The Honey Fox Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years or older held over a distance of 1 mile on the turf scheduled annually in late February or early March at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $150,000.

History The event was inaugurated on 25 May 1984 as the Honey Fox Stakes for three-year-old fillies over a distance of miles and pitted the two divisional winners Oakbrook Lady, Delta Mary from the newly created Herecomesthebride Stakes which was held 16 days earlier. Oakbrook Lady was victorious over Delta Mary with longshot Lady Mellody a distant third in a time of 1:43 flat.

The event was named after the winning mare Honey Fox who won thirteen races in her career including the Grade II Orchid Handicap.

In 1985 Gulfstream Park introduced a new race which was a predecessor to today's named event, known as the Joe Namath Stakes which continued the conditions established in the inaugural running in 1984 with a shorter distance of one mile. This race was named after the New York Jets Super Bowl winning quarterback Joe Namath. In 1986 the event's conditions were changed to handicap which also proceeded name the event as the Joe Namath Handicap. Gulfstream Park acknowledges that the Honey Fox Stakes had its beginnings from the Joe Namath Handicap.

However, the name Honey Fox was used in events and a branch continued in 1985 and with the last running in 1991.

Between 1985 and 1989 the event was held in split divisions.

The event was upgraded to Grade III in 1994.

The event was renamed to the Honey Fox Handicap in 2000 and between 2013 and 2017 it was run as a Grade II race.

In 2009, the race was changed from a handicap to an stakes allowance weight basis and rename to the original name of the event - Honey Fox Stakes.

Records Speed record: 1 mile 1:32.77 – Special Wan (IRE) (2025) miles 1:38.31 – Wend (2016)

Margins: 12 lengths – One Fine Lady (1985)

Most wins: 2 – One Fine Lady (1985, 1986) 2 – Fieldy (IRE) (1989, 1990) 2 – Centre Court (2013, 2014) 2 – Celestine (2017, 2018)

Most wins by a jockey 7 – Jerry D. Bailey (1990, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004)

Most wins by a trainer 8 – William I. Mott (1996, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2016)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefHoney Fox Stakes2026Lush Lips (GB)4Tyler GaffalioneBrendan P. WalshDixiana Farms1 mile1:33.71$150,000III2025Special Wan (IRE) 5 Luis Saez Brendan P. Walsh Team Valor International & Steven Rocco 1 mile 1:32.77$150,000III2024Chili Flag (FR) 5 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad C. Brown Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb & Michael E. Kisber 1 mile 1:32.78$150,000III2023 4 Joel Rosario Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables 1 mile 1:34.12$150,000III2022In Italian (GB) 4 Irad Ortiz Jr. Chad C. Brown Peter M. Brant 1:35.16$150,000III2021 Got Stormy 6 Tyler Gaffalione Mark E. Casse My Racehorse CA & Spendthrift Farm 1 mile 1:35.52$125,000III2020 Getmotherarose 4 Junior Alvarado Thomas M. Bush Mary Abeel Sullivan Trust 1 mile 1:34.73$150,000III2019 Precieuse (IRE) 4 Javier Castellano Chad C. Brown Peter M. Brant 1 mile 1:34.14$150,000III2018 Lull 4 José L. Ortiz Christophe ClementClaiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider 1 mile 1:33.14$250,000III2017 Celestine 5 José L. Ortiz Christophe Clement Moyglare Stud Farm 1 mile 1:35.19$300,000II2016 Celestine 4 Junior Alvarado William I. Mott Phaedrus Flights 1 mile 1:36.09$300,000II2015 Lady Lara (IRE) 4 Junior Alvarado William I. Mott Swettenham Stud 1 mile 1:34.03$300,000II2014 Centre Court 5 Julien R. Leparoux George R. Arnold II G. Watts Humphrey Jr. 1 mile 1:36.61$200,000II2013 Centre Court 4 Julien R. Leparoux George R. Arnold II G. Watts Humphrey Jr. 1 mile 1:33.18$150,000II2012 Tapitsfly 5 Julien R. Leparoux Dale L. Romans Frank L. Jones Jr 1 mile 1:34.23$150,000II2011 Never Retreat 6 Julien R. Leparoux Chris M. Block Team Block 1 mile 1:34.24$100,000III2010 Wasted Tears 5 Bart B. Evans Bart B. Evans 1 mile 1:33.81$100,000III2009 I Lost My Choo 4 Jose Lezcano Philip M. Serpe Flying Zee Stable (Carl Lizza, Jr. &Herbert Hochreiter) 1 mile 1:33.40$100,000III2008Race not heldHoney Fox Handicap2007 Wait a While 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher William S. Farish III & W. Temple Webber Jr. miles 1:39.37$100,000III2006 Wend 5 Edgar S. Prado William I. Mott Claiborne Farm miles 1:38.31$100,000III2005 Sand Springs 5 Jerry D. Bailey William I. Mott Swettenham Stud miles 1:38.41$100,000III2004 Delmonico Cat 5 Jerry D. Bailey William I. Mott Pam & Martin Wygod miles 1:41.30$100,000III2003 San Dare 5 Mark Guidry Rick Hiles David G. Mounts miles 1:46.19$100,000III2002 Batique 6 Jorge F. Chavez Michael R. Matz Helen K. Groves 1:49.32$100,000III2001 7 Mike E. Smith Thomas J. Skiffington Kinloch Enterprises 1 mile 1:35.60$100,000IIIJoe Namath Handicap2000 Dominique's Joy 5 Jerry D. Bailey William I. Mott Madeleine A. Paulson miles 1:39.91$75,000III1999 Colcon 6 Jerry D. Bailey William I. Mott Cavallix miles 1:41.71$75,000III1998 Parade Queen 4 Pat Day Neil J. Howard William S. Farish III & Edward J. Hudson Jr. miles 1:42.10$75,000III1997 Rare Blend 4 Jerry D. Bailey H. Joseph Allen miles 1:44.28$75,000III1996 Apolda 5 Jerry D. Bailey William I. Mott Allen E. Paulson miles 1:41.55$75,000III1995 Regal Joy 4 Dave Penna Larry Bates Margulies Stable miles 1:44.79$60,000III1994 Sambacarioca 5 Jerry D. Bailey Martin D. Wolfson Team Valor Stable miles 1:43.41$60,000III1993 Hero's Love 5 Earlie Fires Daniel J. Vella Frank Stronach miles 1:42.90$50,000 Listed 1992 Explosive Kate 5 Dave Penna Louis M. Goldfine Richard L. Duchossois miles 1:43.37$50,000 Listed 1991 Vigorous Lady 5 Michael Andre Lee Joseph P. Bertolino Monarch Stable1:40.30$50,000 Listed 1990 Fieldy (IRE) 7 Jerry D. Bailey Thomas J. Skiffington Fernwood Stable abt. 1 mile 1:37.60$50,000 Listed 1989 Vana Turns 4 Randy Romero George R. Arnold II Glencrest Farm 1 mile 1:35.80$50,725 Listed Fieldy (IRE) 6 Craig Perret Thomas J. Skiffington Fernwood Stable 1:36.00$50,2251988 Allegedum 5 Ángel Cordero Jr. Thomas J. Skiffington Barbara Phillips 1 mile 1:36.00$51,525 Listed Shaughnessy Road 4 José A. Vélez Jr. Carl A. Nafzger Genter Frances A Stable 1:35.20$51,0251987 Small Virtue 4 Jacinto Vásquez H. Allen Jerkens Tayhill Stable 1 mile 1:37.00$46,025 Listed Top Socialite 5 Craig Perret Alan E. Goldberg Betty Marcus 1:37.40$46,5251986 Gypsy Prayer 5 Robert Neal Lester James D. Frederiksen Troy H. Seale 7 furlongs 1:22.00$49,975 Listed One Fine Lady 4 José A. Vélez Jr. Al W. Hinson Larry Foggle 1:21.00$49,475Joe Namath Stakes1985 One Fine Lady 3 Victor H. Molina Al W. Hinson Larry Foggle abt. 1 mile 1:35.60$32,095 Listed Affirmance 3 Eddie Maple Frank Martin Sr. Harbor View Farm 1:34.60$32,695

Honey Fox (1984–1991) Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefHoney Fox Handicap1991Be Exclusive (IRE) 5 Kendra TaylorJonathan E. Sheppard Augustin Stable miles1:40.97$50,000 Listed 1990Leave It Be 5Herbert CastilloMark C. DumasLiberty D Stables miles1:47.00$40,000 Honey Fox Stakes1989View Of Royalty 5Julio PezuaJ. David Braddy Donald R. Dizney miles2:32.00$34,950 1988Munchkin Michelle 4Steve GaffalioneMargie AllenBlack Chip Stable miles2:29.80$38,130 1987Easter Mary 3Julio PezuaHubert Hine William A. Wood & Estate of Arnold Funger miles1:43.20$40,845 Honey Fox Purse1986Connie's Taj 4Jose A. SantosManuel A. Estavez Manuel A. Estavez & Grassymeade Stables1:45.20$25,000 1985Warglo 5Robert WoodhouseJames Fogarty Kenmare Farmabt. 1 mile 1:38.00$26,500 Honey Fox Stakes1984Oakbrook Lady 3Alex SolisReed M. Combest Oakbrook Stable miles1:43.00$33,425

Legend:

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References

External links 2020–21 Gulfstream Park Media Guide