The Tampa Bay Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses four years old or older, run over a distance of miles on the turf held annually in early February at Tampa Bay Downs, Oldsmar, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $175,000.

History The race was inaugurated in 9 April 1985 and was run on the dirt track over a distance of 6 furlongs. The following year the race was not held.

In 1987 the event received sponsorship from the Breeders' Cup and Budweiser and was renewed at a new distance of miles on the dirt track. Budweiser terminated its sponsorship in 1996 and this affected the stakes of the event. The Breeders' Cup also removed their sponsorship but much later in 2006.

The first running of the event on the turf was in 1999.

In 2011 the event was upgraded to a Grade III event.

The 2018 winner of the event, US Champion Male Turf Horse World Approval of 2017 resumed after winning the 2017 Breeders' Cup Mile starting as the overwhelming 1/5on favorite.

Records

Speed record: miles – 1:38.83 Running Bee (2025)

Margins: lengths – Delay of Game (2000)

Most wins: 2 – Gallant Mel (1989, 1991) 2 – Lord John (1992, 1993) 2 – Delay of Game (2000, 2001) 2 – Burning Roma (2003, 2004) 2 – Inspector Lynley (2017, 2019)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 – Ricardo D. Lopez (1989, 1990, 1991) 3 – William T. Henry (1993, 1995, 1999)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Claude R. McGaughey III (2016, 2017, 2019, 2024)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – D. Edwards & M. W. Mitchell (1989, 1991) 2 – John E. Callaway (1992, 1993) 2 – John H. Peace (2000, 2001) 2 – Harold L. Queen (2003, 2004) 2 – Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable (2017, 2019) 2 – WinStar Farm (2011, 2023)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefTampa Bay Stakes2026Quatrocento 5 Julien Leparoux Fausto Gutierrez St. George Stables miles 1:41.51$150,000III2025Running Bee 6 Flavien Prat Chad C. Brown Calumet Farm miles 1:38.83 $150,000III2024Never Explain 6 Vincent Cheminaud Claude R. McGaughey III Courtlandt Farms miles 1:40.03$150,000III2023 Emmanuel 4Javier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm miles1:39.25$150,000III2022 Shirl's Speight 5Emma-Jayne WilsonRoger L. AttfieldCharles E. Fipke miles1:41.20$150,000III2021 Get Smokin 4 Junior AlvaradoThomas Bush Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust miles 1:40.75$150,000III2020 Admiralty Pier 5 Samy Camacho Barbara J. Minshall Hoolie Racing Stable & Bruce Lunsford miles 1:41.96$150,000III2019 Inspector Lynley 5 José L. Ortiz Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable miles 1:40.35$175,000III2018 World Approval 6 John R. Velazquez Mark E. Casse Live Oak Plantation miles 1:40.66$175,000III2017 Inspector Lynley 4 John R. Velazquez Claude R. McGaughey III Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable miles 1:40.65$150,000III2016 Reload 7 Javier Castellano Claude R. McGaughey III Phipps Stable miles 1:40.15$150,000III2015 Lochte 5 Paco Lopez Marcus J. VitaliCrossed Sabres Farm miles 1:41.63$150,000III2014 Guys Reward 7 Abdiel Jaen Dale L. Romans Michael J. Bruder miles 1:43.44$150,000III2013 Swift Warrior 5 Jose L. Espinoza John P. Terranova II James Covello and James Dolan miles 1:43.14$150,000III2012 Roman Tiger 7 Angel Serpa Dennis J. Manning Dennis J. Manning miles 1:40.42$150,000III2011 Doubles Partner 4 Julien R. Leparoux Todd A. Pletcher WinStar Farm miles 1:40.67$125,000III2010 Karelian 8 George R. Arnold II Green Lantern Stables miles 1:42.61$146,500 Listed2009 Victory Alleged 8 Carlos H. Marquez Jr. Dennis J. Manning Mac Fehsenfeld miles 1:41.10$142,500 Listed2008 Cosmonaut 6 Edgar S. Prado Philip M. Serpe Flying Zee Stable abt. miles 1:44.14$146,500 Listed2007 Hotstufanthensome 7 Rajiv Maragh Norman R. Pointer Runnin Horse Farm miles 1:41.24$150,000 ListedTampa Bay Breeders' Cup Stakes2006 Fort Prado 5 Brice Blanc Chris M. Block Team Block miles 1:40.76$95,000 Listed2005 Wire Bound 4 Eduardo O. Nunez Manuel Criollo Silver Diamond Thoroughbreds miles 1:40.14$100,000 Listed2004 Burning Roma 6 Jesus Lopez Castanon Heather A. Giglio Harold L. Queen miles 1:41.68$100,000 Listed2003 Burning Roma 5 Jesus Lopez Castanon Heather A. Giglio Harold L. Queen miles 1:41.53$99,000 Listed2002 Boastful 4 T. D. Houghton William I. Mott Kinsman Stable miles 1:40.95$78,000 Listed2001 Delay of Game 8 Christopher P. DeCarlo George R. Arnold II John H. Peace miles 1:41.91$80,450 Listed2000 Delay of Game 7 Ramon B. Perez George R. Arnold II John H. Peace miles 1:39.72$50,000 Listed1999 Legs Galore 4 William T. Henry Reed M. Combest Ann & Clinton Lagrosa miles 1:39.65$49,5001998 Ship Liner 4 C. Punchie Goberdhan Donald M. Pittman Phillip O. Williams miles 1:44.20$34,5001997 Request a Star 6 C. Punchie Goberdhan Jason J. Stodghill Paul O'Toole miles 1:45.40$37,3001996 Iron Racketeer 5 Dante Scocca Michael J. Falzone Charles G. Fink miles 1:46.40$30,4251995 Not Surprising 5 William T. Henry Judson Van Worp Robert Van Worp miles 1:44.40$77,100Listed 1994 Pride of Burkaan 4 Eric Valles Leo Azpurua Jr. A. Johnson & G. Murchibon miles 1:45.80$78,5251993 Lord John 5 William T. Henry John E. Callaway John E. Callaway miles 1:45.20$77,4251992 Lord John 4 Willie Martinez John E. Callaway John E. Callaway miles 1:45.80$67,8501991 Gallant Mel 6 Ricardo D. Lopez Donald Campbell Edwards & Mitchel miles 1:45.50$46,0751990 Majesty's Imp 6 Ricardo D. Lopez Sturges J. Ducoing Batarasan Stable miles 1:45.20$75,3751989 Gallant Mel 4 Ricardo D. Lopez Donald Campbell Edwards & Mitchell miles 1:44.40$45,0001988 Homebuilder 4 Larry Saumell Woody Stephens Ryehill Farms miles 1:43.80$70,6501987 4 Octavio Aviles Newcomb Green Aronow Stable miles 1:46.60$65,0001986Race not heldTampa Bay Stakes1985 Never Company 5 Donald Allen Chester C. Thrasher Myakka Stable 6 furlongs 1:11.60$25,000

Legend:

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References