The Mr. Prospector Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race open for three years old or older, over a distance of 7 furlongs on the dirt track held annually in December at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $165,000.

History The event is named in honor of the outstanding breeding stallion and notable sire of sires Mr. Prospector who held the 6 furlongs track record at Gulfstream Park.

The race was inaugurated in 1946 and the event was run as the Hallandale Handicap. The conditions of the race were open for three year olds over a distance of miles. The following two runnings were extended to three years olds and older and the distance extended to 9 furlongs. The race was not run in 1949 and was resumed in 1950 under the name Hallandale Purse. In 1956 the event was run under the original naming of Hallandale Handicap. In 1957 again the event was not held. From 1958 to 1971 the event was run again as the Hallandale Purse.

The 1970s were an unstable period for the event. From 1972 –74 the event was not held and the 1975 event was moved to Calder Racecourse. In 1978 the event was held as a long distance 2 mile turf event. The race was run two more times over the turf in 1980 and 1982 before it was converted to a dirt sprint race over 6 furlongs in 1983.

In 1999 the event was upgraded to Grade III and in 2001 the event was renamed to the Mr. Prospector Handicap. Since 2009 the event has been run under the current name Mr. Prospector Stakes and from 2018 over the current distance of 7 furlongs.

The event has attracted some notable sprinters to Gulfstream Park including 2010 American Champion Sprint Horse Big Drama and 2019 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner X Y Jet who won this event twice.

Records

Speed record: 6 furlongs: 1:08.12 – Big Drama (2011) 7 furlongs: 1:21.36 – Diamond Oops (2019)

Margins: lengths – X Y Jet (2015)

Most wins: 2 - X Y Jet (2015, 2017) 2 - Sibelius (2022, 2023)

Most wins by a jockey: 4 – Jerry D. Bailey (1989, 1992, 1994, 2001)

Most wins by a trainer: 2 - Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. (1991, 1993) 2 - William H. Turner Jr. (1983, 1997) 2 - Steve Margolis (2003, 2004) 2 - Steven M. Asmussen (2006, 2008) 2 - Eddie Kenneally (2007, 2010) 2 - David Fawkes (2011 January & December) 2 - Martin D. Wolfson (2009, 2012) 2 - Jorge Navarro (2015, 2017) 2 - Todd A. Pletcher (1998, 2018) 2 - Jeremiah O'Dwyer (2022, 2023)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefMr. Prospector Stakes2025Knightsbridge 4 Junior Alvarado William I. Mott Godolphin Racing 7 furlongs 1:22.32$150,000III2024 Mufasa (CHI) 5 Tyler Gaffalione Ignacio Correas IV Carlos Saavedra & Stud Vendaval 7 furlongs 1:22.47$150,000III2023 Sibelius 5 Junior Alvarado Jeremiah O'Dwyer Jun H. Park & Delia Nash 7 furlongs 1:23.16$125,000III2022 Sibelius 4 Junior Alvarado Jeremiah O'Dwyer Jun H. Park & Delia Nash 7 furlongs 1:23.04$125,000III2021 Officiating 4 Luis Saez Saffie Joseph Jr. Vegso Racing Stable 7 furlongs 1:22.28$100,000III2020 Sleepy Eyes Todd 4 Tyler Gaffalione Miguel Silva Thumbs Up Racing 7 furlongs 1:21.67$100,000III2019 Diamond Oops 4 Julien R. Leparoux Patrick L. Biancone Diamond 100 Racing, A. Dunne, D P Racing & P.L. Biancone Racing 7 furlongs 1:21.36$100,000III2018 Coal Front 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher R.V. LaPenta & Head of Plains Partners 7 furlongs 1:23.16$100,000III2017 X Y Jet 4 Emisael Jaramillo Jorge Navarro Rockingham Ranch and Gelfenstein Farm 6 furlongs 1:09.45$100,000III2017† Squadron A 7 Corey J. Lanerie Dale L. Romans Carolyn Vogel 6 furlongs 1:10.23$100,000III2015 X Y Jet 3 Emisael Jaramillo Jorge Navarro Gelfenstein Farm 6 furlongs 1:08.56$102,000III2014 Speechify 4 Paco Lopez Ralph E. Nicks Team Valor International 6 furlongs 1:09.54$100,000III2013 Singanothersong 3 Juan C. Leyva Ronald Pellegrini Herman Van Den Broec 6 furlongs 1:09.92$100,000III2012 Indiano 4 Luis Saez Martin D. Wolfson Stud El Aguila 6 furlongs 1:10.26$98,000III2011♯ Apriority 4 Luis Saez David Fawkes Donald R. Dizney 6 furlongs 1:09.28$100,000IIIDecember2011 Big Drama 5 Eibar Coa David Fawkes Harold L. Queen 6 furlongs 1:08.12$100,000IIIJanuary2010 Custom for Carlos 4 Julien R. Leparoux Eddie Kenneally Homewrecker Racing & Avalon Farm 6 furlongs 1:10.07$98,000III2009 Ikigai 4 Martin D. Wolfson Edmund A. Gann 6 furlongs 1:09.37$100,000IIIMr. Prospector Handicap2008 Noonmark 5 René R. Douglas Steven M. Asmussen George Bolton, Joan Corrigan & Anton Beck 6 furlongs 1:09.72$100,000III2007 Kelly's Landing 6 Edgar S. Prado Eddie Kenneally Summerplace Farm 6 furlongs 1:08.84$100,000III2006 Gaff 4 Shaun Bridgmohan Steven M. Asmussen Heiligbrodt Racing Stable & Michael Smurfit 6 furlongs 1:08.50$100,000III2005 Saratoga County 4 Javier Castellano George Weaver Evelyn M. Pollard 6 furlongs 1:08.99$100,000III2004 Cajun Beat 4 Cornelio H. Velasquez Steve Margolis Padua Stables and John & Joseph Iracane 6 furlongs 1:09.06$100,000III2003 Baileys Edge 6 Gary Boulanger Steve Margolis Holm Thoroughbreds 6 furlongs 1:09.95$100,000III2002 Hook and Ladder 5 John R. Velazquez John C. Kimmel Chester & Mary Broman 6 furlongs 1:09.69$100,000III2001 Istintaj 5 Jerry D. Bailey Mark A. Hennig Shadwell Stable 6 furlongs 1:09.63$120,000IIIHallandale Handicap2000 Mountain Top 5 José A. Santos William W. Perry John D. Murphy Sr 6 furlongs 1:10.80$75,000III1999 Cowboy Cop 5 Pat Day Patrick B. Byrne Stronach Stables 6 furlongs 1:09.65$75,000III1998 Rare Rock 5 Pat Day Todd A. Pletcher Betty G. Massey & Jake J. Pletcher 6 furlongs 1:08.67$75,000Listed 1997 Punch Line 7 Pat Day William H. Turner Jr. Althea D. Richard 6 furlongs 1:08.45$75,000 Listed 1996 Meadow Monster 5 Rick Wilson Ben W. Perkins Sr. New Farm 6 furlongs 1:09.47$50,000 Listed 1995 Sweet Beast 5 Mike E. Smith Robert J. Durso Howard G. Crowell & Gerald Gallo 6 furlongs 1:09.36$50,000 Listed 1994 Binalong 5 Jerry D. Bailey Carl A. Nafzger Jim Tafe 6 furlongs 1:09.68$50,000Listed 1993 Surely Six 4 Rick Wilson Candy Stables 7 furlongs 1:21.85$50,000 Listed 1992 Take Me Out 4 Jerry D. Bailey William I. Mott Bertram R. Firestone 7 furlongs 1:23.75$50,000 Listed 1991 Stalker 4 Craig Perret Benjamin W. Perkins Jr. Anthony F. Tornetta 7 furlongs 1:22.50$50,000 Listed 1990 Beau Genius 5 Bill Shoemaker Gerald S. Bennett Dr. D. Brian Davidson 7 furlongs 1:23.20$50,000 Listed1989 Miami Slick 4 Jerry D. Bailey Edward Plesa Jr. Loretta Kessler 6 furlongs 1:09.20$57,000 Listed1988 Jato D'Agua (BRZ) 6 Walter Guerra Paul Cheng Haras Rosa Do Sul 6 furlongs 1:09.80$63,600 Listed1987 Uncle Ho 4 José A. Santos H. Allen Jerkens Sugartown Stable 7 furlongs 1:22.60$46,640 Listed1986 5 Roger I. Velez LeRoy JolleyGerald Robins 6 furlongs 1:10.40$47,680 1985 For Halo 4 Bryan Fann Mary L. Edens Mrs. Adele W. Paxson 6 furlongs 1:09.60$62,700 Hallandale Stakes 1984 D. White 4 Alex O. Solis Frank A. Alexander Albert Davis miles 1:44.40$40,640 Hallandale Handicap1983 Chan Balum 4 Jean-Luc Samyn William H. Turner Jr. Barbara W. Labrot 6 furlongs 1:10.00$42,805 1982 Noble Warrior 6 Odin J. Londono Jose A. Mendez Wanda Hooper miles 2:27.20$30,975 1981Race not heldAt Calder Racecourse1980¤ Gun Steward 3 Ramon Sargardia J. Carroll Barnhill Billy Lee Joseph 1:47.80$32,938October Two's A Plenty 3 Walter Guerra Merritt A. Buxton Merritt A. Buxton & Alfred Smith1:48.20$32,637At Gulfstream Park1980 Archie Beamish 7 Walter Guerra Robert F. Connors Walter F. Wickes Jr. miles 2:27.20$24,950 May1979Race not held1978 Practitioner 5 Juan A. Santiago Leo Sierra Dogwood Stable 2 miles 3:18.20 $24,200 1976–1977Race not heldAt Calder Racecourse1975 Indian Ambush 5 Wayne Crews William R. Smith William R. Smith & Sunrise Farm miles 1:54.40$30,000

Legend:

Notes:

† Gulfstream Park administration moved the event to New Year's Day in their 2016–17 meeting from the usual December scheduling. Hence, there were two runnings of the event in the calendar year for 2017 and no running in 2016

♯ In 2011 the event was held twice in the calendar year. For the 2010–11 meeting the event was held in January and in the 2011–12 meeting the event was held in December

¤ In 1980 the event was scheduled at Gulfstream Park in May. The event was also scheduled at Calder Racecourse in October and run in split divisions.

Earlier Winners

The following lists are earlier winners of the event.

Hallandale Purse (1958–1971)

Hallandale Handicap (1956)

Hallandale Purse (1950–1955)

Hallandale Handicap (1946–1948)

Notes:

‡ Event run in two divisions

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References