Florent GerouxMichael StidhamIke & Dawn Thrash, Janet & Sam Alleyalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:02.78align=center $100,000align=center Listed[14]
align=center 2014Ageless align=center 5Julien LeparouxArnaud DelacourLael Stablesalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:03.18align=center $100,000align=center Listed[15]
align=center 2013Sweet Cassiopeia align=center 5Joseph Rocco Jr. William ConnellyDan Considine & Steve C. Snowdenalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:03.07align=center $100,000align=center Listed[16]
align=center 2012Flash Mash align=center 4Michael StidhamPrime Equestrian SARLalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:03.19align=center $100,000align=center Listed[17]
align=center 2011Holiday for Kitten align=center 3Juan DelgadoWesley A. WardKenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramseyalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:02.78align=center $100,000align=center Listed[18]
align=center 2010West Ocean align=center 4Javier CastellanoTodd A. Pletcheralign=center furlongsalign=center 1:02.23align=center $100,000align=center Listed[19]
align=center 2009Diamondrella (GB) align=center 5Rajiv MaraghAngel A. Penna Jr.Castletop Stablealign=center furlongsalign=center 1:02.71align=center $100,000align=center Listed[20]
align=center 2008Danceroftherealm (GB) align=center 5Miguel MenaMalcolm PierceRichard L. Listeralign=center furlongsalign=center 1:03.33align=center $100,000align=center Listed[21]
align=center 2007Forest Code align=center 4Garrett GomezTodd A. PletcherBlyar Stablealign=center furlongsalign=center 1:02.73align=center $115,000align=center Listed[22]
align=center 2006Gilded Gold align=center 5Javier CastellanoAlan E. Goldberg Bobby Flay, Robert E. Masterson & Barry L. Weisbordalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:02.81align=center $114,600align=center Listed[23]
Stravinsky Stakes
align=center 2005Tara's Touch (SAF) align=center 6Mike E. SmithNiall O'CallaghanTeam Valor Stables & Margaux Farmalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:04.52align=center $114,700align=center Listed[24]
align=center 2004Dyna Da Wyna align=center 4Pat DayW. Elliott Waldenalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:02.63align=center $85,575align=center Listed[25]
align=center 2003Repository align=center 5Jerry D. BaileyD. Wayne LukasRafter L Stablesalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:03.29align=center $84,375align=center Listed[26]
align=center 2002Dianehill (IRE)align=center 6Pat DayW. Elliott Waldenalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:03.41align=center $84,900align=center Listed[27]
align=center 2001Confessional align=center 5Edgar PradoH. Graham MotionPin Oak Stablealign=center furlongsalign=center 1:02.47align=center $84,150align=center Listed[28]
align=center 2000Steal A Heart align=center 5Robby AlbaradoAlice CohnJeffrey S. Amlingalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:02.47align=center $72,000align=center Listed[29]
Spinning World Stakes
align=center rowspan=21999Ayrial Delight align=center 7Randy RomeroRonald J. TaylorDwight M. Mentzeralign=center rowspan=2 furlongsalign=center 1:02.62align=center $58,750align=center rowspan=2Listed[30]
Storm Alert align=center 4Francisco TorresG. Watts Humphrey Jr.align=center 1:02.62align=center $68,250[31]
align=center 1998Golden Mirage (IRE)align=center 3Willie MartinezJosie CarrollJames & Alice Saparaalign=center furlongsalign=center 1:03.81align=center $55,000align=center Listed[32]

Legend:

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Horse Profile – Spinning World (KY) . equibase.com . 22 February 2024.
  2. Web site: SPINNING WORLD STAKES DIV 2 – KEENELAND, KY . Thoroughbred Pedigree Online . 2024 . 23 February 2024.
  3. Web site: GIANTS CAUSEWAY STAKES – MULTIPLE TRACKS . Thoroughbred Pedigree Online . 2024 . 22 February 2024.
  4. Web site: Spectacular Racing Generates Total Handle of $63 Million as Historic Keeneland Summer Meet Concludes . keeneland.com . 22 February 2024 . July 12, 2020.
  5. Web site: TOBA Announces U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes for 2024 . 16 December 2023 . 17 December 2023 . Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
  6. Web site: 2024 Giant's Causeway Stakes Grade III – (race 7) . Equibase . 13 April 2024 . 17 April 2024.
  7. Web site: 2023 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 15 April 2023 . 20 February 2024.
  8. Web site: 2022 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 16 April 2022 . 20 February 2024.
  9. Web site: 2021 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 10 April 2021 . 20 February 2024.
  10. Web site: 2019 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 13 April 2019 . 20 February 2024.
  11. Web site: 2018 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 14 April 2018 . 20 February 2024.
  12. Web site: 2017 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 15 April 2017 . 20 February 2024.
  13. Web site: 2016 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 16 April 2016 . 20 February 2024.
  14. Web site: 2015 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 7) . Equibase . 11 April 2015 . 20 February 2024.
  15. Web site: 2014 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 7) . Equibase . 19 April 2014 . 20 February 2024.
  16. Web site: 2013 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 20 April 2013 . 21 February 2024.
  17. Web site: 2012 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 21 April 2012 . 21 February 2024.
  18. Web site: 2011 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 23 April 2011 . 21 February 2024.
  19. Web site: 2010 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 17 April 2010 . 21 February 2024.
  20. Web site: 2009 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 18 April 2009 . 21 February 2024.
  21. Web site: 2008 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 8) . Equibase . 19 April 2008 . 21 February 2024.
  22. Web site: 2007 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 7) . Equibase . 21 April 2007 . 21 February 2024.
  23. Web site: 2006 Giant's Causeway Stakes Listed – (race 7) . Equibase . 22 April 2006 . 21 February 2024.
  24. Web site: 2005 Stravinsky Stakes Listed – (race 7) . Equibase . 23 April 2005 . 21 February 2024.
  25. Web site: 2004 Stravinsky Stakes Listed – (race 7) . Equibase . 17 April 2004 . 21 February 2024.
  26. Web site: 2003 Stravinsky Stakes Listed – (race 6) . Equibase . 19 April 2003 . 21 February 2024.
  27. Web site: 2002 Stravinsky Stakes Listed – (race 6) . Equibase . 20 April 2002 . 21 February 2024.
  28. Web site: 2001 Stravinsky Stakes Listed – (race 7) . Equibase . 21 April 2001 . 22 February 2024.
  29. Web site: 2000 Stravinsky Stakes Listed – (race 5) . Equibase . 20 April 2000 . 22 February 2024.
  30. Web site: 1999 Spinning World Stakes Division 1 Listed – (race 3) . Equibase . 18 April 1999 . 22 February 2024.
  31. Web site: 1999 Spinning World Stakes Division 2 Listed – (race 7) . Equibase . 18 April 1999 . 23 February 2024.
  32. Web site: 1998 Spinning World Stakes Listed – (race 5) . Equibase . 19 April 1998 . 22 February 2024.

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