Sugar Swirl Stakes

The Sugar Swirl Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are three years old or older, over a distance of 6 furlongs on the dirt track held annually in December at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $140,000.

History The event is named in honor of the Canadian bred mare Sugar Swirl who was owned by Stronach Stables. The Stronach Group are the owners of Gulfstream Park where this event is held.

The race was inaugurated in 1981 and the event was run as the First Lady Handicap. At that time the event was held in January and the conditions of the race were for fillies and mares that were four years old or older.

In 2008 Sugar Swirl won this event and in 2010 the event was renamed to the Sugar Swirl Stakes. The event was moved to December in 2011 and there were two runnings of the event that year.

In 2024 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status. Records

Speed record: 6 furlongs: 1:08.66 – Dust and Diamonds (2012)

Margins: lengths – Lady's Island (2019)

Most wins: 2 - Harmony Lodge (2003, 2004) 2 - Lady's Island (2019, 2020)

Most wins by a jockey 6 – Javier Castellano (2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018) 6 – John R. Velazquez (2002, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015)

Most wins by a trainer 4 – Todd A. Pletcher (2003, 2004, 2009, 2012)

Most wins by an owner 2 – Edward P. Evans (1992, 2002) 2 – Eugene & Laura Melnyk (2003, 2004) 2 – Matties Racing Stable & Averill Racing (2019, 2020)

Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefSugar Swirl Stakes 2024 Mystic Lake 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Saffie Joseph Jr. C2 Racing Stable & Stefania Farms 6 furlongs 1:11.20$133,000Listed2023 Spirit Wind 4 Jose L. Ortiz Carlos David Jacks or Better Farm 6 furlongs 1:10.58$150,000III2022 Frank's Rockette 5 Luis Saez William I. Mott Frank Fletcher Racing Operations 6 furlongs 1:09.63$125,000III2021 Center Aisle 4 Luis Saez Paulo Lobo OXO Equine 6 furlongs 1:09.54$100,000III2020 Lady's Island 6 Emisael Jaramillo Georgina Baxter Matties Racing Stable & Averill Racing 6 furlongs 1:10.46$100,000III2019 Lady's Island 5 Emisael Jaramillo Georgina Baxter Matties Racing Stable & Averill Racing 6 furlongs 1:10.75$100,000III2018 Dream Pauline 3 Javier Castellano Kiaran P. McLaughlin Stonestreet Stables 6 furlongs 1:11.10$100,000III2017 Rich Mommy 3 Luis Saez Victor Barboza Jr. Winds of Change Racing Stable 6 furlongs 1:10.44$100,000III2016 Dearest 3 Edgard J. Zayas Gilberto Zerpa Gelfenstein Farm 6 furlongs 1:09.59$100,000III2015 Best Behavior 5 John R. Velazquez Martin D. Wolfson Miller Racing 6 furlongs 1:09.69$100,000III2014 Merry Meadow 4 Javier Castellano Mark A. Hennig David S. Howe & William Parsons 6 furlongs 1:10.29$100,000III2013 Heart Stealer 3 Javier Castellano Martin D. Wolfson Peachtree Stable 6 furlongs 1:09.49$100,000III2012 Dust and Diamonds 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Gorges Torrealba Hldgs. & Three Chimneys Farms 6 furlongs 1:08.66$100,000III2011† Pomeroys Pistol 3 Javier Castellano Amy Tarrant Hardacre Farm 6 furlongs 1:09.35$100,000IIIDecember2011 Tar Heel Mom 6 Alan Garcia Stanley M. Hough Alex Rankin 6 furlongs 1:09.75$100,000IIIJanuary2010 Pretty Prolific 4 Edgar S. Prado James E. Baker Tom R. Walters 6 furlongs 1:10.75$100,000IIIFirst Lady Stakes2009 Game Face 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Zabeel Racing International 6 furlongs 1:10.57$100,000IIIFirst Lady Handicap2008 Sugar Swirl 5 Javier Castellano Brian A. Lynch Stronach Stables 6 furlongs 1:10.06$100,000III2007 Any Limit 4 Rafael Bejarano H. Allen Jerkens Joseph V. Shields, Jr 6 furlongs 1:10.58$100,000III2006 Smokey Glacken 5 Javier Castellano James A. Jerkens Susan & John Moore 6 furlongs 1:09.98$100,000III2005 Savorthetime 6 John R. Velazquez Steven M. Asmussen Brenda & Philip Robertson 6 furlongs 1:09.21$100,000III2004 Harmony Lodge 6 Richard Migliore Todd A. Pletcher Eugene & Laura Melnyk 6 furlongs 1:09.64$100,000III2003 Harmony Lodge 5 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Eugene & Laura Melnyk 6 furlongs 1:10.31$100,000III2002 Raging Fever 4 John R. Velazquez Mark A. Hennig Edward P. Evans 6 furlongs 1:10.36$100,000III2001 Another 4 Edgar S. Prado Thomas Victor Smith Robert E. Masterson 6 furlongs 1:10.41$117,000III2000 Hurricane Bertie 5 Pat Day Bernard S. Flint Richard, Bertram & Elaine Klein 6 furlongs 1:10.22$75,000III1999 Scotzanna 7 Richard Migliore Michael Wright Jr. Bruno Schickedanz 6 furlongs 1:10.17$75,000III1998 U Can Do It 4 Shane Sellers Larry Pilotti Carina & Frank Marano 6 furlongs 1:09.86$75,000III1997 Chip 4 Joe Bravo Sonny Hine Carolyn H. Hine 6 furlongs 1:09.76$75,000III1996 Chaposa Springs 4 Jerry D. Bailey Martin D. Wolfson Suresh Chintamanen 6 furlongs 1:10.23$75,000III1995 Recognizable 4 Mike E. Smith Ogden Mills Phipps 6 furlongs 1:09.74$50,000III1994 Santa Catalina 6 Jerry D. Bailey Mark A. Hennig Team Valor 6 furlongs 1:11.26$50,000III1993 Si Si Sezyou 3 Robert A. Hale Anne Yates 6 furlongs 1:10.06$50,000III1992 Withallprobability 4 Craig Perret D. Wayne Lukas Edward P. Evans 6 furlongs 1:11.14$50,000 Listed 1991 Spirit of Fighter 8 José A. Vélez Jr. Daniel C. Hurtak Daniel C. Hurtak & Dennis G. Punches 6 furlongs 1:11.70$50,000 Listed First Lady Breeders' Cup Handicap1990 Sez Fourty 4 Miguel A. Gonzalez Luis Olivares Marissa Olivares & Three G Stable 6 furlongs 1:11.20$45,940 Listed First Lady Handicap1989 Waggley 6 Jean-Luc Samyn Sonny Hine Scott C. Savin 6 furlongs 1:11.00$45,480 Listed 1988 Funistrada 5 Walter Guerra J. Bert Sonnier Jamie S. Carrion 6 furlongs 1:10.20$48,720 Listed 1987 One Fine Lady 5 Roger Danjean Pedro J. Sobarzo Larry Foggle 6 furlongs 1:10.40$40,075 Listed 1986 Sugar's Image 5 José A. Vélez Jr. Happy Alter Alter's Racing Stable 6 furlongs 1:11.20$49,560 1985 Nany 5 Gene St. Leon Richard R. RootHarry T. Mangurian Jr. 6 furlongs 1:09.80$48,920 1984Race not held1983 Prime Prospect 5Donald MacBethStanley M. HoughDiana M. Firestone 6 furlongs 1:10.80$40,470 1982Race not held1981 Island Charm 4 Jorge Velásquez Stephen A. DiMauro David A. McKibbin 6 furlongs 1:10.60$37,560

Notes:

† Gulfstream Park administration moved the event to earlier in their 2011–12 meeting from January to December. Hence, there were two runnings of the event in the calendar year (2011)

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References