The True North Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years old and older held over a distance of six and half furlongs on dirt scheduled annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $400,000.

History

The True North is named for the winner of the 1945 Fall Highweight Handicap, W. Deering Howe's, True North.

The event was inaugurated on 9 July 1979 as the True North Handicap and was won by the longshot Moleolus in a time of 1:10.

The event was classified as Grade III in 1982 and upgraded to Grade II in 1985. The only mare to win the event was Gold Beauty in 1993.

In winning the 1987 edition of the True North Handicap, Groovy earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 134.Beyer, Andrew Beyer on Speed: New Strategies for Racetrack Betting, p.57 (1995) Houghton Mifflin

In 2014 the conditions of the race changed to a stakes race. In 2017 the distance of the race was changed from 6 furlongs to furlongs.

In 2024 the event was moved to Saratoga 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.

Records

Speed record: furlongs – 1:14.62 – Baby Yoda (2024) 6 furlongs – 1:07.80 – Groovy (1987)

Most wins: 2 - Firenze Fire (2020, 2021) 2 - Book'em Danno (2025, 2026)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – William I. Mott (1991, 1993, 1998, 2023)

Margin: lengths – Trappe Shot (2011)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Jean-Luc Samyn (1979, 1981, 1999) 3 – Ángel Cordero Jr. (1987, 1988, 1989) 3 – Robbie Davis (1996, 1997, 2000) 3 – Javier Castellano (2012, 2015, 2018)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Seymour Cohn (1985, 1999) 2 – Mr. Amore Stables (2020, 2021) 2 - Atlantic Six Racing (2025, 2026)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Saratoga – True North Stakes2026Book'em Danno5Paco LopezDerek S. RyanAtlantic Six Racing furlongs1:14.79$400,000III2025Book’em Danno4Paco LopezDerek S. Ryan Atlantic Six Racing furlongs1:14.64$400,000III2024Baby Yoda 6Eric CancelWilliam I. MottPantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber & Jerold L. Zaro furlongs1:14.62$350,000IIAt Belmont Park2023Elite Power5Irad Ortiz Jr.William I. MottJuddmonte furlongs1:15.65$250,000II2022Jackie's Warrior4Joel RosarioSteven M. AsmussenJudy & J.Kirk Robison furlongs1:15.09$300,000II2021Firenze Fire6Jose OrtizKelly BreenMr Amore Stables furlongs1:15.52$300,000II2020Firenze Fire5Irad Ortiz Jr.Kelly BreenMr Amore Stables furlongs1:15.53$150,000II2019Catalina Cruiser5Joel RosarioJohn W. SadlerHronis Racing furlongs1:14.85$250,000II2018Imperial Hint5Javier CastellanoLuis Carvajal Jr.Raymond Mamone furlongs1:15.02$240,000II2017Roy H5Paco LopezPeter L. MillerRockingham Ranch6 furlongs1:08.59$250,000II2016Joking7Manuel FrancoCharlton BakerCharlton Baker6 furlongs1:08.04$240,000II2015Rock Fall4Javier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherStonestreet Stables6 furlongs1:08.37$250,000II2014Palace5José L. OrtizLinda L. RiceAntonino Miuccio6 furlongs1:08.29$250,000IITrue North Handicap2013Fast Bullet5Joel RosarioBob BaffertZayat Stables6 furlongs1:08.27$400,000II2012Caixa Eletronica7Javier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherRepole Stables6 furlongs1:09.52$400,000II2011Trappe Shot4John R. VelazquezMill House6 furlongs1:08.86$250,000II2010Bribon (FR)7Garrett K. GomezTodd A. PletcherDerrick Smith6 furlongs1:09.63$250,000II2009Fabulous Strike6Todd M. BeattieWalter Downey6 furlongs1:07.85$250,000II2008Benny the Bull5Edgar S. PradoRichard E. Dutrow Jr.IEAH Stables, James Cohen, Pegasus Holdings Group & Sanford H. Robbins 6 furlongs1:09.06$250,000II2007Will He Shine5Edgar S. PradoDale L. RomansSaviaro Pugliese & Marc Wexler6 furlongs1:08.70$200,000II2006Anew5Alan GarciaSteven M. AsmussenChrome Cowboy Racing & Raymond Vitolo6 furlongs1:08.10$200,000II2005Woke Up Dreamin5Mike E. SmithBob BaffertMichael E. Pegram6 furlongs1:08.38$212,900II2004Speightstown6John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherEugene Melnyk6 furlongs1:08.04$206,400II2003Shake You Down5Michael J. LuzziScott A. LakeRobert L. Cole Jr.6 furlongs1:09.40$190,000II2002Explicit5Lonnie MecheIan P. D. JoryMarvin Malmuth6 furlongs1:09.80$250,000II20017Aaron GryderJuan SereyJohn Rotella6 furlongs1:08.60$150,000II2000Intidab7Robbie DavisKiaran P. McLaughlinShadwell Stable6 furlongs1:10.00$150,000II1999Kashatreya5Jean-Luc SamynJohn O. HertlerSeymour Cohn6 furlongs1:09.60$150,000II1998Richter Scale4Jerry D. BaileyWilliam I. MottNancy & Richard Kaster6 furlongs1:08.80$138,600II1997Punch Line7Robbie DavisWilliam H. Turner Jr.Althea Richards6 furlongs1:08.80$110,300II1996Not Surprising6Robbie DavisJudson Van WorpRobert Van Worp6 furlongs1:09.00$111,200II1995Waldoboro4Eddie MapleEmory A. Hamilton6 furlongs1:09.60$110,500II1994Friendly Lover6Rick WilsonJoseph H. Pierce Jr.Pastime Stable6 furlongs1:09.60$112,300II1993Lion Cavern4Julie KroneWilliam I. MottSheikh Mohammed6 furlongs1:10.20$115,200II1992Shining Bid4Eddie MapleJack B. MorganDeborah A. Matz6 furlongs1:08.20$119,800II1991Diablo4Julie KroneWilliam I. MottBertram R. Firestone6 furlongs1:08.20$116,200II1990Mr. Nickerson4Chris AntleyMark J. ReidRobert H. A. Nixon6 furlongs1:10.40$85,600II1989Dancing Spree4Ángel Cordero Jr.Claude R. McGaughey IIIOgden Phipps6 furlongs1:09.40$113,600II1988§ High Brite4Ángel Cordero Jr.D. Wayne LukasH. Joseph Allen6 furlongs1:10.00$113,000II1987Groovy4Ángel Cordero Jr.José MartínLone Star Stable6 furlongs1:07.80$108,800II1986Phone Trick4Jorge VelásquezRichard E. MandellaHowell Wynne6 furlongs1:09.00$110,800II1985Cannon Shell6D. J. MurphyChester RossSeymour Cohn6 furlongs1:10.80$87,000II 19844Jorge VelásquezH. Allen JerkensBohemia Stable6 furlongs1:09.80$86,850III1983‡ Gold Beauty4Don BrumfieldWilliam Curtis Jr.Mrs. Philip Hofmann6 furlongs1:10.40$84,600III1982Shimatoree3Mario G. PinoclaudRichard E. Dutrow Sr.Rif'at Hussain6 furlongs1:08.60$82,650 1981Joanie's Chief4Jean-Luc SamynEugene JacobsPeter Barberino6 furlongs1:09.00$58,800 1980Syncopate5Laffit Pincay Jr.Ron McAnallyElmendorf Farm6 furlongs1:09.20$55,000 1979Moleolus4Jean-Luc SamynPatrick J. KellyLive Oak Plantation Racing6 furlongs1:10.40$42,225 Inaugural Running of True North Handicap

Notes:

‡ Filly or Mare

§ Ran as part of an entry

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References