The Poker Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years old and older held over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) on the turf held annually in mid June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.

History

The event is named in honor of Poker who defeated champions Assagai and his stablemate Buckpasser in the 1967 Bowling Green Handicap at Belmont Park. More importantly Poker became a Champion Broodmare Sire. Poker was a son of the top-class sire and broodmare sire Round Table. Poker's daughters produced numerous champions including champion sire Seattle Slew. The latter twice topped the US broodmare sires list, and his daughters have produced a host of champions. Poker is also the maternal grandsire of US champion, Silver Charm, as well as the useful sire, Lomond (himself a champion sire in Italy).

The inaugural running of the Poker Stakes was on 25 September 1983 and was won by the Gasper S. Moshera trained Freon in a time of 2:03 over the distance of a mile and a quarter on the turf. The following year the event was not held but in 1985 it was run over the miles distance.

The event was classified as Grade III in 1988 and has held this class since.

The event was not held in 2010.

Several fine horses have appeared in this event including Volponi who won the event in 2007 and later won the Breeders' Cup Classic in the same year. Also Kip Deville winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile in 2007 featured in this event 2008 winning easily as the short odds on favorite and giving up to eleven pounds to his competitors. Caress and the Australian bred mare Oleksandra are the only mares to have won this race. Oleksandra was having her last start in her career due to being in foal to the sire Into Mischief.

In 2024 the event was moved to Saratoga Racetrack due to infield tunnel and redevelopment work at Belmont Park.

Records Speed record: 1:31.23 – Oscar Performance (2018) This time is a course record for Belmont's Widener Turf Course, and ties the North American record for one mile on the turf.

Margins: 7 lengths – Scottish Monk (1990)

Most wins: 2 – Fourstardave (1989, 1993) 2 – Affirmed Success (2000, 2001) 2 – King Kreesa (2013, 2015)

Most wins by an owner: 3 – Juddmonte Farms (2003, 2007, 2022)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 – José L. Ortiz (2015, 2018, 2020) 3 – Jose Lezcano (2011, 2012, 2016) 3 – Jerry Bailey (1991, 1998, 2001) 3 – Jorge Chavez (1994, 1999, 2000) 3 – José A. Santos (1987, 1988, 1989)

Most wins by a trainer: 5 – William I. Mott (1998, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2026)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Saratoga – Poker Stakes2026Pass the Hat5John R. VelazquezWilliam I. MottPin Oak Stud1 mile1:32.92$300,000III20254Javier CastellanoThomas MorleyDonegal Racing 1 mile1:34.22$300,000III2024Ice Chocolat (BRZ) 6Irad Ortiz Jr.Mark E. CasseGary Barber, Wachtel Stable & Peter Deutsch1 mile1:33.97$350,000IIIAt Belmont Park 2023Emmanuel 4Irad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherSiena Farm & WinStar Farm 1 mile1:34.25$200,000III2022Masen (GB)4Flavien PratChad C. BrownJuddmonte Farms1 mile1:34.16$242,500III20217Joel RosarioNeil D. DrysdaleTeam Valor International1 mile1:32.11$250,000III2020Social Paranoia 4José L. OrtizTodd A. PletcherThe Elkstone Group1 mile1:36.30$150,000III2019Gucci Factor4Joel RosarioChristophe ClementCastleton Lyons1 mile1:32.54$300,000III2018Oscar Performance4José L. OrtizBrian A. LynchAmerman Racing (Jerry & Joan Amerman)1 mile1:31.23$300,000III2017Ballagh Rocks4Jose LezcanoWilliam I. MottDonegal Racing1 mile1:34.98$294,000III2016Obviously (IRE)8Jose LezcanoPhilip D'AmatoAnthony Fanticola & Joseph Sardino 1 mile1:31.65$300,000III2015King Kreesa6José L. OrtizDavid G. DonkSusan & Gerald Kresa1 mile1:33.48$300,000III2014§ Jack Milton4Javier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherGary Barber1 mile1:33.09$300,000III2013King Kreesa4Irad Ortiz Jr.G & S Kresa1 mile1:33.65$150,000III2012Clear Attempt4Jose LezcanoWilliam I. MottPam & Martin Wygod1 mile1:34.01$150,000III2011Courageous Cat5Jose LezcanoWilliam I. MottPam & Martin Wygod1 mile1:36.69$98,000III2010Race not held2009Sailor's Cap4Alan GarciaJames J. TonerTeam Valor1 mile1:36.50$103,500IIIPoker Handicap 2008Kip Deville5Richard E. Dutrow Jr.IEAH Stables, Pegasus Holding Group Stables, J. Roberts & A. & S. Cohen1 mile1:32.94$106,300III2007Art Master6Garrett K. GomezRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1 mile1:33.21$112,600III2006Rebel Rebel (IRE)4Edgar S. PradoRichard E. Dutrow Jr.IEAH Stables & Resolute Group Stables1 mile1:33.34$110,900III2005Mr. Light (ARG)6Cornelio VelásquezAngel A. Penna Jr.Earle I. Mack1 mile1:32.18$111,800III2004Christine's Outlaw4Shaun BridgmohanGeorge WeaverR.C. Hill Stable1 mile1:32.46$112,600III2003War Zone4Javier CastellanoRobert J. FrankelJuddmonte Farms1 mile1:32.81$116,200III2002Volponi4Shaun BridgmohanPhilip G. JohnsonAmherst Stable & Spruce Pond Stable1 mile1:32.24$111,200III2001Affirmed Success7Jerry D. BaileyAlbert Fried Jr.1 mile1:34.60$110,400 III2000Affirmed Success6Jorge F. ChavezRichard E. SchosbergAlbert Fried Jr.1 mile1:34.06$113,800III1999Rob 'n Gin5Jorge F. ChavezRobert BarbaraSabine Stable1 mile1:32.81$115,200III1998Elusive Quality5Jerry D. BaileyWilliam I. MottMohammed al Maktoum1 mile1:31.63$85,400III1997Draw Shot4Chris AntleyAngel A. Penna Jr.Francis Santangelo1 mile1:33.08$85,575III1996Smooth Runner5Julie KroneRichard C. MetteeHerbert Allen1 mile1:33.60$86,000IIIPoker Stakes1995ƒ Caress4Robbie DavisH. Allen JerkensHarbor View Farm1 mile1:34.35$85,050III1994Dominant Prospect4Jorge F. ChavezGary SciaccaCharles A. Coronia1 mile1:32.69$83,176III1993Fourstardave8Richard MiglioreLeo O'BrienRichard M. Bomze1 mile1:33.02$88,650III1992Scott the Great6Jean-Luc SamynWilliam HebertAugust F. Russo1 mile1:33.27$91,350III1991Who's to Pay5Jerry D. BaileyMacKenzie MillerRokeby Stable1 mile1:33.40$93,600III1990Scottish Monk7Ángel Cordero Jr.Steven T. JerkensCedar Valle Stable1 mile1:33.40$86,850III1989Fourstardave4José A. SantosLeo O'BrienRichard M. Bomze1 mile1:33.20$94,350III1988Wanderkin5José A. SantosRichard O'ConnellPoma Stable1 mile1:35.60$91,200III1987Double Feint4José A. SantosLeRoy JolleyPeter M. Brant1 mile1:35.20$57,200 1986Island Sun4Richard MigliorePatrick J. KellyLive Oak Plantation Racing miles2:02.40$55,500 1985Mr. Chromacopy4Jean CruguetFrank Martin Sr.Harbor View Farm miles1:42.40$55,700 1984Race not held1983Freon6Robbie DavisGasper S. MoscheraAnn Territo miles2:03.20$41,450 Inaugural Running of the Poker Stakes

Legend:

Notes:

§ Ran as part of an entry

ƒ Filly or Mare

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References