The John A. Nerud Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four years old or older at a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt run annually in May at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $175,000.
History
The race was inaugurated on 9 August 2008 as the James Marvin Stakes at Saratoga Race Course over a distance of six furlongs. The event was named after James Marvin, a noted hotel owner and politician in Saratoga Springs in the 19th century. Marvin was one of the first members of the Saratoga Association that founded Saratoga Race Course in 1863. He later became a director of the Association and was its president from 1877 to 1891.
The following year the event was run over a longer distance of seven furlongs. In 2012, the race was classified as a Grade III event. In 2014, the race was moved to Belmont and became part of the Stars and Stripes Festival and was renamed to the Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes.
Clearly Now set a track record at Belmont Park when winning the 2014 renewal in 1:19.96.
In 2017, the race was upgraded to Grade II status by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and became part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series – the winner will receive an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
In 2019 the race was renamed to the John A. Nerud Stakes in honor of the late John Nerud, a prominent thoroughbred owner and trainer who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.
In 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, NYRA did not schedule the event in their updated and shortened spring-summer meeting.
In 2024 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.
In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Grade III status and moved in the racing calendar schedule to May.
Records Speed record: 7 furlongs – 1:19.96 Clearly Now (2014)
Margins: lengths – Clearly Now (2014)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 – Cornelio Velásquez: (2009, 2013) 2 – Joel Rosario: (2012, 2017) 2 – Flavien Prat: (2022, 2024)
Most wins by a trainer: 2 – Todd Pletcher: (2021, 2022)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – WinStar Farm: (2022, 2024)
Winners
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Aqueduct - John A. Nerud Stakes2026Durante7Ricardo Santana Jr.David JacobsonDavid Jacobson6 furlongs1:10.45$175,000III2025Whatchatalkcinabout4Irad Ortiz Jr.Wesley A. WardIce Wine Stable6 furlongs1:09.03$169,750III2024Mullikin 4Flavien Prat Rodolphe Brisset Siena Farm & WinStar Farm 7 furlongs1:20.54$194,000IIAt Belmont Park 2023Three Technique 6Javier CastellanoJason CookDavid E. Miller, Eric Grindley & John Werner 7 furlongs1:21.88$250,000II2022Life Is Good4Flavien PratTodd PletcherWinStar Farm & China Horse Club7 furlongs1:21.70$232,500II2021Mind Control5John VelazquezTodd PletcherRed Oak Stable & Madaket Stables7 furlongs1:21.94$250,000II2020Race not held2019Promises Fulfilled4Luis SaezDale L. RomansRobert J. Baron7 furlongs1:21.75$300,000IIBelmont Sprint Championship Stakes2018Limousine Liberal6Jose L. OrtizBen ColebrookKatherine G. Ball7 furlongs1:21.53$343,000II20174Joel RosarioChad SummersJ Stables, Head of Plains Partners, M. Scott, Daniel, Chad Summers, & Michael E. Kisber 7 furlongs1:21.84$350,000II2016A. P. Indian6Joe BravoArnaud DelacourGreen Lantern Stables7 furlongs1:21.41$400,000III20156Martin A. PedrozaJorge NavarroGood Friends Stable7 furlongs1:22.57$384,000III2014Clearly Now4Jose LezcanoBrian A. LynchUp Hill Stable7 furlongs1:19.96$400,000IIIAt Saratoga – James Marvin Stakes2013Sage Valley4Cornelio VelasquezRudy R. RodriguezMichael Dubb & Gary Aisquith7 furlongs1:22.49$100,000III2012Pacific Ocean5Joel RosarioDennis Narlinger7 furlongs1:22.53$100,000III2011Jackson Bend4Corey NakataniNicholas P. ZitoRobert LaPenta & Fred Brei7 furlongs1:20.91$78,000 Listed 2010Vineyard Haven4Alan GarciaSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin Racing7 furlongs1:22.30$75,000 Listed 2009Gold Trippi5Cornelio VelasquezStanley M. HoughE. Paul Robsham Stables7 furlongs1:22.30$73,950 2008Eternal Star4Michael J. TrombettaHarry C. & Tom O. Meyerhoff6 furlongs1:08.79$102,500 Listed
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References