Ladies Handicap

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Stakes race
Ladies Handicap
Location	Aqueduct Racetrack Queens, New York
Inaugurated	1981
Race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
Website	Aqueduct Racetrack at NYRA
Race information
Distance	1¼ miles (10 furlongs)
Track	Dirt, left-handed
Qualification	Fillies, three-years-old & up
Weight	Handicap
Purse	$65,000-added

The Ladies Handicap is a historic American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies three years of age and older that is held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Inaugurated at the now defunct Jerome Park Racetrack in 1868, it is the oldest stakes race in the U.S. exclusively for fillies and mares. An unlisted stakes race, it is currently run in mid December and offers a purse of $65,000.

From its beginnings in 1868 through 1912 the race was restricted to three-year-old fillies thern from 1913 through 1938 it was made open to fillies of any age. Since 1939 it has been open to older fillies and mares. There was no race in 1895 and again in 1911 and 1912 when a New York ban on parimutuel betting shut down all racing in the state. In 2006 the race was not run due to a shortage of entrants.

The Ladies Handicap has been won by some of the great fillies in American racing history including Hall of Fame inductees Firenze, Miss Woodford, Beldame, Maskette, Top Flight and Shuvee.

The Ladies Handicap has been run at:

• Jerome Park Racetrack :1868-1890
• Morris Park Racetrack : 1890-1904
• Belmont Park : 1905-1958, 1960

Since inception, it has been raced at various distances:

• 1 mile and five furlongs : 1868-1874
• 1 mile and 1 furlong : 1889-1892
• 1,400 yards : 1890-1891
• 1 1/16 miles : 1893-1894
• 1 mile : 1896-1939
• 1 5/16 miles : 1961-1962
• 1½ miles : 1874-1885, 1940-1958, 1960, 1963, 1964
• 1¼ miles : 1965 to present

[edit] Records

Most wins:

• Black Maria (1926, 1927)
• Strolling Belle (1999, 2000)

Speed record:

• 2:01.40 - Transient Trend (1995) and Bastonera II (1976) at the current 1¼ mile distance

Most wins by an owner:

• 5 - August Belmont (1872, 1875, 1876, 1880, 1889)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 6 - Angel Cordero, Jr. (1968, 1970, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1988)

[edit] Winners of the Ladies Handicap since 1979

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2007	Wow Me Free	5	Alan Garcia	Kiaran McLaughlin	Edward A. Seltzer	2:04.63
2006	No race
2005	India Halo	5	Jose Espinoza	James Ferraro	Blue Sky Farm	2:05.20
2004	Rare Gift	3	Richard Migliore	John Kimmel	Bolton, Dipietro	2:05.40
2003	Savedbythelight	3	Richard Migliore	Richard Violette Jr.	Earle I. Mack	2:05.80
2002	Critical Eye	5	Mike Luzzi	Scott Schwartz	Herbert Schwartz	2:04.00
2001	Summer Colony	3	John Velazquez	Mark Hennig	Edward P. Evans	2:05.80
2000	Strolling Belle	4	Heberto Castillo, Jr.	John C. Kimmel	Red Oak Stable	2:06.60
1999	Strolling Belle	3	Heberto Castillo Jr.	John C. Kimmel	Red Oak Stable	2:04.60
1998	Unbridled Hope	4	Richard Migliore	John C. Kimmel	Martin J. Wygod	2:03.40
1997	Prophet’s Warning	4	Jorge Chavez	Joseph Orseno	Jane Lyon	2:06.20
1996	Miss Slewpy	5	Larry Reynolds	Ronald Cartwright	Oliver C. Goldsmith	2:03.20
1995	Transient Trend	3	Jean-Luc Samyn	Partick J. Kelly	Live Oak Racing	2:01.40
1994	Tara Roma	4	Frank Alvarado	C. R. McGaughey	Emory A. Hamilton	2:06.60
1993	Groovy Feeling	4	Herb McCauley	Peter Ferriola	Robert P. Donaldson	2:05.80
1992	Brilliant Brass	5	Edgar Prado	Carlos A. Garcia	Elaine L. Bassford	2:03.40
1991	Wortheroatsingold	4	Eddie Maple	Partick J. Kelly	Fox Ridge Farm	2:02.40
1990	Colonial Waters	5	Jose Santos	Leroy Jolley	Carl Icahn	2:05.80
1989	Dance Teacher	4	Jose Santos	Philip G. Johnson	Edward P. Evans	2:05.80
1988	Banker's Lady	3	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Philip Hauswald	Edward A. Cox Jr.	2:02.00
1987	Nastique	3	Robbie Davis	Stephen L. DiMauro	Bernard Chaus	2:04.40
1986	Life At The Top	3	Randy Romero	D. Wayne Lukas	Eugene V. Klein	2:03.80
1985	Videogenic	3	Robbie Davis	Gasper S. Moschera	Albert Davis	2:02.00
1984	Heatherten	5	Randy Romero	William I. Mott	John A. Franks	2:04.00
1983	Mademoiselle Forli	4	Gregg McCarron	Mitchell C. Preger	Leonard P. Sasso	2:03.40
1982	Tina Tina Too	4	Don MacBeth	Richard DeStasio	Albert Fried, Jr.	2:03.00
1981	Jameela	5	Angel Cordero Jr.	Hyman M. Ravich	Peter M. Brant	2:01.80
1980	Plankton	4	Cash Asmussen	Howard M. Tesher	Frederick K. Tesher	2:03.00
1979	Spark Of Life	4	Jean Cruguet	Mack Miller	Rokeby Stables	2:02.80

* In 2000, Pentatonic won the race, but was disqualified and set back to second.

[edit] Earlier winners

* In 1974, Poker Night won the race, but was disqualified and set back to second. * In 1970, Manta won the race, but was disqualified and set back to second.