The Troy Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and older over the distance of furlongs on the turf scheduled annually in August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The event currently carries a purse of $300,000.

History

Modern Era The current rendition of the race was renewed in 2004 with the first two runnings on the Inner Turf course at a distance of 1 mile with conditions for 4-year-olds and up and was held in August.

In 2006, the distance was changed to furlongs on the main turf track, but was still restricted to four-year-olds and up. From in 2011 until 2019, the race was open to three-year-olds and up.

In 2014, an abundance of rain necessitated the move of the race from the turf and onto the main dirt track, where it was run at furlongs.

In 2024 the event was upgraded to Grade III by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, but was rescheduled due to the state of the track, and was ultimately held on the dirt.

In 2026 the event was upgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to a Grade II.

Previous runnings Troy Claiming Stakes From 1901 to 1938 Saratoga held an event known as the Troy Claiming Stakes which was a claiming event for two-year-olds at a distance of furlongs. The structure of claiming events in the early 20th century were different from the modern era. There wasn't a fixed price, and a claim did not mean that ownership of the horse changed at the start of the race. Instead, after the race, the winner was presented to the other owners and trainers of horses in the race, and if any chose to, they could offer the sum for which the runner had been entered. But even that did not mean the horse changed hands. If anyone offered to buy the horse for the claiming price, the existing owner then could bid to retain the horse, and the price could run up far above the entered claiming price, sometimes even higher than the sum of the purse won and the claiming price together. This more personal and contentious manner of “claiming” horses led to numerous backstretch feuds and considerable ill will.

Of the more notable participants of the Troy Claiming Stakes were Frizette who won the event in 1907. Later the filly was claimed and was sent to France in 1908 and stood at Herman B. Duryea's Haras du Gazon stud. He sent the mare to his high-class American-raced Irish Lad, and the result was Banshee, winner of the classic Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas) in 1913. Today NYRA honors Frizette with a Grade I event for two-year-old fillies, the Frizette Stakes that is run at Belmont Park in the fall. The 1917 winner Jack Hare Jr. who later went on to win the second division of the 1918 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. The Classic winner Belair Stud's Faireno also participated in the 1931 edition of the event finishing third to Sagamore Farm's Towee. The following year Faireno won the Belmont Stakes. The 1938 running was the final running of the event.

Troy Purse (Jamaica)

In 1954 the event was held at the Saratoga-at-Jamaica meeting at Jamaica Race Course and was called the Troy Purse. The event was once again open for two-year-olds at a distance of furlongs. The 1954 renewal was won by Sound Barrier. The following year the event was won by Reneged who defeated Canadian Champ after lengthy delay due to the objection raised by jockey Dave Stevenson for interference which was dismissed. Canadian Champ the following year would become Canadian Horse of the Year.

Records Speed record: furlongs on the turf – 1:00.23 – Leinster (2019) furlongs on the dirt – 1:05.00 – Reneged (1955)

Margins: lengths – Bridgetown (2010)

Most wins by a jockey 4 – John R. Velazquez (2004, 2005, 2011, 2012) 4 – Tyler Gaffalione (2019, 2020, 2021, 2024)

Most wins by a trainer 3 – Todd A. Pletcher (2004, 2011, 2012) 3 – Sam Hildreth (1922, 1923, 1924)

Most wins by an owner 2 – Linda L. Rice & F E Que Stable (2009, 2010) 2 – Melnyk Racing Stables (2011, 2012) 2 – Brad Grady (2015, 2021)

Winners Troy Stakes (2004– ) Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefTroy Stakes2026 John the Beer Man 5 Kendrick Carmouche Rob Atras Michael J. Caruso & Michael Dubb furlongs1:00.97$300,000II 2025Bring Theband Home5Javier CastellanoMark E. CasseLive Oak Plantation furlongs1:00.38$300,000III2024Surveillance7Tyler GaffalioneWayne PottsWinning Move Stable (Sigler family) furlongs1:04.41$291,000III2023Cogburn 4Ricardo Santana Jr.Steven M. AsmussenClark O.Brewster, William L. & Corinne Heiligbrodt furlongs1:03.70$300,000III2022Golden Pal4Irad Ortiz Jr.Wesley A. WardDerrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor, & Westerberg furlongs1:00.92$300,000III2021 Fast Boat 6 Tyler Gaffalione Joe Sharp Brad Grady furlongs 1:01.24$200,000III2020 † American Sailor 8 Tyler Gaffalione Wayne Potts Raj Jagnanan furlongs 1:01.27$200,000III2019 Leinster 4 Tyler Gaffalione George R. Arnold II Amy E. Dunne furlongs 1:00.23$194,000IIITroy Handicap 2018 Sandy'z Slew 8 José L. Ortiz James A. Riccio furlongs 1:05.07$200,000III2017 Green Mask 6 Javier Castellano Brad H. Cox Abdullah Saeed Almaddah furlongs 1:00.49$250,000 Listed Troy Stakes2016 Disco Partner 4 José L. Ortiz James T. Ryerson Patricia A. Generazio furlongs 1:00.93$100,000 Listed 2015 Shore Runner 5 Kendrick Carmouche Joe Sharp Brad Grady furlongs 1:02.18$98,000 Listed 2014 Spring to the Sky 6 Javier Castellano Bruce R. Brown Anthony P. McCarthy furlongs 1:04.01$98,000 Listed 2013 Hogy 4 Joseph Rocco Jr. Wayne M. Catalano William Stiritz furlongs 1:02.61$98,000Listed 2012 Bridgetown 5 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Melnyk Racing Stables furlongs 1:01.52$100,000 Listed 2011 Bridgetown 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Melnyk Racing Stables furlongs 1:03.13$76,500 Listed 2010 Awakino Cat 5 Alan Garcia Linda L. Rice Linda L. Rice & F E Que Stable furlongs 1:01.90$70,000 Listed 2009 Awakino Cat 4 Alan Garcia Linda L. Rice Linda L. Rice & F E Que Stable furlongs 1:01.39$73,250 Listed 2008 Ferocious Fires 5 Cornelio Velasquez Anthony W. Dutrow Sanford J. Goldfarb furlongs 1:04.23$84,050 Listed 2007 T. D. Vance 5 Garrett K. Gomez H. Graham Motion Donald A. Adam furlongs 1:03.15$81,700Listed 2006 6 Edgar S. Prado Richard E. Dutrow Jr. Michael Dubb furlongs 1:01.11$71,500 2005 Funfair (GB) 6 John R. Velazquez H. Graham Motion Cheveley Park Farm 1 mile 1:38.13$67,200 2004 Willard Straight 4 John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Lawrence Goichman 1 mile 1:34.49$66,800

Legend:

Notes:

† In the 2020 Imprimis was first past the post but caused interference brushing the third-placed finisher in the straight and was disqualified and placed third. American Sailor was declared the winner.

Troy Purse (1954–1955)

The event was for two-year-olds over a distance of furlongs on the dirt track at Saratoga-at-Jamaica meeting at Jamaica Race Course.

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefTroy Stakes1955 Reneged Paul J. Bailey Homer C. Pardue Woodley Lane Farm furlongs 1:05.00$12,575 Troy Purse1954 Sound Barrier Eric Guerin E. M. O'Brien furlongs 1:05.40$12,350

Troy Claiming Stakes (1954–1955)

The event was for two-year-old claiming event over a distance of furlongs on the dirt track at Saratoga.

1938 – Highscope 1937 – Wise Mentor 1936 – Juliet W 1935 – Ned Reigh 1934 – Uppermost 1933 – High Glee 1932 – Poppyman 1931 – Towee 1930 – Porternesia 1929 – Dress Ship 1928 – Crystal Broom 1927 – Sunchen 1926 – John J Williams 1925 – Lacewood 1924 – Pedagogue 1923 – Rival 1922 – Edict 1921 – Modo 1920 – Tody 1919 – His Choice 1918 – Questionnaire 1917 – Jack Hare Jr. 1916 – Katenka 1915 – Success 1914 – Headmast 1913 – Superintendent 1912 – Race Not Run 1911 – Race Not Run 1910 – Danger Mark 1909 – Mexoana 1908 – Obdurate 1907 – Frizette 1906 – Loring 1905 – Rustling Silk 1904 – Gold Ten 1903 – Divination 1902 – Plater 1901 – Five Nations

References