The Arlington Classic Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses over a distance of miles on the turf held annually in late May at Arlington Park race track near Chicago.

History

The event was inaugurated in 1929 as the Classic Stakes over a distance of miles on the dirt.

At one time the Arlington Classic was one of the most important races in the United States, drawing the best 3-year-olds in the country. Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox attracted a crowd of 60,000 in 1930 and he continued his six race winning streak in the event. In 1932 when Gusto, a grandson of the great Man o' War won, it was then the richest race for 3-year-olds in America with a purse of $88,100. A noteworthy upset in the Arlington Classic occurred in 1946 when Assault, who had just won the United States Triple Crown, finished last.

The Arlington Classic was run at the now defunct Washington Park Racetrack from 1943 through 1945. It was known as the Grand Prix Stakes in 1971, 1972 and 1973 and in 1977 it was made open to horses three-year-olds and up as was labelled as the Arlington Classic Invitational Handicap. There was no race held in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1988, 1998 and 1999.

The Arlington Classic became part of Arlington Park's "Mid-America Triple" which included the American Derby in July and the Secretariat Stakes in August. The Triple was last won by Honor Glide in 1997.

The event held a Grade I classification between 1981 and 1989.

In 2007, this Grade III stakes race was downgraded to an ungraded stakes by the American Graded Stakes Committee, but it has been returned to its Grade III status.

The Arlington Classic was raced on dirt from 1929–1973, 1977–1987, 1989–1993.

Distance Since its inception, the Arlington Classic has been contested over a variety of distances: 1929–1951 – miles (dirt) 1952–1972 – 1 mile (dirt) 1973 – miles (dirt) 1977–1979 – miles (dirt) 1980–1993 – miles (dirt) 1994–2001 – miles (turf) 2001 onwards – miles (turf)

Records Speed record: (at current miles distance) 1:41.87 – Silver Max (2012)

Largest margin of victory: 13 lengths – Alydar (1978)

Most wins by an owner: 4 – Belair Stud 3 – Calumet Farm

Most wins by a jockey: 6 – Pat Day 4 – Braulio Baeza, René Douglas

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons 3 – Ben A. Jones, William I. Mott, Max Hirsch

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time Purse Grade Arlington Classic Stakes2018Ezmosh Jose Valdivia Jr.Brad H. CoxMadaket Stables, Zayat Stables, Ten Strike Racing 1:45.52$100,000III2017Cowboy CultureShaun BridgmohanBrad H. CoxHead of Plains Partners/Cheyenne Stables1:46.81$100,000III2016Surgical StrikeJames GrahamBen ColebrookSeltzer/Anderson1:47.51$100,000 III2015Race not held2014¶Istanford James GrahamMichael StidhamThrash/Alley1:43.60$150,000 III2013General ElectionJoseph Rocco Jr.Kellyn GorderWinStar Farm1:45.48$150,000 III2012Silver MaxShaun BridgmohanDale RomansBacon/Wells1:41.87$125,000 Listed2011Willcox InnRobby AlbaradoMichael StidhamAll In Stable1:49.51$100,000 Listed2010Workin for HopsRobby AlbaradoMichael StidhamEstrorace LLC1:45.43$100,000 Listed2009Giant OakEusebio Razo Jr.Chris M. BlockVirginia H. Tarra Trust1:43.59$150,000 Listed2008Meal PenaltyJosé Vélez Jr.Todd PletcherSassafras Racing/Gulf Coast Farms1:41.97$150,000 Listed2007 Pleasant StrikeRené DouglasTodd A. PletcherEdward P. Evans1:42.05$150,000 III2006KingshipRobby AlbaradoRonny WernerOxbow Racing1:43.57$150,000 III2005 PurimMark GuidryThomas F. ProctorEdward J. Sukley1:42.65$150,000 III2004 ToastedRené DouglasLaura de SerouxSidney L. Port1:50.91$200,000 II2003Lismore KnightRené Douglas Todd A. PletcherJ. J. Pletcher & B. Simon1:42.73$175,000 II2002 Mr. MellonRené Douglas W. Elliott WaldenWinStar Farm/T. Van Meter II 1:41.95$175,000 II2001 BaptizeMark GuidryWilliam I. MottMary & Gary West 1:48.80$200,000 II2000 King Cugat Robby AlbaradoWilliam I. MottCentennial Farms 1:48.16$150,000 II1998–99Race not held1997 Honor GlideGarrett GomezJim DayRobert Schaedle III1:47.59$125,000 II1996 Trail CityPat Day William I. MottW. I. Mott & R. Verchota 1:48.61$200,000 II1995 Hawk AttackPat Day W. Elliott WaldenCavalier Stable 1:48.04$200,000 II1994 Eagle Eyed Corey Nakatani Robert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms 1:48.46$300,000 II1993 Boundlessly Pat Day Jere R. Smith Jr.Panic Stable 1:49.89$300,000 II1992 Saint BalladoJulie KroneClint GoodrichLothenbach/Herold/Goodrich 1:46.82$300,000 II1991WhadjathinkJorge Velásquez Michael WhittinghamRichard L. Duchossois1:49.18$300,000 II Arlington Classic1990 Sound Of CannonsPat DayGeorge R. Arnold IIB. Wilkinson/L.G. Robey 1:47.60$250,000 II1989 Clever TrevorDon Pettinger Donnie K. Von HemelD. C. McNeil 1:49.40$200,000 I 1988Race not held1987Lost CodeGene St. LeonL. William DonovanWendover Stable 1:49.60$150,000 I 1986SumptiousRandy RomeroPhil HauswaldJohn A. Bell III 1:49.40$100,000 I 1985 SmileJacinto Vásquez Frank GomezFrances A. Genter 1:51.20$150,000 I 1984 At The ThresholdPat DayLynn S. WhitingW. Cal Partee 1:50.20$100,000 I 1983 Play FellowPat DayHarvey L. VanierVanier, Lauer, Victor 1:49.00$100,000 I 1982 Wolfie's RascalÁngel Cordero Jr.Howard TesherSidney L. Port et al.1:49.00$125,000 I 1981 Fairway PhantomJohn L. LivelyCarl NafzgerWilliam H. Floyd 1:53.40$125,000 I 1980 Spruce NeedlesMike MorganSmiley AdamsGolden Chance Farm 1:49.20$125,000 II 1979 Steady Growth Brian SwatukJohn J. Tammaro Jr.Kinghaven Farm 2:00.60$100,000 II 1978 Alydar Jeffrey FellJohn M. VeitchCalumet Farm2:00.40$100,000 II Arlington Classic Handicap1977 Private ThoughtsRamon PerezGreg SandersSandera Farm 1:59.40$150,000 Listed 1974–76Race not held Grand Prix Stakes1973 Linda's Chief Braulio BaezaAl ScottiNeil Hellman 1:44.60 III 1972 King's BishopEddie MapleThomas J. KellyCraig F. Cullinan Jr.1:35.001971 Son Ange Chuck BaltazarReggie CornellCalumet Farm1:36.00 Arlington Classic1970 Corn Off The CobEddie BelmonteArnold N. WinickFence Post Farm 1:35.401969Ack AckBraulio BaezaFrank A. BonsalCain Hoy Stable 1:34.401968Exclusive Native Ismael ValenzuelaIvan H. Parke Harbor View Farm1:36.001967 Dr. Fager Braulio BaezaJohn A. NerudTartan Stable 1:36.001966 BuckpasserBraulio BaezaEdward A. NeloyOgden Phipps 1:32.601965 Tom RolfeBill ShoemakerFrank Y. Whiteley Jr.Powhatan Stable1:34.801964 ¶TosmahSam Boulmetis Sr.Joseph MerglerAnthony Imbesi1:36.201963 Candy Spots Bill ShoemakerMesh TenneyRex C. Ellsworth1:35.801962 RidanAvelino GomezLeRoy JolleyJ. G. W. Stable 1:38.001961 GlobemasterJohn L. RotzThomas J. KellyLeonard P. Sasso 1:35.401960 T. V. Lark Johnny SellersPaul K. ParkerC. R. Mac Stable1:36.201959 DunceLois C. CookMoody JolleyClaiborne Farm1:35.001958 A Dragon KillerJimmy CombestNorman L. HaymakerMrs. S. Helene Sadacca 1:36.401957 Clem Conn McCrearyWilliam W. StephensAdele L. Rand 1:36.601956 Swoon's SonDavid ErbLex WilsonE. G. Drake 1:36.801955 NashuaEddie ArcaroJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud1:35.201954Errard KingSam Boulmetis Sr.Thomas J. BarryJoseph Gavegnano1:35.001953 Native DancerEric GuerinWilliam C. WinfreyAlfred G. Vanderbilt II1:38.001952 Mark-Ye-WellEddie ArcaroBen A. JonesCalumet Farm 1:39.201951 Hall Of FameTed AtkinsonJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable 2:03.201950 Greek SongOvie ScurlockVirgil W. RainesBrandywine Stable2:01.801949 PonderSteve BrooksHorace A. JonesCalumet Farm 2:03.201948Papa RedbirdRobert L. BairdJohn M. GoodeJ. A. Goodwin 2:03.001947 ¶But Why Not Warren MehrtensMax HirschKing Ranch 2:01.801946 The Dude Melvin DuhonAl GaalMrs. Al Gaal 2:02.60†1945 Pot O'LuckDouglas DodsonBen A. JonesCalumet Farm 2:05.80†1944 ¶Twilight TearLeon HaasBen A. JonesCalumet Farm2:03.60†1943 Slide RuleFerril ZufeltCecil WilhelmWilliam E. Boeing2:04.601942 Shut OutEddie ArcaroJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable2:01.401941 AttentionCarroll BiermanMax HirschMrs. Parker Corning2:02.801940 SiroccoGeorge WoolfJames W. SmithDixiana Farm2:03.001939 ChalledonHarry RichardsLouis SchaeferWilliam L. Brann2:02.001938 NedayrWayne D. WrightWilliam A. CrawfordWillis Sharpe Kilmer 2:06.201937Flying ScotJohn GilbertJames W. HealyJohn Hay Whitney2:05.801936 Granville James StoutJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud 2:03.201935 OmahaWayne D. WrightJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud2:01.401934 CavalcadeMack GarnerRobert A. SmithBrookmeade Stable2:02.801933 InlanderRobert JonesRobert A. SmithBrookmeade Stable2:02.001932 GustoSilvio CoucciMax HirschMorton L. Schwartz2:03.60$88,1001931 MateAlfred RobertsonJames W. HealyAlbert C. Bostwick Jr.2:02.401930 Gallant FoxEarl SandeJames E. FitzsimmonsBelair Stud2:03.80$78,750 Classic Stakes1929 Blue Larkspur Mack GarnerHerbert J. ThompsonEdward R. Bradley 2:14.40

Legend:

Notes:

¶ Filly

† Held at Washington Park Race Track

References