The Wide Country Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in March at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. The race is open to fillies age three and up over seven furlongs on the dirt. It was run for the 23rd time in 2015.

An ungraded stakes race, it currently offers a purse of $100,000. The race was named in honor of the 1991 Maryland-bred "Horse of the Year, Wide Country. Tom Tanner's home bred, Wide Country compiled a nine-race win streak (all stakes races at either Pimlico Race Course or Laurel Park Racecourse). The streak began in the final months of 1990 when the chestnut filly won the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes over a muddy race track after losing a shoe. She also won the Grade 3 Pimlico Oaks by eight and a half lengths. Wide Country shipped to Belmont Park and Meadowlands during that campaign and placed second in graded stakes company in both cases. Trained by Robert W. Camac, she captured three straight Maryland stakes races on her way to state-bred championship honors. She retired with a record of 20 wins or placings in 26 starts for career earnings of $881,221.

Records

Speed record: 7 furlongs - 1:22.78 - Saarlight (2008) 7.5 furlongs - 1:30.80 - Norstep (1995) 1 mile - 1:40.00 - Bare Dancer (2007)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 - Mark T. Johnston (1995, 1996, & 2000)

Most wins by a trainer: 2 - Kiaran McLaughlin (2008 & 2009)

Winners of the Wide Country Stakes since 1994 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse2018 3 7 fur.0:00.00$100,0002017 Enchanted Ghost3 Angel Cruz Hamilton Smith Mens Grille Racing7 fur.1:25.49$100,0002017 China Grove3 Kendrick Karamanos Ben Colebrook Katherine G. Ball7 fur.1:23.86$100,0002016 Great Soul3 Trevor McCarthy Timothy L. Keefe Steve Long7 fur.1:27.73$75,0002015 Gypsy Judy3 Horacio Karamanos Robin L. Graham James Hibbert7 fur.1:25.75$100,0002014 Taris3 Clinton L. Potts Todd M. Beattie Commonwealth New Era R.7 fur.1:24.71$100,0002013 Walkwithapurpose3 Jeremy Rose Ignacio Correas Sagamore Farm 7 fur.1:27.04 $125,0002012 Millionreasonswhy3 Horacio Karamanos Ignacio Correas Sagamore Farm7 fur.1:24.08 $100,0002011 Red's Round Table3 Sheldon Russell Tim Keefe Arnold Heft7 fur.1:25.99$55,0002010 Jim's Prospect3 Vladimir Diaz John B. Secor Estate of James Glenn7 fur.1:24.67$70,0002009 Saarlight 3 Ray Fuentes Kiaran McLaughlin Cam Allard7 fur.1:22.78 $60,0002008 Armonk3 Julian Pimentel Kiaran McLaughlin Jeff Singer7 fur.1:26.63 $50,0002007 Bare Dancer3 Dyn Panell Gary Contessa Darlene Bilinski1 mile1:40.00$90,0002006 Celestial Legend3 Erick D. Rodriguez Dale Capuano R. Shultz & D. Menard1 mile1:41.40 $75,0002005 Amazing Buy3 Norberto Arroyo Jennifer Pederson Paraneck Stable1 mile1:40.60 $50,0002004 He Loves Me3 Jozbin Santana Richard W. Small Buckingham Farm1-1/161:47.20 $35,0002003 Powers Prospect3 Roberto Alvarado Cathal A. Lynch D'Arrigo Racing Stable1-1/161:44.80 $50,0002002 Shop Till You Drop3 Harry Vega John Fee Dewey White1-1/161:46.80 $36,0002001 Strike It Up3 Mario Pino Anthony W. Dutrow 1-1/81:50.80$55,0002000 Case of the Blues3 Mark T. Johnston Hamilton A. Smith 1-1/81:52.40$80,0001999 Synchronized3 Jose Espinoza Martin Wansborough John A. Franks1-1/81:52.20 $55,0001998 Cigar Charlie3 Edgar Prado Michael Dickinson 1-1/81:53.60 $55,0001997 Salt It3 Carlos Marquez Deborah S. Bonder Deborah S. Bonder 1-1/81:51.20 $30,0001996 Hey Let's Dance3 Mark T. Johnston Jessica J. Campitelli 7.5 fur.1:31.00 $30,0001995 # Quite Proper3 Mario Verge Leslie G. Glazier 7.5 fur.1:32.20 $30,0001995 # Norstep3 Mark T. Johnston W. Robert Bailes 7.5 fur.1:30.80 $30,0001994 Brilliant Prospect3 Allen Stacy Carlos A. Garcia Helmore Racing Partners7.5 fur.1:32.40 $30,000

See also Wide Country Stakes top three finishers and starters

References

External links Laurel Park website