The Elite Power Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four years old or older at a distance of six furlongs on the dirt run annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $250,000.
History
The event was inaugurated on 10 May 2014 as the Diablo Stakes and was won by Royal Currier who started at 7/1. The following year the event was not held. The event was resumed on 14 May 2014 and was won by the favorite Sensational Slam who defeated four other runners including Royal Currier over 6 furlongs in a time of 1:09.07. The event was marred by the disqualification of the second place finisher Green Grotto who was placed third and Royal Currier installed in second for interference mile from the finishing post. The event was named after the versatile sprinter Diablo who won the 1991 Grade II True North Handicap and the 1992 Grade III Finger Lakes Budweiser Breeders' Cup.
In 2018 the event was renamed to the Runhappy Stakes in honor of the 2015 US Champion Sprint Horse Runhappy.
The event was upgraded to Grade III in 2020 but was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Belmont Park ran a shortened meeting and the event was cancelled in favor of the rescheduled Carter Handicap being moved from Aqueduct Racetrack.
In 2024 the event was moved to Aqueduct Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.
In 2025 NYRA moved the event from May to November and renamed the event to the Elite Power Stakes after the two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Elite Power.
Records Speed record: 6 furlongs – 1:08.12 Firenze Fire (2019)
Margins: lengths – Firenze Fire (2019)
Most wins: 2 – Stallwalkin' Dude (2015, 2017) 2 – Firenze Fire (2019, 2021)
Most wins by a jockey: 2 – Irad Ortiz Jr. (2019, 2021) 2 – Manuel Franco (2016, 2025)
Most wins by a trainer: 2 – David Jacobson (2015, 2017)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – David Jacobson (2015, 2017) 2 – Mr. Amore Stable (2019, 2021)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time Purse Grade RefAt Aqueduct – Elite Power Stakes 2025Just Beat the Odds 5Manuel Franco Gregory Sacco Donna Wright 1:09.99 $242,500IIIRunhappy Stakes 2024Joey Freshwater 4 Jose LezcanoLinda L. RiceWinning Move Stable1:09.41 $169,750IIIAt Belmont Park 2023Candy Man Rocket5Junior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottFrank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc.1:09.33$175,000III2022Drafted8José OrtizDavid P. DugganDublin Fjord Stables, Racepoint Stables, Kevin D. Hilbert, & Thom O'Keefe1:10.84$139,500III2021Firenze Fire 6Irad Ortiz Jr. Kelly BreenMr. Amore Stable1:09.76 $145,500III2020Race not held2019Firenze Fire4Irad Ortiz Jr.Jason ServisMr. Amore Stable1:08.12$150,000Listed2018Westwood4John R. VelazquezGodolphin1:09.45$147,000ListedDiablo Stakes2017Stallwalkin' Dude 7Joe BravoDavid JacobsonDavid Jacobson & Head of Plains Partners 1:10.16$100,000Listed2016Joking 7Manuel FrancoCharlton BakerCharlton Baker1:09.44$100,000Listed2015Stallwalkin' Dude 5Angel CruzDavid JacobsonDavid Jacobson 1:09.48$98,000 2014Sensational Slam 6Patrick QuickParadise Farms 1:09.07$98,000 2013Race not held2012Royal Currier 4 Rajiv Maragh Patricia Farro MAT Stables 1:08.42$83,300 Listed
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References