The Pan American Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses that are four years or older held over a distance of one and one-half miles (twelve furlongs) on the turf usually scheduled annually in late March as an under card event on Florida Derby day at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $200,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on Pan American Day, 14 April 1962, as the Pan American Handicap over one and one-eighth miles distance on the dirt and was easily won by Brae Burn Farm's talented six year old mare Shirley Jones who was ridden by Larry Gilligan defeating nine other starters in a time of 1:51 by five lengths.

The event was inspired to be an attraction for horses from both North and South America and this seemed to be a success as in the first eleven runnings of the event four winners were bred in Argentina and one in Chile. Until 1971 the event was held on the last day of the Gulfstream Park Meeting which would be in mid-April and thus the event would be scheduled close to the Pan American Day festivities.

In 1965 the event's distance was modified to its present one and a half mile on the turf with the purse doubled to $50,000 added.

In 1973 the first year the classification system was enacted, the event was set with Grade II status with the Canadian bred Lord Vancouver victorious by 2 lengths.

In the 1970s the event started to attract European bred long distance runners. In 1977 the French bred Gravelines set a new track record for the distance at Gulfstream Park. In 1979 the British bred Noble Dancer continued his outstanding long distance form carrying 129 pounds as the topweight after winning the G1 United Nations Handicap the previous year. The Irish bred filly Little Bonny managed an upset victory as a 20-1 longshot in 1981 although having fine form from Europe finishing second in the G1 Irish Oaks and second in the G1 Prix Vermeille (French Oaks).

In 1983 the event was upgraded to Grade I and that year the event was run split divisions, the only time that the race was split.

In 1990 the event was downgraded to a Grade II race and once more to Grade III in 2006.

In 2009 the event's conditions were changed from handicap to stakes allowance with name of race changed to the Pan American Stakes.

The event was reclassified as Grade II in 2012 and with the exception of the 2015 when it was downgraded to Grade III.

Due to inclement wet weather the event has been moved off the turf track three times. The 1975 running was shifted to the dirt track and was run at a mile and a half distance on the main track. In 1989 and 2009 the event was run at the shorter miles distance when it was moved off the turf.

In 2013, Twilight Eclipse set a world record for miles by winning the Pan American in a final time of 2:22.63. This time lowered the world record mark set just one week earlier at Santa Anita Park by Bright Thought in the San Luis Rey Handicap.

In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade III status.

Records

Time record: miles – 2:22.63 – Twilight Eclipse (2013)

Margins: 11 lengths – Mi Selecto (1989)

Most wins: 2 – Fraise (1993, 1994) 2 – Buck's Boy (1998, 2000) 2 – Quest Star (2003, 2004) 2 – Newsdad (2012, 2014) 2 – Far Bridge (2025, 2026)

Most wins by a trainer: 6 – William I. Mott (1991, 1993, 1994, 2006, 2012, 2014)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Joel Rosario (2014, 2022, 2024, 2025)

Most wins by an owner: 2 - Bertram R. Firestone (1974, 1991) 2 - Madeleine A. Paulson (1993, 1994) 2 – Quarter B Farm (1998, 2000) 2 - Mansell Stables (2003, 2004) 2 - James S. Karp (2012, 2014) 2 - Michael Dubb (2023, 2024) 2 - LSU Stables (2025,2026)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefPan American Stakes2026Far Bridge6Flavien PratMiguel ClementLSU Stables miles2:23.51$202,500III2025Far Bridge5Joel RosarioChristophe ClementLSU Stables miles2:23.19$200,000III2024Kertez (GB)6Joel RosarioChristophe ClementMichael Dubb, Morris Bailey & West Point Thoroughbreds miles 2:24.93$200,000II2023Therapist 8Irad Ortiz Jr.Michael J. MakerMichael Dubb miles 2:29.22$200,000II2022Gufo5Joel RosarioChristophe ClementOtter Bend Stables 2:27.28$200,000II2021Churn N Burn4Julien R. LeparouxIan WilkesLothenbach Stables miles2:23.63$200,000II2020Bemma's Boy5Florent GerouxMichael J. MakerParadise Farms miles2:24.91$200,000II2019Focus Group5Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownKlaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence miles2:30.03$250,000II2018Hi Happy (ARG)6Luis SaezTodd A. PletcherLa Providencia miles2:23.85$250,000II2017Sadler's Joy4Julien R. LeparouxThomas AlbertraniWoodslane Farm miles2:26.89$200,000II2016Kaigun6Joe BravoMark E. CasseQuintessential Racing, Horse'n Around Racing Stable & Gary Barber miles2:29.20$200,000II2015Imagining7Irad Ortiz Jr.Claude R. McGaughey IIIPhipps Stable miles2:26.32$150,000III2014Newsdad6Joel RosarioWilliam I. MottJames S. Karp miles2:22.77$200,000II2013Twilight Eclipse4Javier CastellanoThomas AlbertraniWest Point Thoroughbreds miles2:22.63$150,000II2012Newsdad4Julien R. LeparouxWilliam I. MottJames S. Karp miles2:24.93$142,500II2011Rahy's Attorney7Emma-Jayne WilsonIan BlackEllie Boje Farm, Mitch Peters, Dean Read & Jim MacLellan miles2:25.85$150,000III2010Bearpath4Frederic LencludIan R. WilkesLothenbach Stables miles2:32.60$150,000III2009Buddy's Humor5Jose LezcanoBruce N. LevineEli Lomita miles2:02.64$147,000IIIPan American Handicap2008Presious Passion5Ariel SmithMary HartmannPatricia A. Generazio miles2:26.15$150,000III2007Jambalaya5Javier CastellanoCatherine Day PhillipsKingfield Racing Stable miles2:24.98$150,000III2006Silver Whistle4Edgar S. PradoWilliam I. MottStronach Stables miles2:24.35$150,000III2005Navesink River4John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherChar-Mari Stable miles2:25.95$150,000II2004Quest Star5Pat DayW. Elliott WaldenMansell Stables miles2:26.46$200,000II2003Quest Star4Edgar S. PradoW. Elliott WaldenMansell Stables2:28.45$200,000II2002Deeliteful Irving4Todd A. PletcherAnstu Stable miles2:24.14$200,000II2001Whata Brainstorm4John R. VelazquezJames E. PicouJohn Eaton & Steve Laymon miles2:23.75$250,000II2000 Buck's Boy7Edgar S. PradoP. Noel HickeyQuarter B Farm miles2:24.80$250,000II1999Unite's Big Red5Mike E. SmithRandy MillsBreak Away Racing Stable miles2:23.15$250,000II1998 Buck's Boy5Earlie FiresP. Noel HickeyQuarter B Farm miles2:23.43$250,000II1997Flag Down7Jose A. SantosChristophe ClementAllen E. Paulson miles2:27.08$300,000II1996 Celtic Arms (FR)5Mike E. SmithBen D. A. CecilGary A. Tanaka miles2:25.71$300,000II1995Awad5Eddie MapleDavid G. DonkRyehill Farm miles2:29.44$300,000II1994Fraise6Mike E. SmithWilliam I. MottMadeleine A. Paulson miles2:24.65$300,000II1993Fraise5Pat ValenzuelaWilliam I. MottMadeleine A. Paulson2:32.86$300,000II1992Wall Street Dancer4Jorge VelasquezNiall M. O'CallaghanJohn D. Gunther miles2:25.53$350,000II19915Julie KroneWilliam I. MottBertram R. Firestone miles2:29.55$300,000II1990My Big Boy7Heberto Castillo Jr.Heidi Doubleday miles2:29.20$300,000II1989Mi Selecto4Jose A. SantosEduardo Azpurua Sr.Wilfredo Agusti Jr. miles2:01.60$300,000I1988ƒ Carotene (CAN) 5Don James SeymourRoger L. AttfieldKinghaven Farms miles2:25.00$300,000I1987Iroko (GB)5Earlie FiresThomas J. SkiffingtonFernwood Stables miles2:26.40$250,000I1986ƒ Powder Break5Santiago B. SotoLuis OlivaresRobert I. Green miles2:25.00$300,000I1985Selous Scout (CAN) 4Robin PlattsRoger L. AttfieldDouble Eagle Stable miles2:25.20$304,500I1984Tonzarun6Herb McCauleyJohn R. ThomasDon Everett miles2:26.80$178,975I1983Highland Blade5Jacinto VasquezDavid A. WhiteleyPen-Y-Bryn Farm miles2:29.20$133,825IField Cat6Jean-Luc SamynWilliam E. BurchCornelius Vanderbilt Whitney2:29.60$136,825 1982Robsphere5Jorge VelasquezRichard R. RootHarry T. Mangurian Jr. miles2:26.00$170,250II1981ƒ Little Bonny (IRE)4Eddie MapleJ. Bert SonnierOwen Helman miles2:32.40$186,200II 1980ƒ Flitalong4Ramon I. EncinasAngel Penna Sr.Ogden Mills Phipps miles2:28.40$150,000II1979Noble Dancer II (GB)7Jacinto VasquezThomas J. KellyHaakon Fretheim miles2:25.20$150,000II1978Bowl Game4Jorge VelasquezJohn M. Gaver Jr.Greentree Stable miles2:30.20$150,000II1977Gravelines (FR)5Jerry D. BaileyNeal J. WinickMrs. Maribel G. Blum & Mrs. Robert Harpinau miles2:24.80$134,200II1976Improviser4Jean CruguetJohn J. WeipertElmendorf Farm miles2:26.60$144,800II1975Buffalo Lark5Larry SnyderJoseph M. Bollero Rogers Red Top miles2:27.60$140,200II1974London Company4Angel Cordero Jr.LeRoy JolleyBertram R. Firestone miles2:26.40$141,200II1973Lord Vancouver (CAN) 5Walter Blum Frank H. Merrill Jr. W. Preston Gilbride miles2:26.60$139,200II1972Unanime (ARG)5Heliodoro GustinesHarry Trotsek Hasty House Farm miles2:26.60$140,6001971Chompion6Michael HoleJoe KulinaColonial Farm miles2:25.60$106,1001970One for All4Craig PerretHoratio Luro John A. Bell III miles2:26.80$97,6001969Hibernian (GB)4Pete AndersonWoody StephensJames Cox Brady Jr. miles2:28.40$62,6001968Irish Rebellion 4Angel Cordero Jr.Conn McCrearyMac-Con Farm miles2:26.40$67,700‡ Estreno II (ARG) 7David HidalgoDavid SazerRobert Ballis1967War Censor4Earlie FiresS. Bryant OttFourth Estate Stable miles2:26.00$66,5001966Pillanlelbun (CHI)5Fernando ToroRoger N. GueriniWalnut Hill Farm miles2:26.40$60,6001965Cool Prince5Bill HartackWilliam A. Larue William G. Helis Jr. miles2:26.40$65,2001964† Babington (ARG)5Ray BroussardArnold N. WinickJohn M. Olin miles1:51.60$25,0001963Sensitivo (ARG)6Howard GrantArnold N. WinickMr. & Mrs. Ralph F. Bensinger miles1:50.00$20,0001962ƒ§ Shirley Jones6Larry GilliganJames W. SmithBrae Burn Farm miles1:51.20$20,000

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

ƒ Filly or Mare

† In the 1964 running of the event Doctor Hank K. was first past the post but was disqualified to seventh after stewards ruled that he caused interference in the running. Babington (ARG) was declared the winner.

‡ Estrano II (ARG) was a field entry with Templatio II (CHI) and Mohamed (CHI)

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2020–21 Gulfstream Park Media Guide

References