Orchid Stakes

The Orchid Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years or older held over a distance of one and one-half miles 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 $150,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 11 March 1954 as a six furlong dirt sprint for three year old fillies that was easily won by Queen Hopeful who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey John H. Adams and trained by US Hall of Fame trainer Harry E. Trotsek by a 3 lengths margin.

Gulfstream Park did not schedule the event again until 1965 after an absence of 10 years. In 1965 and 1966 the event was still held for three year old fillies but the distance was increased to miles. In 1967 the event was held on the turf for the first time over a distance of one mile. The conditions of the event were changes to allow older mares compete under handicap conditions. In the first division Indian Sunlite set a track record for the mile in a time of 1:34.

In 1969 the distance of the event was increased to miles.

In 1973 the first year the classification system was enacted, the event was set with Grade III status and in 1981 the event was upgraded to Grade II.

In 1986 the distance of the event was increased to miles.

In 2006 the event was downgraded to a Grade III event. In 2008 the event's conditions were changed from handicap to stakes allowance with name of race changed back to the original name.

In 2016 the distance of the event of was decreased to miles and in 2022 was increased back to miles.

The event has been run in split division four times: 1967, 1972, 1983, 1985

Records Speed record: miles – 2:11.73 Mean Mary (2020) miles – 2:23.07 Honey Ryder (2005) miles – 1:40.40 Just A Game (IRE) (1980) 1 mile – 1:34.60 Indian Sunlite (1967)

Margins: lengths – Tweedside (2003)

Most wins: 2 – Honey Ryder (2005, 2006)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 – John R. Velazquez (2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015)

Most wins by a trainer: 8 – Christophe Clement (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2015, 2023)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Barbara Hunter (1970, 1974, 1979) 3 – Glencrest Farm (1987, 2005, 2006)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefOrchid Stakes2026Sultana5Junior AlvaradoKevin AttardLou Donato, Theodore Manziaris, Paul Borrelli & Lanni Bloodstock miles2:24.47$150,000III2025Beach Bomb (SAF)5Luis SaezH. Graham MotionCayton Park Stud miles2:24.29$150,000III2024McKulick (GB)5Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownKlaravich Stables miles 2:25.20$150,000III2023Amazing Grace (GER) 5Joel Rosario Christophe ClementMoyglare Stud Farm miles 2:28.82$150,000III2022Family Way 5Tyler Gaffalione Brendan WalshHunter Valley Farm, Debra L. O'Connor & Marc Detampel 2:29.08$150,000III2021War Like Goddess 4Julien R. Leparoux William I. Mott George Krikorian miles2:12.34$100,000III2020Mean Mary4Luis SaezH. Graham MotionAlex G. Campbell Jr. miles2:11.73$100,000III2019Santa Monica (GB)6Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownR Unicorn Stable miles2:16.07$100,000III2018Race not held2017Summersault5Paco LopezMark A. HennigWilliam Parsons Jr & David S. Howe miles2:12.24$200,000III2016Photo Call (IRE)5Javier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherTeresa Viola Racing Stables miles2:16.38$200,000III2015Beauty Parlor4John R. VelazquezChristophe ClementJoseph Allen miles2:26.89$150,000III2014Anjaz5Rajiv MaraghThomas AlbertraniGodolphin Racing miles2:24.70$150,000III2013Regalo Mia4Luis ContrerasMichelle NiheiSteven W. Ciccarone miles2:23.48$150,000III2012Hit It Rich5Javier CastellanoStuart S. Janney III miles2:28.06$150,000III20114John R. VelazquezH. Graham MotionRashit Shaykhutdinov miles2:25.76$150,000III2010Speak Easy Gal4Elvis TrujilloMartin D. WolfsonFarnsworth Stables miles2:28.46$150,000III2009Dress Rehearsal (IRE) 4Kent J. DesormeauxWilliam I. MottSwettenham Stud miles2:29.77$150,000IIIOrchid Handicap2008Hostess5John R. VelazquezH. James BondWilliam L. Clifton Jr. miles2:25.83$150,000III2007Safari Queen (ARG)5Todd A. PletcherArindel Farm miles2:25.17$150,000III2006Honey Ryder5John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherGlencrest Farm miles2:23.07$150,000III2005Honey Ryder4John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherGlencrest Farm miles2:27.15$150,000II2004Meridiana (GER)4Edgar S. PradoChristophe ClementJon & Sarah Kelly miles2:26.99$200,000II2003Tweedside5Rene R. DouglasTodd A. PletcherEugene & Laura Melnyk miles2:32.36$200,000II2002Julie Jalouse4Jose A. SantosChristophe ClementSkymarc Farm miles2:25.89$200,000II2001Innuendo (IRE)6Jerry D. BaileyChristophe ClementGerald W. Leigh miles2:25.24$194,000II2000Lisieux Rose (IRE)6Jose A. SantosChristophe ClementMoyglare Stud Farm miles2:25.64$200,000II1999Coretta (IRE)5Jose A. SantosChristophe Clement Gerald W. Leigh miles2:23.85$200,000II1998Colonial Play5Robbie DavisFlint S. SchulhoferRobert S. Evans miles2:24.75$200,000II1997Golden Pond (IRE)4Herb McCauleyMartin D. WolfsonSilverleaf Farms miles2:26.84$200,000II1996Memories (IRE)5Jose A. SantosBurk Kessinger Jr.New Phoenix Stable miles2:31.51$200,000II1995Exchange (CAN)7Laffit Pincay Jr.William SpawrSidney H. Craig miles2:29.02$200,000II1994Trampoli5Mike E. SmithChristophe ClementPaul de Moussac miles2:25.42$200,000II1993Fairy Garden5Wigberto S. RamosRoger L. AttfieldVirginia Kraft Payson miles2:25.79$200,000II1992Crockadore5Mike E. SmithWilliam I. MottTimothy Mahony2:28.32 $200,000II1991Star Standing (CAN)4Chris AntleyWilliam J. Hirsch Jr.Keswick Stables miles2:25.02$200,000II1990Coolawin4Jerry D. BaileyCarl A. NafzgerJames B. Tafel miles2:24.20$200,000II1989Gaily Gaily (IRE)6Julie KroneWilliam I. MottBertram R. Firestone miles2:26.80$200,000II1988Beauty Cream5Pat DayPatrick C. ClarkWarren N. Moore miles2:28.40$200,000II1987Anka Germania (IRE)5Craig PerretThomas J. SkiffingtonGlencrest Farm & Fernwood Stables miles2:31.40$150,000II1986Videogenic4Robbie DavisGasper S. MoscheraAlbert & Barbara Davis miles2:27.20$197,400II1985Pretty Perfect5Gerland GallitanoHarvey L. Vanier Louis F. Aitken miles1:41.60$103,300IIAspen Rose5Jorge VelasquezJohn M. VeitchDaniel M. Galbreath1:42.00$108,6751984Sabin4Eddie MapleWoodford C. StephensHenryk de Kwiatkowski miles1:41.40$117,800II1983Sweetest Chant5Earlie FiresJoseph M. BolleroRussell L. Reineman Stable miles1:45.60$88,400IILarida4Eddie MapleWoodford C. StephensNewstead Farm1:44.80$89,4001982Blush4Jacinto VasquezDavid A. WhiteleyLazy F Ranch miles1:41.00$127,500II1981Honey Fox4Jacinto VasquezFlint S. SchulhoferDr. Jerome M. Torsney miles1:41.20$136,200II1980Just A Game (IRE)4Don BrumfieldDavid A. WhiteleyPeter M. Brant & H. Joseph Allen miles1:40.40$123,600III1979Sans Arc5Earlie FiresStanley M. RieserBarbara Hunter miles1:41.40$132,450III1978Time for Pleasure4Thomas BarrowPhil A. GrosserWilliam Q. Muir miles1:41.00$63,000III1977Copano5Mickey SolomoneOral C. PickardJohn D. King miles1:41.40$72,500III1976Deesse Du Val5Carlos H. Marquez Sr.Stephen A. DiMauroMrs. Joan C. Johnson & Mrs. Suzanne Carl miles1:41.80$47,975III1975Protectora (CHI)6Heliodoro GustinesWarren J. PascumaEdward Seltzer miles1:41.20$43,500 III1974Dogtooth Violet4Don BrumfieldStanley M. RieserBarbara Hunter miles1:41.00$65,700III1973Deb Marion3Frank IanelliJohn H. RigioneGeorge H. Schmidt miles1:42.60$45,400III1972Evening Bag7William GavidiaCharles C. SanbornGeorge A. Sacks miles1:41.60$49,600 Toter Back5Jorge TejeiraRaymond G. AlaimoSteve L. Alaimo1:41.60$49,6001971Swoon's Flower4Carlos H. Marquez Sr.George TowneWaldemar Farm miles1:43.60$46,525 1970Pattee Canyon5Earlie FiresStanley M. RieserBarbara Hunter miles1:43.00$50,950 1969Spire5Ray BroussardMichael F. FogartyGeorge R. Wallace miles1:43.00$33,950 1968Chriscinca4Earlie FiresBudd LepmanAlfred A. Muller1 mile1:35.80$23,725 1967Indian Sunlite4Howard GrantSherrill W. WardGeorge M. Humphrey1 mile 1:34.60$22,187 Straight Deal 5Jorge VelasquezHirsch JacobsMrs. Ethel D. Jacobs1:35.20$22,387Orchid Stakes1966Chalina3Ken KnappLeroy JolleyMrs. Moody Jolley miles1:43.40$16,700 1965Vassar Grad3Ken KnappCharles C. SanbornBwamazon Farm miles1:46.20$17,050 1955–1964Race not held1954Queen Hopeful3John H. AdamsHarry E. TrotsekHasty House Farm (Allie E. Reuben)6 furlongs1:12.00$11,150

Legend:

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2020–21 Gulfstream Park Media Guide

References