The Pilgrim Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of miles on the turf track scheduled annually in late September at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $200,000.

History

The event was inaugurated on 29 October 1979 at Aqueduct Racetrack and was run over the mile distance in split divisions as the sixth and eighth race on the card that day.

The race is named for Joseph E. Widener's horse, Pilgrim, winner of the 1919 Remsen Stakes.

In 1982 the event was classified as Grade III, upgraded to Grade II in 1988 for two runnings before being downgraded to Grade III. From 2001–2007 the race was not graded as in 2009 when the event was moved off the turf track due to the inclement weather and held over a shorter one mile distance.

The event was run in two divisions in the above mentioned inaugural 1979 and again in 1983.

The distance of the event has been changed several times but since 2010 the event has been run over the current distance of miles.

The race was part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series from 2008 to 2010, when the winner automatically qualified for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

The event was upgraded to a Grade III event in 2020.

In 2022 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.

Records Speed record: miles: 1:41.04 – Annapolis (2021) miles: 1:48.02 – Volponi (2000)

Margins: 12 lengths – Diplomatic Jet (1994)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Live Oak Racing (1981, 2001)

Most wins by a jockey: 5 – John Velazquez (1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2007)

Most wins by a trainer: 6 – Todd A. Pletcher (2007, 2009, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Belmont - Pilgrim Stakes2026Let Em KnowEdgard J. ZayasD. Whitworth BeckmanAnthony Tate, Robert J. Ogilvie, Joe Pickerrell and Diamond T Racing miles1:42.15$250,000IIAt Aqueduct2025Bottas Manuel FrancoMiguel Clement Dahman miles1:42.63$200,000II2024Zulu Kingdom (IRE)Joel RosarioChad C. BrownMichael Dubb, Madaket Stables, William Strauss & Michael J. Caruso miles1:48.67$200,000II2023Agate RoadIrad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable & St. Elias Stable miles1:42.83$200,000II2022Major DudeIrad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherSpendthrift Farm miles1:46.60$200,000IIAt Belmont Park 2021Annapolis Irad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherBass Racing miles1:41.04$186,000II2020Fire At Will Kendrick CarmoucheMichael J. MakerThree Diamonds Farm miles1:43.46$150,000II2019StructorIrad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownJeff Drown & Don Rachel miles1:41.46$200,000III2018Forty UnderManuel FrancoJeremiah C. EnglehartAugust Dawn Farm miles1:44.37$200,000III2017SeabhacLuis SaezTodd A. PletcherDonegal Racing miles1:43.48$200,000III2016Oscar Performance José L. OrtizBrian A. LynchAmerman Racing (Jerry & Joan Amerman) miles1:42.88$200,000III2015IsothermJose LezcanoGeorge WeaverMatthew Schera miles1:41.98$200,000III2014ImperiaJavier CastellanoKiaran P. McLaughlinGodolphin Racing miles1:41.36$200,000III2013Bobby's KittenJavier CastellanoChad C. BrownKenneth and Sarah Ramsey miles1:42.37$200,000III2012Noble TuneChad C. BrownMartin S. Schwartz & Dell Ridge Farm miles1:47.81$150,000III2011Alex O. SolisDoodnauth ShivmangalShivmangal Racing Stable miles1:51.59$100,000III2010Air SupportRajiv MaraghClaude R. McGaughey IIIStuart S. Janney III miles1:47.87$147,500III2009EskendereyaJavier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherZayat Stables1 mile1:37.85$152,500 Listed 2008Elusive BluffMichael C. BazeEric J. GuillotSouthern Equine Stable miles1:47.91$156,800III2007The LeopardJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherDerrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor miles1:41.61$81,000 Listed 2006PickapocketEibar CoaFrank A. AlexanderMartin Cherry miles1:52.62$85,925 Listed 2005Fagan's LegacyJoe BravoKelly J. BreenGeorge & Lori Hall miles1:52.11$82,575 Listed 2004Crown PointJose L. EspinozaDavid G. DonkDrumlanrig Farm miles1:50.31$82,875 Listed 2003TimoJohn R. VelazquezWilliam Badgett Jr.C. K. Woods Stable miles1:57.46$82,525 Listed At Aqueduct 2002One ColonyAaron GryderMark A. HennigEdward P. Evans miles1:51.00$82,950 Listed 2001Miesque's ApprovalJerry D. BaileyWilliam I. MottLive Oak Racing miles1:50.80$83,475Listed At Belmont Park2000VolponiJohn R. VelazquezPhilip G. JohnsonAmherst & Spruce Pond miles1:48.02$113,300III1999Kachemak BayJohn R. VelazquezJohn P. Campo Jr.Evelyn M. Pollard miles1:54.67$111,600III1998Incurable OptimistJohn R. VelazquezDavid G. DonkJohn T. & Theresa E. Behrendt miles1:48.05$108,100IIIAt Aqueduct 1997§ Cryptic RascalMike E. SmithWilliam Badgett Jr.Landon Knight miles1:50.83$115,700IIIAt Belmont Park1996AcceleratorMike E. SmithOgden Mills Phipps miles1:41.80$113,800IIIAt Aqueduct 1995Play It Again StanHerb McCauleyFrank A. Generazio Jr. Sybil Lauren miles1:50.20$115,900IIIAt Belmont Park1994Diplomatic JetJerry D. BaileyPhilip M. SerpeFred W. Hooper miles1:46.67$82,076III1993§ Dove HuntJerry D. BaileyNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III miles1:44.60$122,600III1992§ AwadJulie KroneDavid G. DonkRyehill Stable miles1:42.60$127,000III1991Smiling and DancinRichard MiglioreStephen L. DiMauroRobert J. Sullivan miles1:41.20$122,800IIIAt Aqueduct 1990Fourstars AllstarMike E. SmithLeo O'BrienRichard Bromze miles1:51.60$90,000III 1989Super MarioRichard MiglioreD. Wayne LukasH. Joseph Allen miles1:56.00$126,800II1988Tuneful TipCarl GambardellaRonald J. DandyFrank Generazio miles1:59.00$132,200II 1987Blew by EmChris AntleyMichael H. DaggettJoseph B. Singer miles1:53.60$92,850III1986§ David's BirdJean-Luc SamynPhilip G. JohnsonSugar Maple Farm miles1:53.00$97,950III1985PillasterÁngel Cordero Jr.LeRoy JolleyPeter M. Brant miles1:54.40$89,550III 1984Tent UpVincent Bracciale Jr.John W. HicksGeoffrey A. Huguely miles1:53.20$94,500III1983Pied A' TierreLarry SaumellRonald L. BenshoffBlanche P. Levy miles1:51.40$54,700III VisionEddie MapleWoodford C. StephensClaiborne Farm1:50.20$54,7001982FortnightlyÁngel Cordero Jr.Edward I. Kelly Jr.Bwamazon Farm miles1:57.60$85,800III1981Gnome's GoldJean-Luc SamynPatrick J. KellyLive Oak Racing miles1:57.20$84,300 1980AkureyriEddie MapleWoodford C. StephensHickory Tree Stable miles1:54.80$58,400 1979FreeoSam MapleJoseph B. CanteyLoblolly Stable miles1:53.00$42,850 I Take AllÁngel Cordero Jr.Edward I. Kelly Sr.Brookfield Farm1:52.40$43,050

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

† Both divisions of the event were moved off the turf and onto the main track due to the inclement weather

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References