The Hillsborough Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older, over a distance of miles on turf, held annually in March at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack in Oldsmar, Florida. The purse is currently $225,000.
History
The event was inaugurated on 21 March 1999 at a distance of miles with conditions for fillies and mares three-year-old and older and was won by the 7-10 odds-on favorite Pleasant Temper who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day in a time of 1:42.62.
In 2004 the distance of the event was increased to miles (9 furlongs). That same year the event was upgraded to Grade III.
The event was upgraded to Grade II status in 2016.
The winner of the 2012 Hillsborough, Zagora, won the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and was voted an Eclipse Award in her category. Tepin, a two-time Eclipse Award winner, set a new course record when winning the race in 2016.
Records Speed record: miles – 1:46.26 Tepin (2016) miles – 1:41.14 Strait From Texas (2003)
Margins: lengths – Dreaming of Anna (2008)
Most wins: No horse has won this race more than once.
Most wins by an owner: 2 – Godolphin Racing (2017, 2021) 2 – Madakat Stables (2019, 2023) 2 – Michael Dubb (2018, 2023)
Most wins by a jockey: 3 – John Velazquez (2006, 2007, 2015)
Most wins by a trainer: 7 – Chad C. Brown (2012, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade Ref2026Destino d'Oro4Junior AlvaradoBrad H. CoxSteve Landers Racing miles1:52.18$200,000II2025Saffron Moon6Flavien PratChad C. BrownCHP Racing miles1:47.58$200,000II2024Sparkle Blue 5Jorge RuizH. Graham MotionAugustin Stable & Catherine Parke miles1:52.62 $200,000II2023Shantisara 5Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownMadakat Stables, Michael Dubb and Robert LaPenta miles1:47.14$200,000II2022Bleecker Street 4Hector Diaz Jr.Chad C. BrownPeter M. Brant miles1:48.21$200,000II2021Micheline 4Luis SaezMichael StidhamGodolphin Racing miles1:47.19$200,000II2020Starship Jubilee7Javier CastellanoKevin AttardBlue Heaven Farm miles1:47.83$225,000II2019Rymska (FR)5Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. BrownMadaket Stables, Tom Coleman, Team Hanley & Elayne Stables miles1:49.18$200,000II2018Fourstar Crook6Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. Brown Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables & Gary Aisquith miles1:48.43$200,000II2017Dickinson5Paco LopezGodolphin Racing miles1.46.75$200,000II2016Tepin5Julien R. LeparouxMark E. CasseRobert E. Masterson miles1:46.26$200,000II2015Stephanie's Kitten6John R. VelazquezChad C. BrownKenneth & Sarah Ramsey miles1:49.05$150,000III2014Cloud Scapes5Erick D. RodriguezH. Graham Motion Pin Oak Stud 1:51.56$150,000III2013Old Tune (BRZ)5Joel RosarioTodd A. PletcherStud TNTabt. miles1:48.92$150,000III2012Zagora (FR)5Javier CastellanoChad C. BrownMartin S. Schwartzabt. miles1:46.97$150,000III2011Denomination5Frederic LencludChristophe ClementGhislaine Headabt. miles1:48.69$150,000III2010Phola4Todd A. PletcherGeorge Saufley, J.J. Pletcher, Graydon & William Pattersonabt. miles1:52.51$150,000III2009Backseat Rhythm4Eibar CoaPatrick L. ReynoldsPaul P. Pompa Jr.abt. miles1:51.43$175,000III2008Dreaming of Anna4Cornelio VelasquezWayne M. CatalanoFrank Carl Calabreseabt. miles1:52.18$175,000III2007Cassydora (GB)5John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherGreen Hills Farmabt. miles1:48.90$150,000III2006Ready's Gal4John R. VelazquezTodd A. Pletcher James T. Scatuorchio abt. miles1:50.50$137,500III2005Rizzi Girl7Oliver CastilloWilliam DowningJoshua & Marnie Whitneyabt. miles1:52.59$125,000III2004Coney Kitty (IRE)6Jose A. SantosJames J. TonerWilliam J. Betz, Steve Humphrey & Arthur Seelbinder abt. miles1:48.83$100,000III2003Strait From Texas4James A. MichaelJ & J Investments miles1:41.14$100,000 Listed 2002Platinum Tiara4Manoel R. CruzJoseph J. WaunschM375 Thoroughbreds miles1:41.34$100,000 Listed 2001Song for Annie5Larry MelanconHenry S. Cochran Live Oak Plantation miles1:41.23$100,000 Listed 20004Pat DayW. Elliott WaldenThomas F. Van Meter II, Douglas Hendrickson & Mike Lowenbaum miles1:41.17$75,000 Listed 1999Pleasant Temper5Pat DayW. Elliott WaldenMark H. Stanley miles1:42.62$58,000 Listed
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
External sites Tampa Bay Downs Media Guide 2021
References