The Cougar II Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one and one-half miles on the dirt, scheduled annually in late July or early August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The event currently carries a purse of $100,000.

History

The event was inaugurated during the first racing season at Del Mar race track on 31 July 1937 as the Escondido Handicap over a distance of six furlongs for horses three-year-old or older. The event was an under card event on Del Mar Handicap day. The winner was Clean Out and the second and third place getters were mares. The event was held once more in 1938 but was interrupted for 11 years and did not resume until 1949 as an event for three-year-old fillies. In 1950 the event was held for two-year-olds as the Escondido Stakes. The event was idle for three years from 1952 and when it was resumed in 1955 the distance was set to miles.

In 1956 the Irish-bred Poona set a new track record for the -mile distance of 1:40.20.

In 1962 the event was moved to the new turf track and run over the mile and one-eighth distance.

Between 1963 and 1984 the event was held in split divisions eight times.

From 1976 to 1988 the event was held over the mile and one-sixteenth distance with the exception of 1984 when it was held over furlongs and in 1985 when the event was not held due to a boycott by trainers.

In 2007 the event was renamed in honor of National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee, the Chilean-bred Cougar II as the Cougar II Handicap who had set a course record when winning this event in 1970.

The race from 1988 to 2007 was run as an overnight restricted handicap for horse three-years-old who had not won a sweepstakes during the year over a distance of miles.

In 2008 the event was moved to the new Polytrack artificial dirt surface which was installed at the track and the distance of the event was extended to miles. The event continued to be held on this surface until 2014.

In 2010 the event was classified by the American Graded Stakes Committee as a Grade III race.

The winner had automatic qualification for a berth in the Breeders' Cup Marathon before that race was discontinued in 2013.

In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the event was canceled and not rescheduled.

In 2021 the conditions of the event changed from a handicap to stakes with allowances and hence the name of the race was modified to Cougar II Stakes.

Records

Time record: miles (dirt): 2:30.09 – Heywoods Beach (2022) miles (polytrack): 2:29.01 – Irish Surf (2014) (Track record) miles (turf): 2:12.06 - †Laura's Lucky Boy (2005) miles (turf): 1:49.00 - Cougar II (CHI) (1970) miles (turf): 1:42.00 - Advocatum (1981) miles (dirt): 1:40.20 - Poona II (IRE) (1956) (Track record) furlongs (turf): 1:27.40 - Buck Price (1975)

Margins: lengths: – Midnight Mammoth (2024)

Most wins: 2 – Big John A (1968, 1969) 2 – Dowty (1997, 1998) 2 – Richard's Kid (2012, 2013)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Juddmonte (1988, 1991, 2002) 3 – Glen Hill Farm (1974, 1977, 2003) 3 – Gary A. Tanaka (1996, 2004, 2007)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Fernando Toro (1970, 1978, 1987, 1988) 4 – Rafael Bejarano (2012, 2015, 2018, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Robert J. Frankel (1975, 1991, 1993, 2002) 4 – Richard E. Mandella (1987, 2001, 2005, 2021) 4 – John W. Sadler (2008, 2016, 2019, 2022)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefCougar II Stakes2024Midnight Mammoth 5Armando Ayuso Craig DollaseJeffrey Sengara miles2:32.03$100,000III2023Order and Law 5Kent J. Desormeaux Robert Hess Jr.Larry S. Buckendorf, Jeffrey Lambert, Lawrence A. Rodriguez, Paul G. Schneider, Peter Stotland & Matthew D. White miles2:32.35$126,000III2022Heywoods Beach 5Ramon A. VazquezJohn W. Sadler Hronis Racing miles2:30.09$125,500III2021Tizamagician 4Flavien PratRichard E. Mandella MyRacehorse & Spendthrift Farm miles2:31.45$100,500III2020Race not heldCougar II Handicap2019Campaign 4Rafael BejaranoJohn W. Sadler Woodford Racing miles2:32.36$100,000III2018Beach View 5Rafael BejaranoLeonard Powell Levy Racing miles2:34.02$100,690III2017Curlin Road 4Flavien PratDoug F. O'Neill R3 Racing, Calara Farms & ERJ Racing miles2:31.74$100,690III2016Hard Aces 6Santiago GonzalezJohn W. Sadler Hronis Racing miles2:30.55$98,000III2015Big John B 6Rafael BejaranoPhilip D'Amato Michael House miles2:31.62$100,000III2014Irish Surf 4Elvis TrujilloDan L. Hendricks Gainesway Stable & Thor-Bred Bred Stable miles2:29.01$100,750III2013Richard's Kid 8Joseph TalamoDoug F. O'Neill David Kenney, Triple B Farms, Westside Rentals.com, et al. miles2:30.93$100,500III2012Richard's Kid 7Rafael BejaranoBob Baffert Zabeel Racing International miles2:29.22$100,000III2011Bourbon Bay 5Joseph TalamoNeil D. DrysdaleDavid and Jill Heerensperger miles2:29.39$125,000III2010Temple City 5Joseph TalamoCarla GainesSpendthrift Farm miles2:30.46$125,000III2009Unusual Suspect 5Alonso QuinonezBarry AbramsBarry, David & Dyan Abrams miles2:31.22$150,000 Listed 2008Zappa 6Garrett K. GomezJohn W. SadlerGary & Cecil Barber miles2:30.53$150,000 Listed 2007Atlando (IRE) 6Martin A. PedrozaDarrell Vienna Gary A. Tanaka miles2:13.18$88,935 Escondido Handicap2006Runaway Dancer 7Alex O. SolisDan L. Hendricks R L Stables miles2:13.20$88,605 2005†Laura's Lucky Boy 4Corey NakataniRichard E. Mandella Mercedes Stables miles2:12.06$82,450 2004§ Sarafan 7Corey NakataniNeil D. Drysdale Gary A. Tanaka miles2:12.92$79,000 2003Bonus Pack 5Kent J. DesormeauxThomas F. Proctor Glen Hill Farm miles2:12.50$81,625 2002Dance Dreamer 4Kent J. DesormeauxRobert J. Frankel Juddmonte miles2:12.86$78,650 2001Cagney (BRZ) 4Alex O. SolisRichard E. Mandella Stud TNT miles2:14.19$83,975 2000Alvo Certo (BRZ) 7Omar A. BerrioAntonio C. Avila Bandeirantes Stable miles2:15.23$80,850 1999Astarabad 5Chris AntleyJulio C. Canani David S. Milch miles2:13.74$78,900 1998Dowty 6Gary L. StevensWilliam I. Mott Allen E. & Madeleine A. Paulson miles2:14.13$78,700 1997Dowty 5Gary L. StevensWilliam I. MottAllen E. Paulson miles2:15.62$80,550 1996Dernier Empereur 5Pat ValenzuelaBen D. A. Cecil Gary A. Tanaka miles2:18.80$104,800 1995Varadavour (IRE) 6Ronald J. Warren Jr.Mike Puype Frank Gogliano miles2:16.09$106,650 1994 5Corey BlackJenine SahadiMike H. Sloan miles2:13.84$81,375 1993Luazur (FR) 4Pat DayRobert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann miles2:14.61$81,825 1992Navarone 4Pat ValenzuelaRodney Rash Robert E. Hibbert miles2:12.56$81,075 1991Berillon (GB) 4Gary L. StevensRobert J. Frankel Juddmonte miles2:12.92$79,425 1990Rial (ARG) 5Jose M. FernandezVincent Clyne Erick C. Boelcke miles2:14.60$81,825 1989Brisque (AUS) 6Donn L. LubyCharles & Audrey Kenis-3 plus U Stable miles2:16.00$83,150 1988Mazilier 4Fernando ToroJohn Gosden Juddmonte miles1:42.40$67,050 1987Captain Vigors 5Fernando ToroRichard E. Mandella Jack Grossman miles1:42.20$56,150 1986Truce Maker 8Frank OlivaresGreer Garson & Buddy Fogelson miles1:42.20$54,950 1985Race not held1984Go Dancer (FR) 5Chris McCarronJohn Gosden Howard W. Koch, Aaron & Candy Spelling furlongs1:29.00$46,100 Pair of Deuces 6Ray SibilleLaz Barrera Happy Valley Farm & John H. Hartigan1:28.80$46,1001983Pin Puller 4Chris McCarronWillard L. Proctor Heardsdale Racing miles1:43.00$55,750 1982Rock Softly 4Kenneth D. BlackJesse C. Newsom Byron, Davis, Gilson, et al. miles1:42.80$55,500 1981Advocatum 5Darrel G. McHargueMelvin F. Stute Constance S. Wilson miles1:42.00$56,300 1980§ Nain Bleu (FR) 4Laffit Pincay Jr.Thomas Ray Bell II Bell Bloodstock & Gayno Stable miles1:43.00$44,050 1979Uniformity 7Sandy HawleyMike R. Mitchell Sydell Smith miles1:43.60$44,100 1978Bywayofchicago 4Fernando ToroThomas A. PrattRobert Fluor, Sidney Port & Herman Sarkowsky miles1:42.40$33,500 1977Authorization 5Darrel G. McHargueWillard L. Proctor Glen Hill Farm miles1:43.00$21,375 Pikehall 3Henry E. Moreno Howard B. Keck1:43.00$21,375 1976Silver Saber 4Laffit Pincay Jr.Thomas Ray Bell II Bell Bloodstock miles1:43.00$28,150 1975Buck Price 4Darrel G. McHargueRobert J. FrankelMartin Ritt furlongs1:27.40 $27,900 1974Flighting 7 Robert HowardWillard L. Proctor Glen Hill Farm furlongs1:29.00$21,375 Bensadream 4Jorge TejeiraMichael E. MillerickBen Osher & Carl Hodges1:29.00 $21,375 1973Tannyhill 4Donald PierceRobert G. CraftRex C. Ellsworth miles1:49.60$33,250 1972Mongo's Pride 4William Mahorney Jack Van BergVan Berg Stable miles1:49.60$26,950 1971Born Wild 4Johnny Sellers A. Thomas DoyleWesterly Stud miles1:49.60$27,200 1970Cougar II (CHI) 4Fernando ToroGeorge A. RileyPerla de Chico Stud miles1:49.00$22,050 1969Big John A. 5Concepcion BarriaThomas F. RichardsonMrs. C. J. Dorfman miles1:50.60$28,450 1968Big John A. 4Antonio L. DiazThomas F. RichardsonMrs. C. J. Dorfman miles1:51.20$19,600 Till Morrow 4Álvaro PinedaWilliam H. WyndleMrs. Kathryn Hart1:51.20$19,4001967Strawberry Drive 5Donald PierceJohn W. PappalardoWilliam F. Fenske miles1:50.20$17,150 Estambul II (ARG) 5Donald PierceMorton LiptonVicgray Farm1:50.20$16,8501966Quicken Tree 3Raul Caballero Clyde TurkLouis R. Rowan miles1:50.20$20,175 ƒ Amerigo's Fancy 4Raul CaballeroC. Ralph West Mr. & Mrs. Desi Arnez1:49.60$20,0751965Switchback 5Miguel YanezJames D. JordanThe Pam Stable miles1:50.40$23,150 1964Desert Chief III (NZ) 8Donald Ross Dale K. LandersValley Stables miles1:50.20$14,325 Victory Beauty 8George TaniguchiLouis R. CarnoMr. & Mrs. Nelson H. Monroe & Sons1:50.00$14,325 1963Braganza (NZ) 8Miguel YanezMorton LiptonTriad Stables miles1:51.40$16,950 Moon Mad 4Angel ValenzuelaWilliam A. ReavisRichlew Stable1:50.00$16,9501962Hardware 3George Taniguchi Clyde TurkMr. & Mrs George Dorney miles1:51.40$23,200 1961§ Top Double 3Emile Ohayon Clyde TurkEarl Beaty & George Dorney miles1:41.60$16,825 1960Cleave 4Basil FrazierCharles A. ComiskeyF. H. Smith miles1:41.20$16,500 1959I Step 3Ronald GriffithsHarold BeasyMrs. Peggy H. Lester miles1:41.80 $16,575 1958Solid Fleet 4Carlos DeMelloHarry C. RichardsKessix Stable miles1:41.60 $16,350 1957Hi Pardner 5Tony DominguezWarren StuteClement L. Hirsch miles1:41.60 $16,075 1956Poona II (IRE) 5Johnny AdamsGraceton PhilpotHelbush Farms miles1:40.20 $16,125 1955Arrogate 4Ralph NevesReginald CornellMr. & Mrs. Dick Griegorian miles1:42.40 $11,000 1952–1954Race not held1951Caruso II (AUS) 7Johnny LongdenWilliam MolterWilliam Goetz6 furlongs1:10.60 $2,500Escondido Stakes1950Pat's Own 2Walter LitzenbergC. Ralph WestMr. & Mrs. R. S. Ross furlongs1:04.20$6,675 Escondido Handicap1949ƒ Great Dream 3Billy PearsonRussell H. McDanielMr. & Mrs. Russell H. McDaniel6 furlongs1:10.40 $5,000 1939–1948Race not held1938Happy Bolivar 5George BurnsW. A. ThomasMrs. Albert M. Koewler6 furlongs1:10.60 $1,610 1937ƒ Clean Out 5D. SmithWilliam FinneganMrs. Vera S. Bragg6 furlongs1:11.60 $1,115

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

ƒ Filly or Mare

‡ In 1949 the event was for three-year-old fillies

♯ In 1950 the event was for two-year-olds as Escondido Stakes

† In the 2005 running, Sarafan was first past the post but was disqualified for interference in the straight and Laura's Lucky Boy was declared the winner.

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links 2022 Del Mar Media Guide

References