The Azeri Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older, over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt track held annually in March at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The event currently carries a purse of $400,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 3 April 1987 as the Oaklawn Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap with sponsorship for Budweiser and the Breeders' Cup. The event was won by North Sider who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. and trained by US Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas in a time of 1:42. North Sider later that year would capture US Champion Older Female Horse.

The event was upgraded to a Grade III event in 1990 but was downgraded back to Listed in 1995 for five runnings.

Budweiser continued sponsoring the event until 1995 while the Breeders' Cup sponsored the event until 2007 which reflected in the name of the event.

The event was renamed Azeri Stakes in 2005 to honor Azeri, the American Horse of the Year of 2002, and the American Champion Older Female Horse three years running: 2002, 2003, and 2004.

This race was upgraded to a Grade II for its 2014 running.

Several notable winners went on to become champions. The 2011 winner Havre de Grace would later defeat males in the GI Woodward Stakes and win American Horse of the Year in 2011. The 2019 winner Midnight Bisou gained US Champion Older Female Horse honors.

Records Speed record: 1:42.01 – Sister Act (1999)

Margins: lengths – Serengeti Empress (2020)

Most wins: 2 – Halo America (1995, 1997) 2 – Heritage of Gold (2000, 2001) 2 – Tiz Miz Sue (2012, 2013)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Calvin Borel (1997, 1999, 2010) 3 – Joseph Rocco Jr. (2012, 2013, 2016)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – D. Wayne Lukas (1987, 1991, 1992, 2023)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – John A. Franks (1994, 1995, 1997)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAzeri Stakes2026Majestic Oops6Francisco ArrietaDan WardMedallion Racing, Evan Trommer, Agave Racing Stable & Sheila Regan miles1:43.36$400,000II2025Thorpedo Anna4Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy B. Hicks & Magdalena Racing miles1:44.02$400,000II 2024Tiny Temper 4 James Graham Dallas Stewart Mark H. & Nancy W Stanley miles1:43.26$400,000II2023Secret Oath4Tyler GaffalioneD. Wayne LukasBriland Farm miles1:43.26$350,000II2022Ce Ce6Victor EspinozaMichael W. McCarthyBo Hirsch miles1:43.55$350,000II2021Shedaresthedevil 4Florent GerouxBrad H. CoxFlurry Racing Stables, Qatar Racing Limited & Big Aut Farms miles1:42.57$350,000II20204Joseph TalamoThomas M. AmossJoel Politi miles1:44.46$350,000II2019Midnight Bisou4Mike E. SmithSteven M. AsmussenBloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables & Allen Racing miles1:42.72$343,000II2018Martini Glass5Paco LopezKeith NationsVince Campanella & Nation's Racing Stable miles1:42.95$350,000II2017Streamline5Chris LanderosBrian WilliamsonNancy A. Vanier & Cartwright Thoroughbreds V miles1:43.67$350,000II2016Call Pat6Joseph Rocco Jr.Brad H. CoxMiller Racing miles1:44.44$350,000II2015Gold Medal Dancer5Luis S. Quinonez Pin Oak Stable miles1:45.92$294,000II2014Close Hatches4Joel RosarioWilliam I. MottJuddmonte Farms miles1:44.34$200,000II2013Tiz Miz Sue6Joseph Rocco Jr.Steve HobbyCres Ran miles1:45.26$147,000III2012Tiz Miz Sue5Joseph Rocco Jr.Steve HobbyCres Ran miles1:43.58$147,000III2011Havre de Grace 4J. Larry JonesFox Hills Farms miles1:42.02$150,000III2010Freedom Star4Calvin H. BorelBob BaffertGeorge Krikorian miles1:44.09$149,750III2009Acoma4Julien R. LeparouxDavid M. CarrollHelen Alexander & Helen K. Groves miles1:42.55$138,500III2008Hystericalady5Robby AlbaradoJerry HollendorferRancho San Miguel, Jerry Hollendorfer & George Todaro miles,1:43.86$171,500III2007India4Christopher P. DeCarloTodd A. PletcherLyon Stables miles1:44.37$175,000III2006Round Pond 4Stewart ElliottJohn C. ServisFox Hill Farms miles1:43.93$173,500III2005Injustice4Luis S. QuinonezWayne M. CatalanoTurf Express, Darrell & Evelyn Yates miles1:43.40$175,000IIIOaklawn Breeders' Cup Stakes2004Golden Sonata5Carlos H. Marquez Jr.Morris G. NicksJames C. Spence miles1:44.32$200,000III2003Bien Nicole5Donald R. PettingerDonnie K. Von HemelJohn & Kristine Richter miles1:44.19$194,000III2002Ask Me No Secrets4Mike E. SmithDavid E. HofmansEarl H. Shultz miles1:44.56$200,000III2001Heritage of Gold6Robby AlbaradoThomas M. AmossJack Garey miles1:44.20$200,000III2000Heritage of Gold5Shane SellersThomas M. AmossJack Garey miles1:44.15$192,000III1999Sister Act4Calvin H. BorelJeffrey N. JacobsChoctaw Racing & Duncan Taylor miles1:42.01$120,000Listed 1998Turn to the Queen5Timothy T. DoocyKenny P. SmithDr. K. K. Jayaraman & Dr. Vilasini D. Jayaraman. miles1:44.76$147,000 Listed Oaklawn Breeders' Cup Handicap 1997§ Halo America7Calvin H. BorelBobby C. BarnettJohn A. Franks miles1:42.18$150,000 Listed 1996Belle of Cozzene4Donald R. PettingerSteve HobbyJohn E. & Barbara R. Smicklas miles1:43.32$149,750 Listed 1995§ Halo America5Bobby C. BarnettJohn A. Franks miles1:42.59$148,500Listed 1994§ Morning Meadow4Shane P. RomeroBobby C. BarnettJohn A. Franks miles1:44.60$157,750III1993Guiza6Corey NakataniRobert J. FrankelRobert Witt miles1:44.79$156,000III1992Cuddles4David GuilloryD. Wayne LukasOverbrook Farm miles1:43.82$157,500III1991A Wild Ride4Pat DayD. Wayne Lukas Zenya Yoshida miles1:42.31$157,950III19905Aaron GryderSteven L. MorguelanDavid L. Levitch miles1:43.60$158,900III1989Savannah's Honor4Jerry D. BaileyRichard J. LundyAllen E. Paulson miles1:45.00$158,200 1988Ms. Margi4Jerry D. BaileyPhilip M. Hauswald Edward A. Cox Jr. miles1:42.20$158,150 1987North Sider5Angel Cordero Jr.D. Wayne LukasD. Wayne Lukas & Paul Paternostro miles1:42.20$133,120

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External sites Oaklawn Park Media Guide 2021

References