The Top Flight Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The Grade III event is run in the early spring and is open to fillies and mares, age three and older. It is contested over a distance of one and one sixteenth miles on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $200,000.
The Top Flight Handicap was run at Belmont Park at a mile and a sixteenth prior to 1961. From 1961 to 1993, it was run at a mile and an eighth. Again in 2012, the race was run at a mile and a sixteenth. In 2015 it reverted to a mile and an eighth.
In its 77th running in 2016, the race in named for Top Flight, ranked in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century at #66. Top Flight was never beaten by a member of her own sex.
Records
Speed record: (at distance of 1 mile)
- 1:34.96 - Educated Risk (1994)
Most wins:
- 2 - Amerigo Lady (1968, 1969)
- 2 - Shuvee (1970, 1971)
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
- 3 - Hirsch Jacobs (1956, 1965, 1967)
- 3 - J. Elliott Burch (1959, 1968, 1969)
- 3 - H. Allen Jerkens (1973, 1985, 1997)
- 3 - C. R. McGaughey III (1994, 2001, 2004)
- 3 - John C. Kimmel (1995, 1996, 1998)
Most wins by an owner:
Winners
Year
|
Winner
|
Age
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
Time |
2015 |
House Rules |
4 |
Junior Alvarado |
James A. Jerkens |
Joseph V. Shields, Jr. |
1:52.41 |
2014 |
Teen Pauline |
4 |
Irad Ortiz, Jr. |
Todd Pletcher |
Stonestreet Stables |
1:45.04 |
2013 |
Summer Applause |
4 |
John Velazquez |
Chad Brown |
G.S.Campbell, Greenwood Lodge Farm, D.Clark, G.Skoda |
1:44.10 |
2012 |
It's Tricky |
4 |
Ramon Dominguez |
Kiaran McLaughlin |
Godolphin Racing |
1:45.30 |
2011 |
Race not run |
|
|
|
|
|
2010 |
Spacy Tracy |
5 |
Jeremy Rose |
Anthony W. Dutrow |
Mercedes Stable |
1:35.28 |
2009 |
Sara Louise |
3 |
Edgar Prado |
Saeed bin Suroor |
Godolphin Stable |
1:38.94 |
2008 |
Leah's Secret |
5 |
Eibar Coa |
Todd Pletcher |
WinStar Farm |
1:36.40 |
2007 |
Mini Sermon |
3 |
Eibar Coa |
Todd Pletcher |
Edward P. Evans |
1:37.29 |
2006 |
Rahy's Appeal |
4 |
Alan Garcia |
James K. Chapman |
John & Martha Mullholland |
1:36.15 |
2005 |
Stellar Jayne |
4 |
Jerry Bailey |
Saeed bin Suroor |
Godolphin Racing |
1:35.94 |
2004 |
Daydreaming |
3 |
Jerry Bailey |
C. R. McGaughey III |
Ogden Mills Phipps |
1:35.29 |
2003 |
Randaroo |
3 |
Heberto Castillo, Jr. |
Kiaran McLaughlin |
H. Joseph Allen |
1:36.49 |
2002 |
Sightseek |
3 |
Jerry Bailey |
Robert J. Frankel |
Juddmonte Farms |
1:35.46 |
2001 |
Cat Cay |
4 |
John Velazquez |
C. R. McGaughey III |
Ogden Phipps |
1:35.45 |
2000 |
Reciclada |
5 |
Jerry Bailey |
Richard Mandella |
Diamond A Stable |
1:35.54 |
1999 |
Belle Cherie |
3 |
John Velazquez |
Philip G. Johnson |
Belle Meadows Farm |
1:35.46 |
1998 |
Catinca |
3 |
Richard Migliore |
John C. Kimmel |
Robert K. Waxman |
1:35.81 |
1997 |
Dixie Flag |
3 |
Mike Luzzi |
H. Allen Jerkens |
Bohemia Stable |
1:35.34 |
1996 |
Flat Fleet Feet |
3 |
Mike E. Smith |
John C. Kimmel |
Kimmel, Solondz |
1:37.00 |
1995 |
Twist Afleet |
4 |
Mike E. Smith |
John C. Kimmel |
Lucille Conover |
1:35.26 |
1994 |
Educated Risk |
4 |
Mike E. Smith |
C. R. McGaughey III |
Ogden Mills Phipps |
1:34.96 |
1993 |
You'd Be Surprised |
4 |
Jerry Bailey |
MacKenzie Miller |
Rokeby Stable |
1:48.82 |
1992 |
Firm Stance |
4 |
Pat Day |
Mitch Shirota |
Gainesway Stable |
1:50.55 |
1991 |
Buy the Firm |
5 |
Julie Krone |
Carlos F. Martin |
Morven Stud Farms |
1:52.20 |
1990 |
Dreamy Mimi |
4 |
Jerry Bailey |
George R. Arnold II |
Alex G. Campbell, Jr. |
1:50.40 |
1989 |
Banker's Lady |
4 |
Angel Cordero, Jr. |
Philip M. Hauswald |
Edward A. Cox, Jr. |
1:51.20 |
1988 |
Clabber Girl |
4 |
Jose A. Santos |
D. Wayne Lukas |
John A. Nerud |
1:49.40 |
1987 |
Ms. Eloise |
4 |
Robbie Davis |
Philip G. Johnson |
Margaret Grimm |
1:50.20 |
1986 |
Ride Sally |
4 |
Walter Guerra |
Nick Zito |
Manhasset Stable |
1:49.20 |
1985 |
Flip's Pleasure |
5 |
Jean-Luc Samyn |
H. Allen Jerkens |
Hobeau Farm |
1:51.00 |
1984 |
Sweet Missus |
4 |
Robert Thibeau |
Michael C. Sedlacek |
Glenn E. Lane |
1:50.20 |
1983 |
Adept |
4 |
Karen Rogers |
Frank I. Wright |
Nelson Bunker Hunt |
1:50.00 |
1982 |
Andover Way |
4 |
Jorge Velasquez |
Howard M. Tesher |
H. Joseph Allen |
1:50.00 |
1981 |
Chain Bracelet |
4 |
Ruben Hernandez |
James W. Maloney |
Shirley H. Taylor |
1:49.60 |
1980 |
Glorious Song |
4 |
Jorge Velasquez |
Gerry Belanger |
Nelson Bunker Hunt |
1:49.60 |
1979 |
Waya |
5 |
Angel Cordero, Jr. |
David A. Whiteley |
Peter M. Brant |
1:50.80 |
1978 |
Northernette |
4 |
Jeffrey Fell |
David A. Whiteley |
Peter M. Brant |
1:49.40 |
1977 |
Shawi |
4 |
Michael Venezia |
Jose A. Martin |
Mrs. Randolph Weinsier |
1:49.80 |
1976 |
Proud Delta |
4 |
Jorge Velasquez |
Peter M. Howe |
Montpelier |
1:49.00 |
1975 |
Twixt |
6 |
William Passmore |
Katherine M. Voss |
Mrs. John M. Franklin |
1:50.60 |
1974 |
Lady Love |
4 |
Eddie Maple |
Frank Catrone |
Ada L. Rice |
1:48.60 |
1973 |
Poker Night |
3 |
Robert Woodhouse |
H. Allen Jerkens |
Hobeau Farm |
1:48.20 |
1972 |
Inca Queen |
4 |
Garth Patterson |
George T. Poole |
C. V. Whitney |
1:50.00 |
1971 |
Shuvee |
5 |
Ron Turcotte |
Willard C. Freeman |
Anne Minor Stone |
1:49.60 |
1970 |
Shuvee |
4 |
Braulio Baeza |
Willard C. Freeman |
Anne Minor Stone |
1:48.60 |
1969 |
Amerigo Lady |
5 |
Manuel Ycaza |
J. Elliott Burch |
Rokeby Stable |
1:50.40 |
1968 |
Amerigo Lady |
4 |
Jorge Velasquez |
J. Elliott Burch |
Rokeby Stable |
1:49.00 |
1967 |
Straight Deal II |
5 |
Angel Cordero, Jr. |
Hirsch Jacobs |
Ethel D. Jacobs |
1:49.60 |
1966 |
Summer Scandal |
4 |
Garth Patterson |
Woods Garth |
Harborvale Stable |
1:49.40 |
1965 |
Affectionately |
5 |
Walter Blum |
Hirsch Jacobs |
Ethel D. Jacobs |
1:49.80 |
1964 |
Oil Royalty |
6 |
Howard Grant |
Charles Whittingham |
John R. Gaines |
1:50.80 |
1963 |
Firm Policy |
4 |
Manuel Ycaza |
E. Barry Ryan |
E. Barry Ryan |
1:48.60 |
1962 |
Pepper Patch |
5 |
Donald Pierce |
Not found |
Nicholas A. Martini |
1:50.20 |
1961 |
Make Sail |
4 |
Manuel Ycaza |
Woody Stephens |
Cain Hoy Stable |
1:51.00 |
1960 |
Royal Native |
4 |
Bill Hartack |
Peter F. Gacicia |
William B. MacDonald, Jr. |
1:43.00 |
1959 |
Big Effort |
4 |
Bill Shoemaker |
J. Elliott Burch |
Brookmeade Stable |
1:42.80 |
1958 |
Plucky Roman |
4 |
Howard Grant |
Clyde Troutt |
Ada L. Rice |
1:43.00 |
1957 |
Plotter |
4 |
Pete D. Anderson |
William Post |
Harry La Montagne |
1:42.60 |
1956 |
Searching |
4 |
Conn McCreary |
Hirsch Jacobs |
Ethel D. Jacobs |
1:42.80 |
1955 |
Parlo |
4 |
Eric Guerin |
Richard E. Handlen |
Foxcatcher Farm |
1:41.80 |
1954 |
Sunshine Nell |
6 |
Eddie Arcaro |
Robert Green |
Meyer J. Kaplan |
1:43.40 |
1953 |
Marta |
6 |
Conn McCreary |
Woody Stephens |
Woodvale Farm |
1:42.80 |
1952 |
Renew |
5 |
William Boland |
Max Hirsch |
King Ranch |
1:43.80 |
1951 |
Busanda |
4 |
Eric Guerin |
Bartholomew Sweeny |
Ogden Phipps |
1:42.40 |
1950 |
Nell K. |
4 |
George Hettinger |
John B. Partridge |
Spring Hill Farm |
1:43.80 |
1949 |
But Why Not |
5 |
Dave Gorman |
Max Hirsch |
King Ranch |
1:43.60 |
1948 |
Honeymoon |
5 |
Douglas Dodson |
Graceton Philpot |
W-L Ranch Co. |
1:43.60 |
1947 |
Rytina |
4 |
Ted Atkinson |
Not found |
Mrs. W. Plunket Stewart |
1:43.60 |
1946 |
Sicily |
4 |
Eddie Arcaro |
William Post |
Harry La Montagne |
1:43.20 |
1945 |
Miss Keeneland |
4 |
Albert Snider |
Ben A. Jones |
Calumet Farm |
1:45.00 |
1944 |
Boojiana |
3 |
Ted Atkinson |
Andy Schuttinger |
C. V. Whitney |
1:43.40 |
1943 |
Mar-Kell |
4 |
Bill Thompson |
Ben A. Jones |
Calumet Farm |
1:44.80 |
1942 |
Level Best |
4 |
Don Meade |
Dr. J. P. Jones |
Crispin Oglebay |
1:42.80 |
1941 |
Tangled |
3 |
Conn McCreary |
John M. Gaver, Sr. |
Greentree Stable |
1:44.60 |
1940 |
True Call |
3 |
Don Meade |
Dion K. Kerr |
Mrs. Dion K. Kerr |
1:43.60 |
References